From the Foro Italico to the Historical Heart of the Eternal City, walking through the great beauty of Rome
by Chiara Ercini @adayinrome
As you know, once again this year the Social Football Summit will be held in the beautiful city of Rome. We therefore asked a great connoisseur of Rome like Chiara Ercini, founder of the blog @adayinrome, to help you further enhance your SFS23 experience! Below you will find great tips for planning your trip to the Eternal City.
Rome, the Urbs Aeterna, is a stratification of history, art and culture with one common thread: wonder.
Capturing the profound essence of Rome means moving between historical eras, architectural styles, through Ancient Rome, Baroque Rome, rationalist Rome and
contemporary Rome. A space-time itinerary that can be traced, physically, on an ideal map.
The starting point is the Olympic Stadium and the Foro Italico Park. From here we begin our day in Rome by exploring what is considered the most beautiful sports park in the world. A place that combines sport, art, architecture and major events. most beautiful sports park in the world. A place that combines sport, art, architecture and major events. A site inaugurated in 1932 and designed by architect Enrico Del Debbio, who designed a monumental piece of architecture with neoclassical influences that offers a reminder of 20th century Italian history.
Let yourself be enchanted by the statues surrounding the Stadio dei Marmi and enjoy a walk under the Roman pines through the park, to discover all the souls of the Foro Italico:
the red earth of the Nicola Pietrangeli Stadium, the stadium loved by the world’s greatest tennis players, the monumental Piscina dei Mosaici in the swimming pool area, the Casa delle Armi with
its golden mosaics and rationalist geometries.
Filled with such beauty, cross the Ponte della Musica and discover the other side of the Tiber: the Flaminio district. Architecture here becomes contemporary in the spaces of the MAXXI, the National Museum of the 21st Century Arts. An extraordinary structure, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, that defies convention with its bold and fluid form. The MAXXI is a place where art merges with architecture in a daring embrace, creating a unique experience that throws you into an ultra-modern and innovative Rome.
Then follow Via Flaminia in the direction of. Centro Storico you will find yourself in Piazza del Popolo. Here the itinerary will take on a Baroque form. A walk that starts at the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo, which houses two spectacular works by Caravaggio, the Baroque master of light, the Conversion of St Paul and the Crucifixion of St Peter, and continues towards Piazza di Spagna, the city’s elegant salon.
The Steps of Trinità dei Monti, one of the most famous staircases in the world and, at its foot, the Fountain of the Barcaccia, a work of art by the famous sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini and
his son Pietro, an icon of the Eternal City.
From the Baroque we now begin a journey back in time to Ancient Rome. Piazza Navona fuses these two souls of Rome in a perfect stratification. The
square, in fact, in ancient Roman times was actually a stadium, the Stadium of Domitian, the site of important athletic competitions. The transformation of Piazza Navona took place in the 17th century,
during the Baroque period, when it was completely renovated by the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini. His is the monumental Four Rivers Fountain that stands in the centre
of the square. Proseguiamo poi verso il Pantheon una testimonianza straordinaria della lunga storia di Roma con la sua cupola meraviglia dell’ingegneria antica.
At the end of the day, let’s enjoy a peek into the Fori Imperiali, wonderfully illuminated by the lights of Oscar-winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, after hours.
Does it seem impossible? Not if from the Piazza del Campidoglio – a masterpiece of Michelangelo’s genius – we descend a few steps behind the Palazzo Senatorio.
We will find ourselves immersed in ancient Rome, with the Arch of Septimius Severus right in front of us. Immersed in a surreal calm and silence.
One day is not enough to discover Rome, but it is enough to fall in love with it and wish to see it again… perhaps even tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain
to ensure your return to a city that never ceases to surprise with its infinite facets and contrasts.
Welcome to Rome!
We remind you that to buy your ticket for the sixth edition of the Social Football Summit click here on the reserved page
https://www.socialfootballsummit.com/join/
To book accommodation at the Hotel Villa Maria Regina with the discount code reserved for #SFS23 participants click here
https://www.socialfootballsummit.com/accommodation/
