1) The fake Cupola of St Ignazio. The Jesuit monk Andrea Pozzo found the perfect cheap solution to complete the Church dedicated to St, Ignazio, the founder of the Jesuite order. Instead of building a Dome he painted a fake cupola with a stunning effect of Trompe l'oeil.
2) The prospective Gallery by Borromini in Palazzo Spada. A Masterpiece of Baroque illusion. The gallery seems to be 36 meter long instead of the effective 9 meters.
3) The obelisk on the Elephant in Piazza della Minerva. Just a few meters from the Pantheon, is an elephant bearing an egyptian obelisk. The elephant is as chubby as a pig. The meaning of the composition made by Bernini is that you need a strong mind to hold the Wisdom, represented by the Egyptian obelisk.
4) The cappuccini Crypt in the Cappuccini church on the Via Veneto. Here you can see four creepy chapels made with bones of more than 4000 monks.
5) Palazzo Zuccari near the Spanish Steps is decorated with monstrous door and windows.
6) The symbol of St Eustachio church. This symbol has inspired the logo of the famous brand Jägermeister.
7) Scala Santa. The holy staircase at the Lateran complex. It is said it was the staircase Jesus climbed when he was going to be judged by Pontius Pilatus. The believers are climbing the staircase with their knees.
8) Moses with Horns, a masterpiece by Michelangelo. It was thaught as a monumental Grave Monument for the Pope Julius II but Michelangelo realised only one of the 56 statues. Moses is here represented with the Horns because of a wrong translation of the Bible from Hebraism into Latin, instead of light it became Horns.
9) Colosseo quadrato, the so called Square Colosseum is located in the Eur district, a few kilometers from the city centre of Rome. The district was designed by the architect of Mussolini, because the dictator wanted to organise here the Universal Exhibition in Rome. He wanted the old glories of the Empire rebuilt with modern architecture.
10) Il Passetto, the secret Passageway was foundamental for the popes when Rome was attacked. In fact through the secret passage they could reach easily the castle of the Angel and defend themselves. The Swiss Guards are the symbol of the Vatican. They have been the private bodyguards of the Pope since the beginning of the 16th century.
11) The Owl House in Villa Torlonia is located in a beautiful park outside the ancient city Walls. It had originally the shape of a Swiss chalet built by the Torlonia family. Then it was decorated with Owls and took the name Casina delle Civette.
12) The Trident is a Jewel of Renaissance Urban Architecture. It is starting from Piazza del Popolo and is formed by three streets: via del Corso leading to Piazza Venezia, Via del Babuino going to St Mary Major and Via di Ripetta showing the way to the Vatican. In the middle of the Trident are the so called twin churches.
13) The dome of St Ivo alla Sapienza, located in the complex of the first University of Rome La Sapienza, founded at the beginning of the 14th century. The Dome has the shape of the Barberini bees.
14) Marforio, one of the talking statues, is in the Capitoline Museums on the Capitol Hill. The talking statues were used in the past to anonymously criticise the Pope or the Government.
15) Coppedé district is a quarter designed by the architect Gino Coppedé at the beginning of the 20th century. Very interesting are the fountain of the frogs, the Spider Palace and the Fairytale Palace.
16) The Tomb of Eurisace, a baker from the roman time, is in front of Porta Maggiore, one of the gates of the ancient city walls. The aurelian walls at this point were made with ancient aqueducts. When the emperor Aurelianus built the Aurelian Walls he reused ancient structures.
17) The Tiberine Island is the only Island of the River Tiber. It was decorated as a naval boat, today hosts the Hospital Fatebenefratelli, built on top of the ruins of an ancient Temple of Esklapius.
18) Sofà di Via Giulia are called the ruins of ancient buildings on the Via Giulia, the Renaissance street commissioned by the powerful Pope Julius II. He wanted on this street the tribunals of the State of the Church. The project was not completed exept the basement, which form the shape of seats. People use to sit on them, for this reason they are now called Sofa di Via Giulia.
19) Fountain of the Turtles in Piazza Mattei, near the Jewish Ghetto. One of the few Fountains commissioned by a noble family and not by a Pope.
20) The Keyhole on the Aventin hill. This curious little keyhole is on the door of the Palace of the Maltese Order. If you look through you will see one of the most fascinating pictures of Rome. A must when in Rome!
