Pages

Saturday, 19 April 2008

Things you see in Rome

I was going to say "only in Rome" but that would run the risk of turning the combox into a version of Private Eye's "Pedants Corner". Enjoy!

A cherub with a papal tiara ...

Police on normal duty looking like actors in a World War II film ...

A lampshade dedicated to Blessed Pope Pius IX ...

Really chic scaffolding covers ...

Heresy-sensitive security cameras ...

An anticlerical revolutionary whose tomb is less attractive than the biscuit named after him ...

8 comments:

Volpius Leonius said...

That raised a chuckle Father, particularly the heresy sensitive cameras and the bit about garibaldi.

Pleased to see your enjoying yourself.

PeterHWright said...

Fr. Tim seems to have had a very busy visit to Rome. So many photos.

There is always so much to see there, and too little time to see it in.

I particularly like the photo of the police (polizia municipale ?)
The appearance of the one on the left of the picture is somehow
reminiscent of the notorious Col. Herbert Kappler SS, not, I should imagine, a popular figure with any Romans.

I also very much like, but don't recognise its location, the little monument to Garibaldi. Not quite on the scale of the "Wedding Cake" monument to Victor Emanuel II ! (Thank you to Fr. Tim for not posting a picture of that monstrosity.)

Fr. Charles Briggs undoubtedly knows more than I about the history of the Risorgimento and its protagonists, and will correct me if I am wrong, but somewhere I once read that Garibaldi was a Frenchman by birth. Of course, territory changed hands a few times, I should imagine, in nineteenth century Italy, with the comings and goings of the French, the Austrians, the Savoyards, and the loss of the papal states, so I suppose he died an Italian.

I used to own a copy of "Pio Nono" by E.E. Hales. I believe Hales' book is still regarded as a good history. I'd like to re-read the history of the times.

(P..S. I dislike Garibaldi biscuits intensely.)

Hugh said...

Hi Fr Tim

Two points. Firstly, was the photo on your home page taken from the Piazza dei Tribunali side of Ponte Umberto I? It really is a magnificent view.

Secondly, I immediately spotted that the spy cameras are on the wall of the palazzo housing the offices of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I think they were put there by Fr Augustine di Noia OP, assistant secretary, so that he clould clock Fr Pat Burke's comings and goings to the nearby cafe!

Martin said...

I too have always disliked Garibaldis. The rasins get stuck in one's teeth.

Mac McLernon said...

What? You mean that an Italian general was named after a biscuit? How very odd...

FrB said...

I also very much like, but don't recognise its location, the little monument to Garibaldi.

It's the tomb of some members of his family at the Campo Verano, no?

Fr Tim Finigan said...

Yes, the monument to Garibaldi is in the Campo Verano.

Re. the banner photo - I've forgotten what the bridge is called but it is the one that runs across from the Piazza Cavour if I remember correctly. But I'd have to go back and check... Thanks for the compliment. It is a photo I was very pleased with.

Ma Beck said...

I love those biscuits.

We used to be able to get them here - they were called "Sunshine Raisin Biscuits" or something. Alas, they went the way of the dinosaur. Now, it's all "chocolate dipped" this and "cream filled" that.
Ugh.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...