Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the official residence of Italy's prime minister since 1961. In the centre, the 30m-high
Co-
lonna di Marco Aurelio
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
was completed in AD 193 to honour Marcus
Aurelius' military victories.
The column's vivid reliefs depict scenes from battles against the Germanic tribes
(169-73) and, further up, the Sarmatians (174-76). In 1589 Marcus was replaced on the
top of the column with a bronze statue of St Paul.
Eleven huge Corinthian columns, now embedded in what used to be Rome's stock ex-
change, are all that remain of Hadrian's 2nd-century temple.
PALAZZO DI MONTECITORIO
PALACE
( 800 012955;
www.camera.it
; Piazza di Montecitorio; guided visits 10.30am-3.30pm, 1st Sun of month;
Via del Corso)
F
Home to Italy's Chamber of Deputies, this baroque
palazzo
was built by
Bernini in 1653, expanded by Carlo Fontana in the late 17th century, and given an art nou-
veau facelift in 1918. Visits take in the palazzo's lavish reception rooms and the main
chamber where the 630 deputies debate beneath a beautiful art nouveau skyline.
Augustus to celebrate victory over Cleopatra and Mark Antony in 30 BC.
CHIESA DI SANT'IGNAZIO DI LOYOLA
( Piazza di Sant'Ignazio; 7.30am-7pm Mon-Sat, 9am-7pm Sun; Via del Corso)
Flanking a delightful
rococo piazza, this important Jesuit church boasts a Carlo Maderno facade and a celeb-
rated trompe l'œil ceiling fresco by Andrea Pozzo (1642-1709) depicting St Ignatius Loy-
ola being welcomed into paradise by Christ and the Madonna.
For the best views of the fresco, stand on the small yellow spot on the nave floor and
look up. The ceiling, which is, in fact, absolutely flat, appears to curve. But walk a little
further into the church and the carefully created perspective stops working and the decep-
tion becomes clearer.
The church, which was built by the Jesuit architect Orazio Grassi in 1626, flanks
Piazza
di Sant'Ignazio
, an exquisite square laid out in 1727 to resemble a stage set. Note the exits
into 'the wings' at the northern end and how the undulating surfaces create the illusion of
a larger space.
CHURCH
CHIESA DI SAN LORENZO IN LUCINA
CHURCH
