Category: Rome

Beneath the Surface of Beauty

“At first glance so convincingly real, so archaeologically exact, so beautiful and innocent, ‘Spring’ turns out on closer examination to be illusionary, historically confused, and mischievously immoral.” — Louise Lippincott, former Curator of Fine Arts at Carnegie Institute and author of “Lawrence Alma Tadema: Spring” Masterful works of art are often multilayered and complex. What…


Protests Erupt Over Virus Rules in Austria, Italy, Croatia

VIENNA—Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Vienna on Saturday after the Austrian government announced a nationwide lockdown beginning Monday amid a rise in coronavirus infections. Demonstrations against virus restrictions also took place in Switzerland, Croatia, Italy, Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands on Saturday, a day after Dutch police opened fire on protesters and seven…


Historic Rome Villa With World’s Only Caravaggio Mural Is up for Auction

ROME—Looking for an opulent residence in Rome and have a spare half a billion euros to spend? Look no further: Villa Aurora, a real estate and art gem in the Italian capital is up for sale. The property, which sprawls over 2,800 square meters including a lush garden, is home to the only known ceiling…


Biden, About Eight Cabinet Members to Attend Glasgow Climate Summit: White House

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies said on Sunday that they would accelerate plans to implement climate-related policies, although they provided few details, coming as the Biden administration confirmed it sent about eight Cabinet members to a separate U.N. event in Scotland. According to a communique issued by the G20 leaders, including President…


Biden, About 8 Cabinet Members to Attend Glasgow Climate Summit: White House

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies said on Sunday that they would accelerate plans to implement climate-related policies, although they provided few details, coming as the Biden administration confirmed it sent about eight Cabinet members to a separate U.N. event in Scotland. According to a communique issued by the G-20 leaders, including President…


The Tempietto: Radiating a Divine Presence 

The Tempietto in Rome is at once a reflection of divine order and a monument to St. Peter. It was designed by Italian architect and painter Donato Bramante in 1502 during the High Renaissance, a time when architects sought to give form to the enlightened understanding of life and the universe and transcend the heights…


Rome, The Eternal City

People come to Rome from all corners of the world, because its history includes both subjecting and serving the world, whether militarily, religiously, or culturally. Rome shows us how we can live in a village while living in a world capital, how much a small life reflects a larger life, and how much we resemble…


Didius Julianus: The Roman Emperor Who Bought the Imperial Throne—and Paid With His Life

Does money buy high public office? It’s a contentious political question. The best answer, it seems to me, is this: Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. Just ask presidential hopefuls Jeb Bush and Michael Bloomberg. One occasion when money bought the highest office in the land—in plain public view—occurred in 193 A.D. in ancient Rome….


Wildfire Breaks out East of Rome, Locals Evacuated

ROME—Locals were evacuated from small communities around 40 km (25 miles) east of Rome on Friday when a wildfire broke out as the Italian capital faced temperatures of around 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit). Swathes of southern Italy have been plagued by wildfires in recent weeks, with flames ravaging woodland in Calabria, in the toe…


Israel Tells US It Has Serious Reservations About Iran Nuclear Deal

ROME—Israel has serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal being put together in Vienna, new foreign minister Yair Lapid told his American counterpart. In their first face-to-face meeting since Israel’s new government was sworn in two weeks ago, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Lapid had a very positive and warm discussion, according to…