So I decided to have my usual "aperitif" at Eataly
and to snoop a bit around the shelves. The offer is such that it's impossible to
leave empty handed.
Once out, and not yet satisfied by my culinary tour, I changed my usual route back home. I drove by the Pyramid and the ancient roman walls
and turned left, heading to the Aventino hill, that is one of the seven hills surrounding Rome. It is a beautiful and quiet residential area
of great historical interest, located between Circo Massimo, the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome, that could accommodate up to 150,000 spectators,
and the area of the roman movida, called Testaccio.
My destination was Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, that takes its name from their priory, whose tall and massive wooden door has the most famous keyhole in Rome.
Beyond the door a long gravel path runs through the gardens, on both sides of which two rows of hedges seem to narrow the view in order to frame perfectly the faraway dome of St. Peter's. The view through the keyhole is amazing...
In the same square, that was designed by Giovan Battista Piranesi in 1765, is located the Church of Sant'Anselmo, the Benedictines' central church in Rome. It shows a neo-romantic style but it's definitely more modern than it looks, being built by Francesco Vespignani between 1892 and 1896.
At a short distance, Santa Sabina is the mother church of the order of the Dominicans and it is also one of the best preserved early Christian churches in the eternal city.
I left the area just before it started pouring rain, but I took this last pic from Circo Massimo. Only the quadriga on the roof of the Altar of the Fatherland, symbolizing Unity and Freedom, seemed oblivious to the coming storm...
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