Everybody has his own favorite painter, in Rome there is the house-museum of one of the greatest whom many admire and take in high esteem for his art: Giorgio de Chirico.
He was born in Volos, Thessaly, Greece. In the early years of his life he traveled around Europe knowing other culturally lively realities in Germany, France and Italy. It is right here, in Italy, that the maestro will settle for the rest of his life, in the country where the town squares stimulate that metaphysical sentiment the whole world has learned to appreciate thanks to his paintings.
We can define as metaphysical an artistic movement which has the purpose of catching the observer unprepared, an art producing a very marked sense of melancholy in he who peers at it,due to the fact that the urban landscapes portrayed are architecturally bared, lived in by shadows or imperceptible figures which stand out in the background. De Chirico's paintings engender pure bewilderment, the objects drawn close to each other are devoid of any logical relationship and solitude penetrates every corner of these squares, the mystery of which is not given to us to know.
Entering the house of the "pictor optimus" you will have the pleasant surprise of finding some of the most famous works like Pianto d'amore and Le Maschere. Unfortunately, the time at your disposition will not be much because you will have only forty-five minutes to carry out the visit and any overrunning of the time is not foreseen by the strict rules. A guide will accompany you among the various rooms introducing the subjects step by step and answering any questions you may have. (But who knows, perhaps you yourselves know more...)
Apart from the great living rooms which open to our sight, one of the curiosities you will have a way to note is de Chirico and his wife sleeping in different rooms. The room of the "pictor classicus" is of modest dimensions, very spartan, whereas the wife's one is slightly larger and more airy. Also from these peculiar clues it is possible to notice the genius's stigmata. The room where the maestro used to paint is on the last floor, and it will communicate to you an effect of extreme solitude. In this space he worked at his paintings every day. A full-blown Stakhanovite!
The commissions he received when he was still alive were innumerable and it is for this reason too that many fakes circulated and continue to circulate. In the past a great scandal burst and there were many talks about it. In the same way, de Chirico's positions have always been scandalous within the artistic circles of his time. In the full avant-garde period, de Chirico will detach himself from a certain experimentalism to retie a connection with the past and with classicism.
Inside the house-museum there are many paintings to see, so the cost of the ticket is more than reasonable, only five euros. At the exit there are many volumes on sale, even though the price is a little high. In case you would like to delve into it is advisable to seek cheaper books in the city center book-shops. They are not difficult to find. You can also leave a remark in the guest book, maybe reporting one of the catchy phrases written by de Chirico. A suggestion could be the statement that appears in his Autoritratto: "Mihi fama perennis quaeritur in toto semper ut orbe canar".
The Giorgio de Chirico House Museum is in Piazza di Spagna 31 ( metro stop Spagna )
Would you like to spend some time far from the city's noise and traffic? Why not consider a stroll through a fairy-tale place like Garbatella? This unique destination is so magical that you will feel engulfted in its unforgettable charm.
It was founded in the 1920's and was laid out to host workers from other parts of Italy. For this reason the first houses were built with vegetable gardens so that the new residents could cultivate the food they needed. The initial style adopted to build the housing units, including connecting courtyards and ladders, known as a "barocchetto", was both elegant and refined. Visitors will find that, using the ladders to go back and forth and passing under the beautiful archways, is a pleasure all by itself.
Under Mussolini's regime, however, typical fascist buildings began to be built. This architecture can be characterised as monumental, rigorous and severe, almost to the point of disturbing the observer. An example of this rationalist expression can be seen clearly in the Cesare Battisti primary school with its Imperial eagles and the open-work bell tower. Observing this school building one is easily reminded of the dictatorship which lasted twenty years.
The strangest impression that strikes the visitor strolling through the famous roman quarter, known as well for its frequent use as a set for various TV series and movies, is the feeling, even more than in Rome, of being in a little village frozen in time. As you continue on your way, you will notice that the families here are used to gathering in the courtyards chatting in the open air and the women, returning home with shopping bags in hand, have that typical good-natured Roman look. Life in general moves along slowly and peacefully.
If you want a taste of roman life, the one old and genuine, a stroll through Garbatella is a "must". There you will encounter truly Roman people, who speak a roman dialect and demostrate the easy-going behaviour of the real Romans. A local symbol of this Roman-ness is Carlotta's fountain where young couples gather to drink of this water before the fateful kiss.
If you pass under Via Rublino's arch which is next to the Saint Isidoro and Saint Eurosia's church, the so called "chiesoletta", an obligatory stay for pilgrims of the seven churches, and walk along this green and quiet road, you will soon arrive at Piazza G. Sapeto within a few steps, one of the most fascinating squares of the district, going down the steps to your right, you can easily reach the above-quoted fountain for people in love.
Nanni Moretti,* in his movie Caro Diario, cites Garbatella as the dstrict he likes most and we are right to believe it. From his vespa, he points out the most impressive corners, which strike us with their unmistakable beauty. You will feel the same emotions that are stirred by scenes in his movie.
- How to get to Garbatella: Coming from Termini station, take the metro linea B, Laurentina direction, and get off at Garbatella stop.
*Nanni Moretti is one of Italy's most original and indipendent film directors. His movies are full of sense of humor and very interesting if you want to know a little more about italian society.
"Aqua alta" floods Venice regularly in the winter, when the water level in the Adriatic rises with tidal surges. But this time it was so high that a guy went waterboarding right in Piazza San Marco!
Look at this video it's unbelievable and beautiful!
As you walk through the city of Rome, underneath every single building that exists, there is something ancient hidden in it. This video shows only the tip of iceberg of a city you thought you knew. Each area, each building represents a journey through time! Rome is an open air Museum and a hidden underworld. Our Rome apartments are located in the central areas of historical sites in the city.
The city of Venice, experts speculate is sinking! You can walk around in San Marco Square with water up to your knees during only high tide and actually enjoy it. A few hours later, the square and Venice go back to normal as if nothing had happened. The truth of the matter is, that this is the only place on earth where you can witness to this magnificent site. Everything is authentic, charming and real! Instead of staying in over-priced hotel inVenice, choose a quality Venice Apartment from ThekeytoItaly.com and enjoy living around locals in space and comfort.
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Would you like to spend some time far from the city's noise and traffic? Why not consider a stroll through a fairy-tale place like Garbatella? This unique destination is so magical that you will feel engulfted in its unforgettable charm. 
The strangest impression that strikes the visitor strolling through the famous roman quarter, known as well for its frequent use as a set for various TV series and movies, is the feeling, even more than in Rome, of being in a little village frozen in time. As you continue on your way, you will notice that the families here are used to gathering in the courtyards chatting in the open air and the women, returning home with shopping bags in hand, have that typical good-natured Roman look. Life in general moves along slowly and peacefully.
