Baroque Rome

I have been having experiences like today's since I got here, but nothing of this magnitude. On a routine basis we, the fellows, are lead around Rome and its environs by experts in a field.

Today, I was privileged to be part of a walk of historic proportion.

A group of 15 or 20 fellows and visiting scholars started at S. Susana on the Quirinal (facade by Maderno) across to S. Bernardo (great foil) looked across at the Fontana dell'acqua felice, down to San Carlo alle quatro fontane (Boromini), to S. Andrea al Quirinale (Bernini) and into the Quirinale, a baroque Papal palace, now the Palace of the President of the Republic of Italy. Yes, the white house. We ended at the Trevi Fountain.

This would be great with any group, but we had as our guides and fellow walkers non other than the absolute GIANTS in the field of Art History and Baroque architecture: Henry Millon, James S. Ackerman, Charles Brickbauer and Michael Conforti. If you don't recognize the names, google them.

Here are a few pictures:

Int. Dome of S. Bernardo (based on Pantheon w/ oculus, this was originally a pavilion in the Baths of Diocletian, now a church)

S. Carlo alle quatro fontane (Boromini) int. view of dome


The Quirinale, President's house, from the Caffe Haus (by Fuga) porch


Gardens of the President's house...UGH!