The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Praetorian Barracks (Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio) is topped by a prominent statue of “Christ The Redeemer” on the bell tower is made of gilded bronze and was added in 1931. The basilica is situated on the Esquiline hill, on Via Marsala, opposite the main Termini railway station. It
The Column of the Immaculate Conception (Colonna dell’Immacolata Concezione) is in the Piazza Mignanelli in Rome, Italy. The monument was erected in 1857 to commemorate the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX in 1854, which states that the Virgin Mary was conceived free from original sin. The monument was designed by architect Luigi Poletti.
St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square are located in Vatican City, a microstate enclaved within Rome, Italy. The monumental square was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and constructed between 1656 and 1667. It features a large elliptical space framed by colossal Tuscan colonnades, which consist of 284 columns and 88 pilasters arranged in four rows. These colonnades are often
The Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla), are an ancient Roman public bath complex in Rome, Italy. The baths are located near the ancient Appian Way, south of the Circus Maximus in Rome. Construction of the vast complex began around 212 AD under Emperor Septimius Severus and was completed by his son Caracalla in 216 AD. They were the second-largest
Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four major papal basilicas and the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is a masterpiece of Christian art and architecture with origins dating back to the 5th century. As one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, it has a special status and is a significant pilgrimage destination.
The piazza is located at the top of the Viminal Hill, near the Termini train station. The distinctive semi-circular palaces lining the square (known as the Palazzi dell’Esedra) were designed by architect Gaetano Koch and built between 1887 and 1898. Their curved shape mimics the exedra (a large semi-circular recess) of the ancient Baths of Diocletian, the remains of which are
One of the great pieces of transportation infrastructure is also one of the largest art objects in the U.S. We saw Union Station as most people do – rushing to reach their train on time. While approaching in the taxi and rideshare arrivals lane, it was a nice reminder to see how close we were to the U.S. Capitol Building.
“O say does that star spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” These immortal words were penned by Francis Scott Key in Baltimore harbor when he viewed the flag flying over Fort McHenry following a bombardment by the British. In August 1814 the British troops landed at Benedict, Maryland, and headed
The Creole Queen took us to Chalmette that was an hours ride away. Along the journey a narrator spoke about the history of New Orleans interspersing commentary on various sites we passed. We admired the NOLA skyline, saw transport ships at dock, passed the Domino sugar plant that produces billions of pounds of sugar a year, and finally Chalmette. After
Today I had the great pleasure of hearing Sara C. Bronin give her views on zoning. Author of the recently published book “Key to the City,” she has a unique perspective of the many maladies caused by outdated zoning laws from the 1950s and 1960s with large lot zoning and auto dependent development. Her work is informed through efforts to