Today, we slept in a bit and then took the subway to Villa Barbarini. That family had cardinals and popes galore back in the day. There was a special exhibit of wonderful 15 and 16th century art, including some Carravaggio’s.
Across the hall, there are about 35 rooms filled with beautiful art. Each room tried to have a theme…one filled with crosses, one portraits, one Virgin and Child, etc. The famous portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein was there as well as an El Greco. The ceilings of each room were beautiful, paintings framed with fruits and such. Some of them seemed to have cherubs carved as three dimensional statues, but it was all painted. One ceiling was like the ceiling of an aviary, with birds and monkeys cavorting. Then we came to a huge room – perhaps a ballroom – with beautiful silk wall covering in golds. The ceiling was huge and it appeared to be three dimensional carvings…but again all painted. Cherubs with laurels, the pope’s crown, bees, flowers, Angels, and even a cyclops. Whatever they thought of, they painted it.
Afterward, we met an old friend of mine and had pizza with him before he went to work. He is quite a character and entertainer. He loved having a new audience in Andy. He loves Barbra Streisand and sings one of her songs if a word is said that prompts him. Mention the word, ‘People’ and he sings a few line of Barbra’s ‘People’. This can go on all night.
We have been getting warnings of possible terror threats to the Vatican and the Ghetto here in Rome. We are trying to be very aware. One thing we are aware of is the increase of police everywhere we go. In the pizza place today, 6 policemen came in for drinks while we were there and we weren’t in a very touristy area.
That’s about it for today. Got to pet a dog named Spitz…who wasn’t a spitz…but didn’t see Great Banks.
Sleep tight. Domani is Sunday and we have no plans. Sure that might change unless it rains.