Sculpture of Rome

Random photos from someones trip to Rome a few months ago. The sculpture was the best part of the city. LINK: Youtube

The Incredible Flower Carpets of the Giorzano Infiorata

Made using millions of flower petals, the flower carpets of the Gionzano Infiorata, a flower festival unique in the world, cover an entire street. If you’re in Rome, in the second week of June, this is a must-see.

The Genzano Infiorata is a flower festival that can be traced back to 1778. Every year, local artists cover an entire street (Via Belardi) with intricate flower carpets, inspired by famous artworks, religious paintings or geometrical shapes. The flower carpets are made by talented local artists who have to stick to a previously agreed upon theme, like ‘The Colors of Michelangelo’ or ‘The Designs of Bernini’.

Link, Via: Neatorama

Vatican City

St. Peter's Basilica, From Rome
Vatican City has been an independant city-state within Rome since 1929, making it the smallest country in the world both by size and population. St. Peter's Basilica the Vatican's most distinctive feature, is an iconic part of Rome's skyline.

There is a slide show at the LINK

Roman Cat Sanctuary

In Rome the cats have an ancient temple all to themselves. The site is known as Torre Argentina and was excavated under Mussolini's re-building efforts in 1929, revealing extensive multi-level temple grounds about 20 feet below modern street level. The site is actually composed of several temples as well as part of the famous Pompey's theatre, where in 44 BC Caesar was betrayed and killed on the theatre steps.

On any given afternoon a small crowd gathers to watch the cats sunbathe on ancient pillars and steps. LINK

Whether the cats rule themselves via Republic or recognize a cat Emperor is, as of yet, undetermined. More on Torre Argentina here.

Astonishing Archaic Temple of Dendur

Honoring the goddess Isis, the gods Harpocrates and Osiris, and 2 deified sons of a local Nubian chieftain — Pedesi (”he whom Isis has given”) and Pihor (”he who belongs to Horus”) — the Temple of Dendur was a Nubian temple built during the Roman period around 15 B.C.

Egyptian temples were far more than houses for a cult image — they represented a variety of religious and mythological concepts in their design and decoration. One important symbolic aspect was based on the understanding of the temple as an image of the natural world as the Egyptians knew it.

The temple of Dendur was commissioned by Emperor Augustus of Rome, constructed from sandstone, measuring 82 feet (25 meters) from the gate to the rear and 26 feet (8 meters) from the bottom to the highest point. LINK