Rome in a nutshell

23/09/2025

The famous Passetto di Castel Sant’Angelo 🤩
An elevated and fortified corridor, about 800 meters long, connecting the Vatican (Apostolic Palace/Vatican City) with Castel Sant’Angelo!
Its construction dates back to the 13th century, and it is closely linked to the Città Leonina, the first true fortification built to protect the Vatican. Pope Leo IV (hence the name) had it erected in the 9th century to defend St. Peter’s and the surrounding area from Saracen raids.

The Passetto di Borgo was later added as a sort of “strategic extension.” It was not originally part of the Leonine Walls but took advantage of their defensive system by connecting to them.

It served as a safe escape route for the popes: in case of attacks or sieges, they could flee from the Vatican and take refuge in Castel Sant’Angelo, which was practically an impregnable fortress. Some popes also used it as a secret passage to meet lovers or “inconvenient” figures, far from prying eyes.

In my opinion, the last stretch, right next to Castel Sant’Angelo, is the most fascinating.
Have you ever visited it? Have you ever tried to spot it from the outside?

Best wishes and see you soon 🙂

22/09/2025

Castel Sant'Angelo🤩

22/09/2025

Good morning everyone, friends and followers :)

Today I woke up feeling a bit critical (maybe because it’s Monday 🙃)...
I don’t agree with the trend of leaving padlocks, hearts, and other objects as symbols of love on monuments or around the city.
To me, it’s not romanticism, but just clutter that takes away beauty and dignity from urban spaces.

Is it really necessary for humans to always leave their mark, even when it ends up being something that spoils rather than enhances?

19/09/2025

Rome, how beautiful you are!
Nothing else needs to be said.

Wishing you all a lovely Friday evening and a wonderful weekend 🤗
📩 For more information, write to me at: [email protected]
or via WhatsApp (link in bio).

Roma mia, quanto sei bella!

Non serve aggiungere altro.
Buon venerdì sera e buon fine settimana a tutti 🤗

📩 Per maggiori informazioni, scrivetemi a: [email protected]
o al numero WhatsApp in bio.

19/09/2025

“Federica, would it be possible to take a lovely evening walk around the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Imperial Fora, just to get an immediate overview of all Ancient Rome? And then maybe go deeper little by little on other occasions…”
What do you think? 🤩 Of course it is!
📩 For more information, write to me at: [email protected]

or on WhatsApp (link in bio).

18/09/2025

Good morning, friends and followers

Today we change the topic completely. What you see in the photo is the tomb of Pope Gregory XIII. It is located in St. Peter’s Basilica, where we can still see it today.

We owe to Pope Gregory XIII the Gregorian calendar, which is the current official solar calendar adopted by most countries around the world. He introduced it in 1582 as a reform of the Julian calendar, dating back to Roman times and to Gaius Julius Caesar, who had introduced it in 46 BC. The reform became necessary to correct a small miscalculation. With the Gregorian reform, a more precise system for calculating leap years was introduced.

Maybe we’ve already talked about this, but refreshing our memory never hurts :)

Best wishes to all and see you soon ☺️

Buongiorno, amici e followers

Oggi cambiamo completamente tema. Questa che vedete nella foto è la tomba di papa Gregorio XIII. Si trova nella Basilica di San Pietro, dove possiamo ancora vederla.

A Papa Gregorio XIII dobbiamo il calendario gregoriano, ovvero l’attuale calendario solare ufficiale adottato dalla maggior parte dei paesi del mondo. Fu da lui introdotto nel 1582 come riforma del calendario giuliano, che risaliva all’epoca romana, a Gaio Giulio Cesare, il quale lo aveva fatto introdurre nel 46 a.C. La correzione si rese necessaria per eliminare un piccolo errore di calcolo. Con la riforma gregoriana si introdusse un sistema più preciso di calcolo degli anni bisestili.

Ne avevamo già parlato forse, ma rinfrescare la memoria non fa mai male :)

Un caro saluto a tutti e a presto ☺️

16/09/2025

The magnificent Villa Borghese! 😍

15/09/2025

Panorama of the Roman Forum, seen from the Palatine Hill 🤩

12/09/2025

12/09/2025

Good morning, friends and followers :)

I’ve written very few posts about EUR, so it’s time to dedicate a little “pill” to it!

EUR was designed to host the 1942 Universal Exposition in Rome, which never took place because of the outbreak of World War II. Mussolini wanted a mix of modernity and Roman heritage, and entrusted Marcello Piacentini with the coordination of the architects who worked on this huge district, so different from the others: entirely rationalist in style.

Tourists who come here always say: “It doesn’t feel like Rome!”

The neighborhood is full of monumental and elegant architecture: the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (the “Square Colosseum”), the Palazzo dei Congressi, its wide avenues, the Marconi Obelisk, the Palazzetto dello Sport, Fuksas’ “Nuvola”, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the air-raid shelter, the Salone delle Fontane, the Central Park of EUR, the Luneur Park… the list could go on!

A personal tip: if you’re visiting the archaeological site of Ostia, take a moment to stop by EUR as well. It’s on the way and makes for a fascinating alternative stop.

11/09/2025

An Ex*****on, a Ghost, a Mystery: September 11th in Rome
For those who truly know the city, September 11th has always been considered a dark and ominous date in Rome. It marks the ex*****on of Beatrice Cenci, condemned for parricide and executed in 1599 in Piazza di Castel Sant’Angelo, before a screaming crowd.
Among those present were likely three artists destined to leave a profound mark on the history of art: Caravaggio, Orazio Gentileschi, and his daughter Artemisia, who would become an extraordinary painter. How much did this tragic event influence their works?
According to legend, Romans avoid crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo on this date, as Beatrice’s restless ghost still roams, seeking justice. The poor Beatrice found no peace in life, nor in the place of her burial.
Innocent or guilty?
A mystery that has endured for over four centuries.

Coming soon in my Tour of Mysteries and Legends... 😎

Un’esecuzione, un fantasma, un mistero: l’11 settembre a Roma

A Roma, per chi la conosce davvero, l’11 settembre è da sempre considerata una giornata nefasta. È il giorno dell’esecuzione di Beatrice Cenci, giustiziata nel 1599 per parricidio. La condanna fu eseguita in piazza di Castel Sant’Angelo, davanti a una folla urlante.

Tra i presenti c’erano probabilmente tre artisti destinati a lasciare un segno profondo nella storia dell’arte: Caravaggio, Orazio Gentileschi e sua figlia Artemisia, futura pittrice straordinaria. Quanto ha influito questa esecuzione nelle loro opere?

Secondo la leggenda, i Romani evitano di attraversare Ponte Sant’Angelo in questa data, perché lo spettro di Beatrice vaga ancora terribilmente inquieto e reclama giustizia, la povera Beatrice infatti non trovò pace in vita, né nel luogo della sua sepoltura.

Innocente o colpevole?
Un mistero che continua a vivere, da oltre quattro secoli.

Prossimamente nel mio tour dei misteri e leggende...😎

11/09/2025

A Unique Sanpietrino 🤩

After the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati last December 7, the pilgrimage of the faithful to St. Peter’s has become constant.

Many of you go there for other reasons, but let me remind you of a small and unique sanpietrino that lies right there, hidden, but waiting to be discovered 😉

This is an old Reel, but it’s still essential to find it!

Have fun and best wishes. See you soon!