Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
ARCO DEGLI ACETARI
For one of Rome's most picture-perfect scenes, head to Via del Pellegrino 19, just off Campo de' Fiori. Here
you'll come across a dark archway called the
Arco degli Acetari
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(Vinegar-Makers' Arch;
). This in itself isn't especially memorable but if you duck under it you'll emerge onto a tiny medieval square en-
closed by rusty orange houses and full of colourful cascading plants. Cats and bicycles litter the cobbles, while
overhead washing hangs off pretty flower-lined balconies.
PALAZZO SPADA
PALACE, GALLERY
( 06 683 24 09;
http://galleriaspada.beniculturali.it
; Via Capo di Ferro 13; adult/reduced €5/2.50;
8.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun; Corso Vittorio Emanuele II)
With its stuccoed ornamental facade and
handsome courtyard, this grand
palazzo
is a fine example of 16th-century Mannerist ar-
chitecture. Upstairs, a small gallery houses the Spada family art collection with works by
Andrea del Sarto, Guido Reni, Guercino and Titian, whilst downstairs Francesco Bor-
romini's famous optical illusion, aka the
Prospettiva
(Perspective), continues to confound
visitors.
What appears to be a 25m-long corridor lined with columns leading to a hedge and life-
sized statue is, in fact, only 10m long. The sculpture, which was a later addition, is actu-
ally hip-height and the columns diminish in size not because of distance but because they
actually get shorter. And look closer at that perfect-looking hedge - Borromini didn't trust
the gardeners to clip a real hedge precisely enough so he made one of stone.
VIA GIULIA
( Via Giulia)
Designed by Bramante in 1508, Via Giulia is one of Rome's most charming
roads lined with colourful Renaissance
palazzi
and potted orange trees.
hippy surprised by water spewing from his mouth. Just beyond it, and spanning the road,
ambitious, unfinished project to connect Palazzo Farnese with Villa Farnesina on the op-
posite side of the Tiber.
Continuing north, on the left, in Via di Sant'Eligio, is the lovely Raphael-designed
Ch-
iesa di Sant'Eligio degli Orefici
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
HISTORIC STREET
06 686 82 60;
by prior reservation only
Via Giulia)
.
9am-1pm Mon-Fri;
