Home Movies (1954)

of human beings at the opposite end of the church will begin to show the vastness of this edifice. At the far end of the Via del la Conciliazione that leads from the Piazzo San Pietro is the Tomb of Hadrian, better known as Castle San Angelo. Originally constructed by the Emperor Hadrian in 135 A.D. as a tomb for himself and his successors, it has undergone considerable changes through the years. Because of its strategic position on the Tiber and its size, it was used as a fortress during the Middle Ages. The tomb received its present name through a vision of Pope Gregory the Great during a procession imploring the end of a plague. The vision showed the archangel Michel sheathing his sword, signifying the end of the disease. At the opposite end of the bridge that leads to the Castle you have a good shot showing the Castle, preceded by the rows of statues that line both sides of the bridge. Further eastward, along the Tiber opposite the Castle, are several location where you will find overhanging trees to frame a more distant shot of the Castle and its reflection in the river. Continue walking along the Tiber to the Ponte Umberto (the next bridge from the Castle). Turn right and walk along the Via Zanardelli, through Piazza Tor Sanguigna, to the Piazza Navona. This Piazza is built on the ancient stadium of Domitian and preserves its shape today. Within the area are three fountains. The central one is the Fountain of the Rivers. Designed by Bernini, it depicts the great rivers of the four continents, the Nile, Rio de la Plata, Danube and Ganges. A few blocks away, but not available by direct tram line, is the Mausoleum of Augustus. From the Piazza Navona walk back to the Piazza Tor Sanguigna and right to Via della Scorfa. This street will take you past the mausoleum. Completed in 27 B.C. it was from this that Hadrian patterned his tomb. Originally covered with earth and planted with trees, only the outer shell remains today to contrast with the 20th century buildings that surround it. To the right of the tomb is the Via del Corso, which leads into the Piazza del Popolo. From the North end of the Piazza del Popolo take a No. 1 tram to the end of the line, Piazza del Milvio. From this Piazza walk left about 650 yards to the Foro Ttalico. While walking along the Tiber, look back. The bridge that you just crossed on the tram is over 2,000 years old. Just beyond it is the new Ponte Flamino. You can get an interesting shot from along the Tiber showing both these bridges together. 2.000 years difference in their construction. Note the great similarity in the two structures. The Foro Italico is Rome's sports center. It consists of a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and the academy for physical education. Most noteworthy are the two stadia. The small one, with a seating capacity of 20,000, is by far the more interesting, photographically. Built of white marble, it contains 60 statues of athletes, depicting various sports and representing the provinces of Italy. The larger stadium has a seating capacity of 100,000. Another day begins just before noon, at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, reached by bus No. 70 or 78 and by trams 7, 16, CD, or CS. The church received the name of "Major" because it is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Mary Major is one of the four churches in Rome having a Jubilee Door. Both the facades are interesting photographically. Since the church faces North and South, only the side facing Via Giobert will be in good light in the morning. The side facing Via Cavour iwll be best in the afternoon. An interesting long shot can be made from along Via Merulana in the morning. Close-ups and medium shots can be made from the Piazza Esquilino which intersects Via Cavour in front of the church. Inside the church the remains of the holy crib are preserved and displayed. From the church take a No. 71 bus to Via Tritone and get off at Piazza Poli. Walk up Vio Poli to the Trevi Fountain. Because of the numerous jets and sprays and its size, this is one of the most impressive fountains in Rome. It covers the entire facade of the Poli Palace. The light will be good here from noon to about midafternoon. Long shots will be hindered by the traffic, but there are many possibilities for shooting closeups and medium shots of the figures and sprays. From the Trevi Fountain you are within walking distance of the Piazza di Spagna. Walking up Via del Tritone to Via Due Macelli and left along this street, puts you in the Piazza di Spagna. The initial impression of this square is the baroque Spanish stairways. At its base is the boatshaped fountain (by P. Bernini). In the building to the right of the steps is the house where the poet Keats lived and died. There is a small museum there now. The 137 steps that climb the Pincio Hill lead to the Church of Trinita dei Monti. Almost any position on the stairway will give a good picture of their sweep upward toward the church. Interesting pattern shots can be made here, too. Shooting the fountain with the steps in the background will be rather difficult because of the congested traffic conditions in the square. However, it is possible by shooting from one of the buildings opposite the square. To the right of the stairs is the column of the Immaculate Conception dedicated in 1854, commemorating this dogma of the Catholic Church. From the top of the Spanish Steps walk along the Via Sistina to Piazza Barberini. The fountain in the center of the square was built by Bernini. Follow Bia Barberini from this Piaazz up to the Piazza del Esedra. In the center of this square is the Fountain of Naiades, by Rutelli, another of the more impressive fountains of Rome. The semi-circular buildings around the Piazza are built on the site of the Exaedra of the Baths of Diocletion. The church of St. Mary of the angels on the East side of the Piazza was designed by Michelangelo and is built in Tepidarium of the baths. Near sunet, when the sun shines up Via Nazionale, you get very effective color movies of the fountain with its sprays backlighted by the red rays of the late sun. Reserve this shooting until later since your next shots are at the nearby Termini Station. Leading off to the right of the Piazza is the Piazza dei Cinquecento, the large esplanade that preceds the Station Termini. Contrasting with the old and ancient you have been photographing, this ultra-modern structure will be a pleasant change. As you shoot your pictures of the station with its gracefully curved concourse, you may realize the possibility of editing your movies of Rome into a chronological history of the city. With this thought in mind you may find the engravings of the Forum as it used to exist an aid to your shooting in that area. With these old prints before you and shooting similar angles you can lap-dissolve from a copy of them into the scenes existing today. You can purchase these prints as you enter the Roman Forum. A fourth day's shooting starts at the Temple of the Vesta, reached by trams CD or CS or bus No. 95. The actual divinity to whom the Temple of Vesta was dedicated is not known. The same is true for the Temple of Fortuna near it. These two small temples date from about the time of the Roman Republic. Grecian in style, both are in good condition today. The Temple of Vesta can be photographed from near the church of St. Mary in Cosmedin, with the fountain in the foreground. St. Mary in Cosmedin is an afternoon shot so we will be back. A few steps South of the temples contain the remains of the Circus Maximus. The general area and some ifpression of its size are all that remain • Sec "ROME" on Page 404 403