Chocolate

On Friday night we went to SAID dal 1923, Vincenzo's favorite restaurant in the Roman neighborhood of San Lorenzo, to celebrate his birthday. SAID is an old chocolate factory (still manufacturing delicious chocolate) that has broadened its offering to include a wonderful restuarant with chocolate delights.This is the chocolate desert bar where the chocolatiere (or chocolatista) prepared a fantasia for us with assorted cakes drizzled in milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate. Everything was garnished with chocolate-dipped fruit and the plate included a ramekin of chocolate sauce with whole basil leaves. DELICIOUS!

SPQR: Car Sharing

Today I saw SPQR on the back of a Fiat Panda in Trastevere. It is part of the fleet of "Car Sharing" vehicles that now dot the city of Rome.

Io Guido means "I drive."

On the car door is a stylized rendition of the

Piazza Campidoglio designed my Michelangelo.

This sign shows the other “car sharing” locations

throughout the city of Rome.

SPQR

Senatus Populusque Romanus

"The Senate and the People of Rome"

It originally referred to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, and used as an official signature, appearing on coins, civic inscriptions, and on the standards of the Roman legions. Today, SPQR is the motto of the city of Rome and appears in the city's coat of arms, the city's civic buildings, manhole covers, billboards and even as car sharing vehicles!

SPQR: Piazza Trilussa

You can see the letters SPQR on this ribbon, attached to a wreath placed by the mayor of Rome at a memorial to the poet Trilussa.
This memorial is in Piazza Trilussa, along the Tiber River in Trastevere. Trilussa was the pen name of Carlo Alberto Salustri (1871-1950) who is known for poems written in the Roman dialect. ("Trilussa" is an anagram of “Salustri”.)
This is a view of the piazza with the fountain built by the Borghese Pope Paul V.

Senatus Populusque Romanus

"The Senate and the People of Rome"

It originally referred to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, and used as an official signature, appearing on coins, civic inscriptions, and on the standards of the Roman legions. Today, SPQR is the motto of the city of Rome and appears in the city's coat of arms, the city's civic buildings, manhole covers, billboards and even on memorial wreaths!

"Birdwalking" on a Deadly Hot Afternoon

When I got home yesterday evening, I realized that I had spent a "deadly hot" afternoon (nearly 100 degrees) "birdwalking" in Rome around sites related to the dead.
After lunch I wandered in to the crypt of the Cappucian Church of the Immacolata Concezione, with it's macabre decorations made from the bones of the dead Friars.
At 5:30 pm I was in the Jesuit Church of Il Gesù to see the baroque presentation at the tomb of Saint Ignatius. (I have a pervious posting about this presentation. CLICK HERE.)

As I headed toward home, the sun's light shined brightly on Il Vittoriano, the monument that, among other things, contains the Italian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Before heading into the metro for the subway ride to Garbatella, I took this picture of the Colosseum. This is the arena where many gladiators fought to their death and many Christians were executed.

Note about "birdwalking": Most people travel in a straight path to get from one location to another. I often find myself "birdwalking" as I go from one place to the next, zig-zagging back and forth, observing what is around me, much in the same way a bird goes about in a zig-zag way, looking for food.

Chiesa di Santa Maria Immacolata Concezione

The Church of Santa Maria Immacolata Concezione was built in the early 17th century by Cardinal Antonio Barberini, a Capuchin Franciscan and brother of Pope Urbano VIII. It was designed by the papal architect and Franciscan Friar Michele da Bergamo

You get to the front door from the Via Veneto

by ascending a scissor-shaped staircase.

Typical of Capucin churches, there are no architectural side aisles.

A main attraction to visitors is the crypt with the exhumed bones of long dead friars arranged in "artistic" ways. However there are several interesting tombs and memorials in the "upstairs" church.

This is the tomb of the Polish Prince Alexander Sobieski.

The shrine to the 20th Centruy Capucin Saint

Padre Pio is in the front of the church.

The tomb of the first Capucin saint.

Felix of Cantalice died in 1587.

This is a detail of a relief carved by A. Bisetti in 1853.

A "Barbarini Bee" can be seen

under the Holy Water font.

Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi

In 1948 an order of priests called the Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament bought the Villa Massimo and grounds near Piazza Bologna for their international headquarters. The Catholic Diocese of Rome asked the priests to include a church building that would be open to the public for adoration of the Eucharist. At the same time an idea developed to also make this church the Canadian National Church, dedicated to the Canadian Martyrs, 17th century Jesuit missionaries who were killed by Mohawk Indians.
Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi was designed by Bruno Apolloni Ghetti and completed in 1955. The exterior of the church is an imposing rectangle, set half a block down a side artery from the main street in the neighborhood.

It is said that the architect had in mind the giant pines of Canada's forests. A series of tapering concrete arches form the nave and lead the eye to a towering canopy over the tabernacle against a wall flooded in natural night.

The canopy is decorated with reliefs in painted and glazed terracotta, designed by Angelo Biancini.

The pulpit has terracotta images of the Last Supper and the Madonna.

The Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament were founded in 1856 by Saint Pierre-Julien Eymard in France. Today, following in the footsteps of their Founder, their mission is to respond to the hungers of the human family with the riches of God's love manifested in the Eucharist. (Rule of Life n. 3) Today this church is open for adoration to all who want enter.

Question: Why is there a mosaic

of a raccoon on the facade of the church?

Thanks to John Thomas Lane, SSS, for encouraging me to visit this church of his order.

Sales! Sconti! Saldi!

Sales! Sconti! Saldi!
These three words are used to let customers know that items are being discounted. Here in Italy, sales are regulated by regional law. Everything goes on sale at the same time, twice a year, in February ... and right now! Starting this Saturday, July 3, "saldi" signs appeared in most shop windows.

The English word SALE is also the Italian word for SALT.

This Diesel Store window on the Via del Corso in the center of Rome plays with both of these words!