ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 12

LARGO DI TORRE ARGENTINA

A busy transport hub, Largo di Torre Argentina is set around the sunken Area Sacra, and the remains of four Republican-era temples, all built between the 2nd and 4th centuries BC. 

These ruins, among the oldest in the city, are reckoned to be where Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC and, while off limits to humans, are home to a thriving stray cat population and a volunteer-run cat sanctuary.

On the piazza’s western flank stands Teatro Argentina, Rome’s premier theatre.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 11

GALLERIA BORGHESE

If you only have time for one art gallery in Rome, make it this one. 

Housing what's often referred to as the ‘queen of all private art collections’, it boasts paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian, plus sensational sculptures by Bernini. 

Highlights abound, but look for Bernini's Ratto di Proserpina (Rape of Proserpina) and Canova's Venere vincitrice (Venus Victrix).

To limit numbers, visitors are admitted at two-hourly intervals – you'll need to pre-book tickets well in advance and get an entry time.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 10

PIAZZA NAVONA

With its showy fountains, baroque palazzi and colourful cast of street artists, hawkers and tourists, Piazza Navona is central Rome’s elegant showcase square. 

Built over the 1st-century Stadio di Domiziano, it was paved over in the 15th century and for almost 300 years hosted the city's main market.

Its grand centrepiece is Berninis Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, a flamboyant fountain featuring an Egyptian obelisk and muscular personifications of the rivers Nile, Ganges, Danube and Plate.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 9

CAMPO DI FIORE

The oldest and most picturesque – also the most expensive – of Rome's neighbourhood markets. 

Each weekday morning, shoppers mix with tourists and visitors amid the colourful stalls that take over the historic piazza. 

As well as seasonal fruit and veg, you can also pick up pasta, cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fruit juice and much more besides.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 8

QUARTIERE COPPEDE

The compact Quartiere Coppedè, centering around the magnificent Piazza Mincio, is one of Rome's most extraordinary neighbourhoods.

Conceived and built by the little-known Florentine architect, Gino Coppedè, between 1913 and 1926, it's a fairy-tale series of palazzos with Tuscan turrets, Liberty sculptures, Moorish arches, Gothic gargoyles, frescoed facades and palm-fringed gardens.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 7

CASTEL SANT'ANGELO

With its chunky round keep, this castle is an instantly recognisable landmark. 

Built as a mausoleum for the emperor Hadrian, it was converted into a papal fortress in the 6th century and named after an angelic vision that Pope Gregory the Great had in 590. 

Nowadays, it is a moody and dramatic keep that houses the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo and its grand collection of paintings, sculpture, military memorabilia and medieval firearms.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 6

SPANISH STEPS

A magnet for visitors since the 18th century, the Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) provide a perfect people-watching perch.

The 135 gleaming steps rise from Piazza di Spagna to the landmark Chiesa della Tinita dei Monti.

Piazza di Spagna was named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, although the staircase, designed by the Italian Francesco de Sanctis, was built in 1725 with money bequeathed by a French diplomat.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 5

TREVI FOUNTAIN

The Fontana di Trevi, scene of movie star Anita Ekberg's late-night dip in La Dolce Vita, is a flamboyant baroque ensemble of mythical figures and wild horses taking up the entire side of the 17th-century Palazzo Poli. 

After a Fendi-sponsored restoration finished in 2015, the fountain gleams brighter than it has for years.

The tradition is to toss a coin into the water, thus ensuring that you'll return to Rome – on average about €3000 is thrown in every day.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 4

PANTHEON

A striking 2000-year-old temple, now a church, the Pantheon is the best preserved of Rome’s ancient monuments and one of the most influential buildings in the Western world. 

Built by Hadrian over Marcus Agrippa’s earlier 27 BC temple, it has stood since around AD 125, and while its greying, pockmarked exterior might look its age, it's still a unique and exhilarating experience to pass through its vast bronze doors and gaze up at the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 3

ROMAN FORUM

An impressive – if rather confusing – sprawl of ruins, the Roman Forum was ancient Rome's showpiece centre, a grandiose district of temples, basilicas and vibrant public spaces.

The site, originally a marshy burial ground, was first developed in the 7th century BC, growing over time to become the social, political and commercial hub of the Roman empire.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 2

ST. PETER'S BASILICA

In this city of outstanding churches, none can hold a candle to St Peter's, Italy’s largest, richest and most spectacular basilica.

Built atop a 4th-century church, it was consecrated in 1626 after 120 years' construction. Its lavish interior contains many spectacular works of art, including three of Italy's most celebrated masterpieces: 

Michelangelo’s Pietà, his soaring dome, and Bernini’s 29m-high baldachin over the papal altar.

--Lonely Planet

ROME -- MONUMENTAL -- 1

COLOSSEUM

Rome’s great gladiatorial arena is the most thrilling of the city's ancient sights.

Inaugurated in AD 80, the 50,000-seat Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was originally clad in travertine and covered by a huge canvas awning.

Two thousand years on and it's Italy's top tourist attraction.

--Lonely Planet

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 10

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

I'm not a selfies person.

And I've never liked pictures of me.

But here I am kissing Tichiro goodbye.

The time had come for me to return to Miami.

And for him to remain with his feline friends and the loving volunteers at Torre Argentina.

I wept a lot after this photo.

I may have covered him in tears as I whispered that I love him and will send him healing, positive energy from the USA.

http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 9

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

Tichiro is our forever boy, via distance adoption -- read more about distance adoption at the link below.

I told him all about his Meezer family in Little Havana.

How roughly the same time he was rescued by former opera star Silvia Viviani and her team of volunteers at Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary, we rescued HoneyBear.

Our HoneyBear roamed the streets just south of Calle Ocho for more than a year.

We took her in and now she's our daughter -- sleeping in my bed nightly.

I gently petted Tichiro and told him he is every bit as loved and cherished as HoneyBear.

http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 8

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

Every other day, for nearly two weeks, I would walk down the steep steel staircase from ground level to the excavated ruins -- to visit the cat sanctuary.

A nice lady there let me pet and hug Tichiro.

She would find him for me if he sneaked off somewhere.

I noticed that he had almost no teeth left.

But I also watched him wolf down a bowl of dry cat food -- so I know he's still got plenty of fight and spirit in him.

http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 7

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

During one of my visits, Tichiro had sneaked up into the bins that hold the souvenirs that serve as another way of raising funds for the very expensive work of a sanctuary that gets no government support.

I bought a calendar featuring the cats of the sanctuary.

I also purchased magnets and dish towels.

In total, the Wright family contributed about 200 USD to the welfare of Tichiro and his hundreds of friends at Torre Arentina Cat Sanctuary.


http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 6

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

Teichiro was found living on his own in a subway stop.

He we rescued on a very rare snowy day in Rome.

He's a dapper old gentleman that makes the daily rounds to check in with his dozens of friends at the sanctuary.


http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 5

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

Tichiro likes to visit the disabled cats.

Because street cats often get injured, there is a separate part of the cramped sanctuary for disabled cats.

Some are blind in both or one eye.

Others have little hearing.

There are several that are missing a limb or tail.

Some have the effects of head injuries.

Many are on kidney failure medicines or have FIV.

Here Tichiro is getting a smooch from a friend while they await admission into the disabled cats wing.

http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 4

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

Tichiro is an old boy.

His right eye is a bit cloudy and his hearing isn't great.

He has been on meds for kidney failure for some time.

He also has a bit of arthritis and his mobility is slowed.

Still, he's a happy cat who moves about the entire sanctuary.

Here he is sitting on some of the dozens of hand crafted souvenirs that can be purchased to support the largest cat sanctuary in Rome.

http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php

TICHIRO: OUR BEAUTIFUL SIAMESE BOY BY DISTANCE ADOPTION -- PART 3

OUR DONATIONS SUPPORT THE LOVING CARE FOR
AN OLD CAT AT ROME'S TORRE ARGENTINA SANCTUARY

Tichiro likes to hang out in the front of the sanctuary, where visitors stream in seven days per week.

He sleeps a lot, but loves a gentle petting while he's in his cat bed.

By the way, the ch is like a K sound.

So his name is pronounced Tih-KURE-oh.

http://www.romancats.com/torreargentina/en/distantadoption.php