Raphael at the Villa Farnesina

Rome is filled with masterpieces. But the Villa Farnesina is without a doubt one of the jewels in Rome's crown. Built in the 16th century for Agostino Chigi, one of Italy's richest and most influential bankers, the Villa boasts frescoes by the master Raphael and other famous Renaissance painters del Sebastiano del Piombo and Baldassare Peruzzi. Located on the western bank of the Tiber in Trastevere, the Villa is in what was once considered the suburbs of Rome but is now the heart of modern Rome's bohemian quarter. The famous Sala della Galatea (pictured) and Logge delle Cupid and Psyche of Raphael have inspired countless artists for centuries and continue to do so today. The luxurious and intimate setting of the Villa will bring you closer to the artists' works than you have ever been and truly make you feel as if you are Italian nobility yourself. The Villa is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm every day except Sundays and holidays, so get there early to soak in the magical view of Peruzzi's Salone delle Prospettive.

Rome Is Flooding

Rome declared a state of emergency last week as the Tiber River's water level rose to an unprecedented high. Tiber Island was about to be submerged and a lake formed around the Colosseum. More rain and hail were expected to fall this weekend but the Tiber's floodwaters have subsided. Stay tuned to find out how this has affected the monuments in the city.

THE "Gladiator's" Tomb Discovered

Archaeologists have discovered what they to believe to be the tomb of the man who inspired the movie Gladiator (which was really just a remake of the movie The Fall of the Roman Empire starring Sophia Loren, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, Alec Guiness and Omar Sharif!). An inscription on the tomb reveals that the monument belonged to Marcus Nonius Macrinus, one of the emperor Marcus Aurelius' generals. The tomb's location along the banks of the Tiber has made major restoration possible, as mud from centuries of the river's floods has preserved almost every piece of the marble structure. Read more about the excavation on Discovery News.com.

Tram Line Repair Exposes Roman Ruins

A few months ago, the Modern Traveler reported on the proposed expansion of Rome's subway lines which was sure to unearth all sorts of new archaeological finds. Recently, a repair to the tram line that runs on the Via Marmorata to Piazza Aventino has exposed an ancient road, remains of a Roman wall, several tombs and sections of the floors of the grain warehouses of Rome's port on the Tiber River. If you are in Rome you should head over to the Via Marmorata to see real-life archaeology in action! (See the article in La Reppubblica-translated courtesy of Google)

The Via Giulia is 500

One of Rome's most elegant streets, the Via Giulia, is celebrating its 500th birthday this summer. The street, built by Pope Julius II, was originally part of a building program around the Vatican. The street runs almost parallel to the Tiber River for a spell, but does not have the traffic of the Lungotevere, the thoroughfare which brings traffic north along the river. The Via Giulia is lined with churches and palazzos-one even belonging to the Medici family. Many of these churches and palazzos, usually closed to the public, will open this summer in celebration of the quincentenary. See the website devoted to the events (unfortunately only in Italian) or read more about the sights on the Via Giulia in a recent New York Times article.

Tiber Island Attractions

In the middle of the Tiber River is an island once home to a temple to the god of healing, Asklepios. Today the island still is place of medicine, housing a hospital since the 16th century. The relics of Saint Bartholomew who was skinned alive and later became the patron saint of sufferers of skin diseases are actually buried on the island in a church (pictured at right) named for him. The island is more than just a hospital and a church, however. During summer nights there is a cafe with lively music and sometimes a film festival set up on the north end of the island which could provide a diversion on your way to and from Trastevere. There is also a very good restaurant called Sora Lella on the island at Via Ponte Quattro Capi #16.

Day and Night in Campo dei Fiori

Close to the Tiber River is a piazza known for its daily open air market. In Campo dei Fiori (the Field of Flowers) you can buy anything fresh-fruits, vegetable, flowers, even eels. It's the perfect place to pick up a snack or lunch on the go. Surrounding the piazza are a myriad of gelaterias, pizzerias, cafes and restaurants. When the sun goes down, the Campo is the backdrop for a lively Roman nightlife. The restaurants and cafes are filled with Romans and tourists, young and old, all basking in the magical light of Rome at night. Try the pasta puttanesca at Da Sergio at Vicolo delle Grotte #27.