Christmas in Rome

I've been collecting pictures that I have taken while out and about at night in Rome during Christmastime for my last post of the year. I had hoped to get a picture of the nativity and tree at St Peter's since they've been working on it since mid-November, but apparently it isn't revealed until the 24th. Hopefully it will still be up when I return on New Year's Eve. Until then, Buon Natale and Buon Anno!!

Auguri!

Il Maestro Eisenberg!

Last Thursday my friend Michael Eisenberg (a fellow Fulbrighter, whom you may recognize from past pictures here) gave a beautiful piano performance at the Chiesa Evangelica Breccia di Roma. His program included Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt, and an encore of Chopin. He was absolutely brilliant, and it was quite a moving experience to see someone I know so well perform something so exquisite. He is an amazing talent.

San Clemente

San Clemente is a small medieval (12th century) church located just south of the Colosseum. Like a layer cake, the main basilica sits atop the preserved remains of an older church from the 4th century, which in turn sit upon architectural remains dating to ancient Rome.  Much of the upper church was restored in the 18th century in a classical/Renaissance style, but the layout of the church itself, as well as the apse mosaic, still remains from the Middle Ages.

The facade of the church, redone in a Renaissance style


I love the atriums of medieval churches. They are so peaceful!


The interior.  Everything in this view, save the gold apse mosaic, is a later restoration.




The apse mosaic, with the Triumph of the Cross




One of the highlights of the church is a small chapel painted by Masaccio and Masolino in the 1420s. These two important artists were called from Florence because at the time Rome was still recovering from the impact of the Great Schism and had no artists of its own.


Cherub on a tomb


A spiraled column with inlaid gold and precious stones


The exterior on the side


Looking north towards the Colosseum

Christmas Market in Piazza Navona

Rome's major Christmas market is in Piazza Navona, so while Ashley and Clelia were still in town we decided to hit it up. 

Sant'Agnese again.  I think this is at least my 4th picture of it on the blog.  I'm in love!


Sweets!


Delicious torrone


The Italian Christmas witch, la Befana


Obviously we had to ride the merry-go-round

Roma vs. Lazio

This past weekend there was a major soccer game between local rivals Rome and Lazio. My friends and fellow Fulbrighters Ashley (living in Padua) and Clelia (living in Milan) came down for the event. I have always wanted to go to a European soccer game because they are supposed to be very intense, and my experience did not let me down in the least!

Making our way to the bus, with Ashley, Clelia, Katie, and Kristen


On the bus...


Walking to the stadium


Siamo solo noi!!!


FORZA ROMA!!!




The view from our first "seats". Our tickets were for a section that was on the border between the two fan sections in the stadium, and security, without telling any of the ticket holders, decided to close this area.


First of many flares thrown onto the field by the Lazio fans


Out comes the swat team. They don't mess around here.


View from our second seats, which we snuck into during halftime




Julian, Katie, Michael, and Brad


Roma scores! Celebration, hugging, clapping, cheering, shouting, chanting, waving.




The empty seats are where we were supposed to be sitting, and here it becomes clear as to why the section was closed. Just out of the frame on the left are the Lazio fans, and the people on the bottom right are the Roma fans. The flare being thrown was actually tossed into the Rome section by Lazio, and here someone is throwing it into the empty section to burn out. This type of thing went on all night.




Final score. Roma Victor!


Happy to win




On our way out of the stadium we saw that someone had lit a Lazio scarf on fire. God I love Italy.