Explore Rome's Heart: A Captivating Walking Tour + Ebook

Situated in Trajan's Forum in Rome, the column stands at around 30 meters, featuring an additional eight-meter pedestal. Constructed from nineteen marble blocks, it weighs 1,110 tons. Bas-reliefs narrate the Dacian wars, employing innovative techniques like using a tree to divide scenes. The panoramic views from the top provide a comprehensive outlook. While some interpret it as a homage to a "genocide" against Dacians, its main purpose is to honor the Roman Army and Trajan. Roman wars aimed at economic and cultural expansion rather than extermination.

Piazza Navona stands out as one of Rome's renowned squares, situated in the Parione district. Its design mirrors ancient Roman stadiums, aligning with the plan of the Stadium of Domitian, locally known as Campomarzio. With the capacity to host up to 20,000 spectators, it earned the name "Circo Agonístico" during Emperor Domitian's era (81-96 AD). Over time, the name transitioned from "in agone" to "nagone" and eventually to "navone," coincidentally carrying the meaning of "large ship" in Italian.

The Pantheon, situated in Rome, Italy, was initially commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the rule of Emperor Augustus (27 BC–14 AD) and later reconstructed by Hadrian around 126 AD. Characterized by a circular layout, the Pantheon features a portico supported by large Corinthian granite columns (eight in the first row and two groups of four in the second), forming a pediment. Connecting the portico to the rotunda is a rectangular vestibule. The rotunda is covered by an extensive coffered concrete dome with a central opening, known as the oculus. Remarkably, even after nearly two thousand years, this dome remains the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. Both the height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circumference measure 43.3 meters, creating a harmonious architectural balance.

The fountain was positioned at the crossroads of three thoroughfares, signifying the terminus of the Acqua Vergine, among Rome's ancient aqueducts. In 19 BC, purportedly with the assistance of a virgin, Roman engineers discovered a reservoir of pure water slightly more than 22 kilometers from the city (depicted in a sculpture on the fountain today). Utilizing Rome's smallest aqueduct, water from this source was conveyed directly to the baths of Marcus Agrippa, providing service to the city for more than 400 years.

The renowned Fontana della Barcaccia, an exquisite example of early Baroque art sculpted by Pietro Bernini and his esteemed son Gian Lorenzo Bernini, graces the square's center. On the staircase's right side stands the former dwelling of English poet John Keats, where he resided and passed away in 1821. Presently, the site functions as a museum honoring his and Percy Bysshe Shelley's memory, adorned with books and mementos of English Romanticism. To the left is the celebrated Babington's Tea Room, established in 1893.