Tuesday 17 December 2019
We declared Tuesday, 17 December 2019 “Museum Day” (most of the museums are closed on a Monday). It was a beautiful mild and warm late Autumnal day, perfect for exploring whether outdoors or indoors.
There are a number of free museums to visit and enjoy, and we started our day at the Museo Napoleonic / Napoleonic Museum which is situated at Piazza di Ponte Umberto I, 1, 00186 and looks at the Tiber River.
After the fall of the Empire, most of the members of the Bonaparte family asked Pope Pius VII for asylum and settled in Rome: living in Palazzo Rinuccini, Palazzo Mancini Salviati and Palazzo Nuñez and a villa on the Nomentana.
Count Giuseppe Primoli (1851-1927), son of Count Pietro Primoli and Princess Carlotta Bonaparte, in 1927 donated to the city of Rome his important collection of works of art, Napoleonic memorabilia, family memories, enclosed in the rooms of the ground floor of the his palace. The collection, which also included objects belonging to his brother Luigi (1858-1925) emanated not so much from the desire to present a testimony of the imperial splendour but more from the desire to document the intense relationships which linked the Bonapartes to Rome.
These ties were established by force of arms in 1808, following the French occupation of Rome. In 1811 the city became a "free and imperial city", destined to be governed by the son of Napoleon who was given the title of King of Rome even before his birth.
Giuseppe Primoli was a cultured, passionate bibliophile and skilled photographer. He lived between Rome and Paris enjoying intense relationships with the literary and artistic environments of both cities. He therefore represented an interesting intellectual figure who was passionate about collecting and acquiring antiquities. It seems fitting that he offer to the city of Rome this refined and beautiful example of a house-museum.
We loved visiting this museum - such a cornucopia of delightful and interesting paintings, trinkets, photographs, furniture, swords, statues and so much more. Look at the amazing floor in one of the rooms of the museum in the above photograph
We walked from the Napoleonic Museum to the next museum on our itinerary enjoying amazing sights along the way – as one does in Rome! We found this delightful hidden curiosity Via dell’Orso, between via del Leuto and the corner of Via dei Soldati
The Church of Sant'Antonio dei Portoghesi or Saint Anthony of the Portuguese is a baroque Roman Catholic titular church in Rome. It is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Lisbon. The church functions as the national church of the Portuguese community residing in Rome and pilgrims visiting the city and the Vatican.
Wherever you roam in Rome always remember to look up!
Courtyard of Sant’ Ivo alla Sapienza Church, Piazza Navona. This is a Roman Catholic church built during the years 1642-1660 by the architect Francesco Borromini. The church is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Roman Baroque architecture. The church is at the rear of a courtyard at 40, Corso del Rinascimento; which is a complex now used by the State Archives of Rome. The church is only open on a Sunday morning – another one for the list for the next visit!
Sant 'Andrea della Valle is a minor basilica. It is in the rione of Sant’ Eustachio. The basilica is the general seat for the religious order of the Theatines. It is located at Piazza Vidoni.
Unfortunately, the church was closed so we were not able to explore this one – its on the list for the next visit!
Statua di Marco Minghetti / Statue of Marco Minghetti, 5th Prime Minister of Italy (he was also an economist) - love the juxtaposition of the old and the new
Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco, another free museum housed in a 16th-century palace, with elaborate floors and architectural details. Giovanni Barracco studied the classics and became enamoured with everything relating to ancient civilizations.
On our first full day in Rome, we walked past Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916 and were given samples of the most delicious pork ever – excellent marketing strategy to hand our samples/teasers to entice us to return which we did!
Lunch – panini with pork, rocket and tomato; this was the perfect lunch for the 2 of us as one portion each was more than adequate, it was so filling and incredibly delicious. Incredibly good value for money too.
We loved this signage in the shop window advertising a live pub inside and that they speak Italian very well and know where the Piazza Navona is!!
Giardino di Palazzo Venezia, minutes away from the crazy traffic, trams, buses, infinite scooters and bikes is the Giardino di Palazzo Venezia, a communal garden for the enjoyment of all.
A haven of peace and tranquillity with beautiful trees, birdlife, fountains and water as well as benches to rest your weary feet, embrace the calming atmosphere and soak up the ambience.
