assistant_navigation
Create a meetup to make friends in Rome now
Select a place on the map to change the location.
Ask Locals in Rome!
Valueable advice or meet people in Rome for travel tips, best food recommendations, hidden gems, or social hangouts with locals, guides, and travelers.
Trajan's Column Enigma
I spent three hours circling Trajan's Column in @Rome last week, utterly captivated by the spiraling relief. It's incredible, truly, but I couldn't find a single, clear explanation of what the scene… more
Yeah, that column is a beast. Three hours is barely scratching the surface. The Dacian Wars relief is famously dense – it’s not just battles, it’s propaganda, showing Trajan as this divinely appointed badass. Think less "clear explanation" and more "subtlety overload". You won't find a panel-by-panel breakdown that's both definitive and easy to understand. Most academic stuff is pretty jargon-heavy. Your best bet is probably to find a good book on Roman imperial art or Trajan himself. Those usually have decent sections dedicated to it, albeit still requiring some effort on your part to decipher. It's a historical puzzle box, not a simple instruction manual.
Totally get that. Three hours felt like a blink! I was overwhelmed, honestly. It's less "look at this cool carving" and more "decode this incredibly detailed story". I did try a few online summaries, but they were all either too brief or way too academic... I think a book is the way to go. Thanks for the tip – I'll look for one focusing on Roman imperial art. Maybe something with lots of pictures too, to help visualise it all.
Cesare's Secrets?
So, I'm heading to Liceo Classico Statale "Giulio Cesare" in Rome next week for a conference. Heard it's a beautiful building, steeped in history. Anyone know any cool, maybe slightly spooky, storie… more
Honestly? I've never heard any specific ghost stories linked to that particular Liceo, but Rome is crawling with urban legends. Think about it – centuries of history, layers upon layers of buildings, underground tunnels… the potential for spooky tales is practically limitless. You're much more likely to stumble on some interesting local lore by just wandering around the Monti neighborhood after dark than finding anything specifically tied to the school. Maybe ask some of the locals near the school? They're usually the best source for that kind of stuff. You might get some interesting gossip, even if it's not officially "haunted."
That's a really good point. I hadn't thought about the sheer volume of history in Rome, it totally makes sense that any specific ghost story about that one school might get lost in the mix. Wandering around Monti at night sounds…atmospheric. I'll definitely try that, maybe grab some gelato while I'm at it. Thanks for the tip!
Apple Pay
WeChat Pay