Presentation of my book in Den Haag

A big thanks to all the people who attended the presentation of my book "Discovering the Colosseum" at Dante Alighieri's association in Den Haag, The Netherlands. It's been a great evening and plenty of copies got sold! The Dante Alighieri association is the most prestigious cultural association for the diffusion of the Italian culture around the world.

"Discovering the Colosseum" is now available!

My book "Discovering the Colosseum" has been published and it is now available on the best online bookstores like Amazon, Google Playstore, Barnes&Noble etc). If you want to discover the secrets of this wonderful monument as well as the stories about the spectacles and many other curiosities click on the below link and there you can have a better idea of my work. Happy reading!

http://romepoint.blogspot.nl/p/discovering-colosseum.html

To purchase the book click here!

Another exceptional finding

Another exceptional finding: the second arch of Titus. The first one, still in place is at the beginning of the Sacred Way (at one of the entrances to the Roman Forum). This second one has been just discovered close to the Circus Maximus. It was the second one dedicated after the death of the emperor Titus in 81 AD.

http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/05/28/news/circo_massimo-115493901/#gallery-slider=115510520

Hadrian villa and Villa d'Este seen by a drone

A wonderful video of Hadrian's villa and Villa d'Este in Tivoli seen by a drone. The Majestic ruins of Hadrian's villa and the splendid Villa d'Este seen under a different perspective.

http://video.repubblica.it/edizione/roma/villa-adriana-e-villa-d-este-viste-dal-drone/199633/198682

Rome seen by a drone

Beautiful video...Rome as a drone would see it, not bad!

http://video.corriere.it/da-piazza-navona-colosseo-spettacolo-roma-vista-drone/b13965f4-ea58-11e4-850d-dfc1f9b6f2f5

An ancient pyramid brought to life

The only pyramid of Rome has been recently brought to a new life thanks to a Japanese tycoon who sponsored its restoration. The colour you can see today has now the same splendour of 2,000 years ago...

http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/04/20/foto/marino_inaugura_a_roma_la_piramide_cestia_restaurata-112410188/1/?rss&ref=frct1&_vmx=529048

Ancient Ostia from the sky

Seeing the ruins of Ostia antica from the sky is incredible. A perspective totally different which will let you appreciate this beautiful archeological site even more. Wonderful video!

http://video.repubblica.it/edizione/roma/ostia-antica-l-area-archeologica-vista-dal-drone/198250/197293?ref=HRESS-5

Happy birthday Rome!

Today Rome celebrates 2768 years! According to the tradition, it was founded on top of the Palatine Hill on April 21, 753 BC. That year became the year 0 of ancient times: from that date ancient people reckoned historical events exactly as we do today using the year of birth of Christ. Happy Birthday Rome!

The ancient harbour of Trajan

The ancient harbour of Trajan was a masterpiece of the roman engineers. Built as a perfect hexagon, it could host a huge number of container ships. It is a private property but from April 25th is visitable. Shuttle buses can be taken from Fiumicino airport.

http://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/15_aprile_09/i-bimbi-scuole-fiumicino-mini-guide-porto-traiano-ae30ae42-ded4-11e4-9169-2cdb2836f1f0.shtml

Archeological bus 118

For the people who don't want to miss a wonderful part of Rome normally neglected by tourists yet extremely fascinating take bus 118. From Via dei Fori Imperiali till Villa dei Quintili (the biggest of the villas in the immediate surroundings of Rome) passing through the marvellous Appian Way. The price is just the one of a normal ticket: 1.50 euros.

 http://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/15_aprile_04/da-villa-quintili-fori-imperiali-sabato-nuovo-itinerario-storico-archeologico-bus-118-3d53c6e8-daf4-11e4-8d86-255e683820d9.shtml

Exceptional finding

In Rome they have been working since 15 years to the construction of the third line of the metro (metro C). Aside from some corruption and various delays, the line isn't completed yet. And while they dig they keep finding exceptional things...like the one described in this article (it is in italian). It is saying that during the construction of the metro they found 80 metres (roughly 250 ft) of the original walls built at the end of III century AD. These walls were built to protect Rome from possible invasions of enemies. What they discovered is exceptional because for centuries they thought that part of the walls weren't existing anymore...but they was just buried underground very close to the Basilica of St. John in the Lateran. This part of the walls still preserves also some traces of frescoes.

http://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cultura_e_spettacoli/15_marzo_29/ritornano-luce-mura-aureliane-dimenticate-4203bb84-d636-11e4-b0f7-93d578ddf348.shtml

Vatican Museums for homeless

A wonderful initiative: the pope gives the opportunity to a large group of homeless people to have a free guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. At the end of the tour dinner is offered to everybody. I enjoy reading these things: the powerful people who try to help the less fortunate.

http://www.ilmessaggero.it/PRIMOPIANO/VATICANO/papa_barboni_cena_musei_cappella_sistina/notizie/1257405.shtml

Street food festival in Rome

Street food, well...let's spell it properly: streeat food! Many times this means good food at a reasonable price. In few days in Rome there will be a street food festival:

http://www.gamberorosso.it/news/item/1021614-streeat-food-truck-festival-a-roma-il-cibo-di-strada-su-ruote-arriva-alla-citta-dell-altra-economia