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All rights reserved.

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Copyright 2015 by Alexandru Ciobanu

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express
written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author

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and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may
result from the use of information contained within.

Printed by Amazon

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First Printing, 2015

ISBN-13: 978-1511870825
ISBN-10: 1511870826
A collection by Alexandru Ciobanu
Lausanne, Switzerland
http://ciobanupublishing.wix.com/books

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ROME
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A PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR

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122 AMAZING PHOTOS

ALEXANDRU CIOBANU

_______________
2015

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PREFACE

Rome was the center of the world for centuries. Even today, it still is the heart of the
Roman Catholic world. Rome is one of the most visited cities on the planet, which doesnt
come as a surprise if one thinks about the richness of the cultural, artistic, and historic

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life of this city.

The old and the new, history and modernity, go hand in hand on the narrow streets
and large boulevards of Rome. Architectural wonders flood the visitors eye, and the

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archaeological artifacts of ancient Rome satisfy the search for history. Visitors can relax
in beautiful squares and find peace of mind in quiet churches where famous painters and
sculptors worked centuries ago. The traveler can also happily indulge in the delicious

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Italian cuisine in restaurants found all over the place, completing the culinary experience

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with a delightful ice cream near the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi).

Not many cities around the world are as photogenic as Rome. Photographers, painters,

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and filmmakers have always found this city attractive due to its visual appeal and romantic
atmosphere. This book gathers an impressive collection of photographs that portray
beautiful Rome from different perspectives. We hope this visual journey will please both
the nostalgic tourists returning from their trip and the prospective traveler planning to visit

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the city of Rome.

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This is a preview of the book ROME - a photographic tour.

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To see the entire book please go to www.amazon.com

Thank you!

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The Trajan markets are part of the Trajan Forum, an ancient architectural complex built between
107 and 113 A.D (photo 10).

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The Column of Trajan (Colonna Traiana) is an impressive monument (42 meters/137.8 feet high)
located next to the ancient Basilica Ulpia (photo 11).

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The details from the Column of Trajan (photo 12) depict scenes from the war between Trajans
army and the Dacians, inhabitants of Dacia (present-day Romania).
The statue of Trajan, the emperor of the Roman Empire between 98 and 117 A.D. (photo 13).
The Colosseum is within walking distance from the magnificent Piazza Venezia. This is where
visitors can see the impressive National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II, also known as Il
Vittorino (photo 14).
Here, one can also admire the Generali Palace (Palazzo Generali) (photo 15).
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The

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the

Immaculate

Conception (Colonna dellImmacolata)

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was erected in the 19th century (photo

26).

The column from Piazza Santa Maria

Maggiore dates back to 1614 (photo
27). They are both Marian columns, that
is religious monuments honouring the
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Virgin Mary.
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Crowded day and night (photo 43), Fontana di Trevi is a romantic place, and it is often the
chosen scene for marriage proposals.
Symbols and sculptures beautifully decorate the fountain. In the middle lies the statue of Ocean
or Oceanus (photo 44), the god of the river that circled the world, as the ancient Romans believed.
It is believed that people that throw a coin in the fountain will come back to visit Rome. This is a
very popular custom and it is estimated that tourists throw about 3000 euro in the Trevi fountain
each day.
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Inside the church, there is a treasure of artworks

designed by famous artists. St. Peters Baldachin
(photo 48) is a large bronze sculpture created by
Gian Lorenzo Bernini to mark the tomb of Saint Peter,
which many believe lies underneath the church.
Another famous work is La Pieta (photo 49), a
Renaissance masterpiece sculpted by Michelangelo
Buonarroti between 1498 and 1499.

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The Vatican Gardens (photo 50), where popes have

relaxed and meditated since 1279, are open to the
public, and they make a nice walk inside the secret
city of Vatican.

Among the buildings and monuments inside the

Vatican gardens, a visitor can find the interesting
medieval Tower of Saint John (photo 51).
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The crown jewel of the Vatican Museums is the Sistine Chapel (photo 55).

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Maybe the most well known fresco from the Sistine Chapel is The creation of Adam that
illustrates the biblical creation of Adam, the first man, by God (photo 54).

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Among the masterpieces from the Vatican Museums is the ancient sculptural group representing
Laocon and his sons. Its believed that the sculpture, depicting the Trojan priest Laocon and
his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus fighting sea serpents, dates from sometime between 27
and 68 B.C. (photo 56).
At the end of the tour, visitors leaving the Vatican Museums reach the amazing spiral staircase
made of two intertwined spirals, one going up and one going down (allowing people to descend
without meeting people ascending). Natural light illuminates it through a canopy located above
the stairs (photo 57).
On the highest summit of the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio), is the Church of St. Mary of the Altar
of Heaven (Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli al Campidoglio, photo 58).
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This elegant park is, in fact, rich in beautiful, refreshing

fountains (photo 65).

The Villa Borghese gardens were the property of the

Borghese family, and they were vineyards until 1605
when the area became a beautifully decorated park
with sculptures (photo 67) and places for relaxation,
including a zoo.
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The churchs exterior is decorated with an amazing 12th century golden mosaic (photo 71), and

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the inside contains other beautiful mosaics dating from the 13th century.

One important religious edifice in Trastevere is the Church of Saint Peter (Chiesa di San Petro)
in Montorio with its famous circular temple (Il Tempietto, photo 69).

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During the Roman period, defense walls provided protection, and visitors can still see part of
them today. Emperors Aurelian and Probus built these Aurelian Walls (Mura aureliane, photo 72)
between 271 and 275 A.D.

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The old defense walls contain several monuments and gates. Among the remarkable ones are
the Pyramid of Caius Cestius and Porta San Paolo (photo 73).

Michelangelo designed the Porta Pia gate and finished it in 1565 (photo 74).
Ostia Antica (photo 75) was the harbor city of the ancient Rome. This site is about 20 minutes
from Rome and it is famous for its well-preserved sculptures, ancient architecture, mosaics and
bas-reliefs (photos 76-79).
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One can find here an excellently preserved antique theater

from the first century B.C. The theater still hosts public events,
especially during summer (photo 80).

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In Ostia Antica there is also a medieval castle, the castle of

Julius II (photo 81), finished in 1484. For centuries, it was a
papal residence.

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Antique Rome had many public baths called terme. These

complexes were facilities for bathing, but at the same time a
place where people would gather to socialize. Very famous
were the Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla) and the
preserved remains of this complex still exist (photo 82).
The Baths of Diocletian (Thermae Diocletiani, photo 83) was
the largest imperial public bath. Today, some parts of them are
incorporated in other buildings, like the church Santa Maria
degli Angeli e dei Martiri or the National Roman Museum.
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Inside the Baths of Diocletian there is now a well-known church in Rome: Santa Maria degli
Angeli e dei Martiri (photo 93). The churchs bronze door, created in 2006, has beautiful statues
created by the Polish-born sculptor Igor Mitoraj (photo 94).

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One of the most interesting places of worship in Rome is the church of Saint Mary in Cosmedin
(Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin). Dating from the 8th century, this church has a medieval
crypt, exhibits medieval art and enshrines the relics of Saint Valentine (photo 95).

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The Church of of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica San Paolo Fuori le Mura) is one of the
pilgrimage churches, central to a religious pilgrimage to the city (photo 96). The churchs interior
has 80 columns, 5th century mosaics on the triumphal arch, scenes from Saint Pauls life and a
gold-coffered ceiling (photo 97).

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The Palace of Justice (Palazzo di Giusitzia), the seat of the Supreme Court of Cassation, is
considered one of the grandest buildings in Romes recent history. It was built between 1888 and
1910, and its architecture has Baroque and late Renaissance influences (photo 100).
Montecitorio Palace (Palazzo Montecitorio) is an elegant building from the 17th century, now the
seat of the Chamber of Deputies. The government redesigned the palace at the beginning of the
20th century, leaving only the facade unchanged (photo 101).
The Palace of Expositions (Palazzo delle Esposizioni), is an impressive neoclassical building
used as an exposition hall and cultural center. Opened in 1883, it now has a cinema, a restaurant,
a museum and a library (photo 102).
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111

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Everywhere a traveler turns, he can find art all around the city, from the stained windows of old
buildings to sculptures of angels and saints hidden among narrow streets (photos 110 and 111).

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Tourists can see one of the urban symbols of Rome, the classical motor scooter, at every corner
and on every street (photo 112).

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Secret, peaceful corners are waiting for someone to discover them in the labyrinth of the old
citys streets (photo 113).
Street performers entertain the traveler around the city. Theyre often in public squares and
around popular areas (photo 114).

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Beautiful windows packed with flowers reflect the citys vivid colors (photo 115).

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List of contributing photographers

Collage of Angel statues.
Canstockphoto photo 19, page 15

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The Colosseum. Alexandru C. Ciobanu - photo 1,

pages 6-7

alessandro0770,

Ponte Sisto bridge, Rome, Italy.

Canstockphoto photo 21, page 16

Detail from the Colosseum. Alexandru C. Ciobanu

photo 3, page 8

Island in Rome, on the Tiber river. Revolvers, Fotolia

photo 22, page 16

View on road to Coliseum. Vvoevale, Dreamstime

photo 4, page 8

Milvio bridge in Rome.

Canstockphoto photo 23, page 16

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Arch of Constantine. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo

2, page 7

Javarman,

Alessandro0770,

Temple of Saturn. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo 6,

page 9

Marco Aurelio Column, Rome, Italy. MasterLu,

Bigstockphoto photo 25, page 17

View of details of ancient Rome. BackyardProductions,

Bigstockphoto photo 7, page 9

Colonna dellImmacolata in Rome, Italy. Ihsan

Gercelman, Dreamstime photo 26, page 17

Arch of Septimius Severus. LianeM, Canstockphoto

photo 8, page 9

Virgin Marry column from Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore.

Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo 27, page 17

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Panoramic view of the Trajan markets. Alexandru C.

Ciobanu photo 10, page 10
Column of Trajan and Basilica Ulpia. Alexandru C.
Ciobanu photo 11, page 11
Detail from the Column of Trajan. Alexandru C.
Ciobanu photo 12, page 12

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Emperor Trajan. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo 13,

page 12
Il Vittorino. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo 14, page 12
Palazzo Generali. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo 15,
page 13

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Piazza Venezia. Membio, Canstockphoto photo 16,

page 13
Castel Santangelo in Rome. Italy, Demarfa Fotolia
photo 17, page 14
Vista Del Tevere E Ponte SantAngelo. eZeePics
Studio, Fotolia photo 18, page 14
Angel at SantAngelo. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo
19, page 15

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Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy. Iakov

Bigstockphoto photo 28, pages 18-19

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The Vestal Virgins. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo 9,

page 10

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Padlocks on Milvio Bridge Bepsimage. Canstockphoto

photo 24, page 16

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The Roman Forum. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo 5,

page 9

Piazza Navona, Rome. Lucian

Bigstockphoto photo 29, page 20

Kalinin,

Milasan,

Greengrocer. Konstantinos Papaioannou, Dreamstime

photo 30, page 21
Square in Rome. Grekov, Bigstockphoto photo 31,
page 21
The Pantheon. Phant, Fotolia photo 32, pages 2223
Inside the Pantheon, Rome, Italy. Scaliger, Fotolia
photo 33, page 24
Fontana del Pantheon. Alexandru C. Ciobanu photo
34, page 24
Fountain of Pantheon, Rome, Italy. Rglinsky,
Canstockphoto photo 35, page 24
Roma, piazza della Minerva e elefantino del Bernini.
Lamio, Fotolia photo 36, page 25
Spanish Steps at dusk, Rome.
Canstockphoto photo 37, pages 26-27

Sborisov,