Arte del Etruschi e Santa Maria degli Angeli

Okay I know I'm a little late on publishing this post but here it is, another one on the way about Holland.
Friday January 23, 2009
Well today I went to Il Palazzo delle Esposizione di Roma. It is a fabulous museo which is currently showing a FABULOUS exhibit on Arte del Etruschi- Etruscan Art. I went thinking it would be typical Etruscan art but what I didn’t think about was the Greek influence on the people from the north.
The Etruscans had a huge influence on Roman art and architecture but were eventually completed assimilated into Roman culture during the Roman Republic. We begin to date characteristically Etruscan art from around 800BC- the exhibit had pieces that dated back to the iron age and archaic period. The exhibit showcased pieces from this period and they included kouros (male figures) and kore (female figures). The sizes of these range from three inches tall to one and a half metres. The ones they had at the exhibit were characteristically Greek. The 8th century BC was when the Etruscans began to trade with the Greeks and so many Greek oinochoai and amphorae were found at certain sites in the north of Italy in the eastern Po river valley. The modern region of Tuscany in Italy is named after Tusci or Etruschi –the Etruscans who were the first major civilization in the area. So enough of a history lesson I suppose but I just wanted to emphasize how exciting this exhibit was for me! The Romans wiped out a lot of the Etruscan history and so it was exciting to see all the sculpture and practical pieces that had been found.
All the Greek vases etc were a huge bonus. Well preserved, red on black painting with astounding intricacy. I wish I could’ve taken some photos to show you the precision taken in the painting and etching. I have studied all of this stuff for three years now and to see something that is nearly 3000 years old is an transcending experience of some kind!!! So enough of my dorkyness. What else did I do?
I went to the minor basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. It is located in the Piazza del Repubblica which has a magnificent fountain in the centre of it.. It was built using the walls of the ancient baths of Diocletian (a muchos unpopular and intolerant Roman emperor). Michelangelo Buonarroti (yes THE Michelangelo!) worked on this church for three years in the 16th century. It is kinda funny because the church is not of traditional architecture nor does the art and architecture follow a decided theme. Nonetheless it is beautiful and inside they have posterboards with info on Galileo… not sure why here but interesting nonetheless.
Then I went to the supermarket and bought cereal, cheese and chocolate for my lunch. Yes this is how I eat in Rome.
Oh and the next day I went to the Trevi Fountain... it started pouring rain though so it was not a pleasant experience. I will go again when its sunny.
Pictures follow, Ciao miei amici!!