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Gallery of Italy's
treasures: Amalfi Coast, Blue Grotto, Trevi Fountain, Roman
Pantheon, Roman ruins
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)
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this Article • About
the Author • Bibliography/Sources
As is common infamy, southern
Italy is a treasure horde of scenic galore, ancient ruins
and temples, and proud monuments to Italian cultural and ethnic
heritage. This gallery offers a small collection of a variety
of monuments, sites and tourist destinations, famous buildings,
the Blue Grotto and the Isle of Capri, Trevi Fountain, Roman
ruins, the Amalfi Coast, Stromboli Volcano in Sicily, monuments
to Italy's first king Vittorio Emmanuel, and a pre-Christian
massive pantheonic dome converted into a Catholic church.
in Rome and southern Italy. For pictures of other monuments
like the Coliseum, Venice, etc. see the other articles in
the Library.
Amalfi Coast:
The Amalfi coast is a magnificent
and famous scenic drive along the coast of southern Italy
with massive cliffs and crystal-blue waters adorned with vinyards
and medieval coastal villages. The Emerald Grotto therein
offers a larger yet less radiant cave system akin to the Blue
Grotto at Capri.
the Amalfi coastline with massive cliffs atop crystal-blue
waters. (click to enlarge)
Another photo of mine of the crystal-blue waters below massive
lush mountains. (click to enlarge)
a gorgeous town along the Amalfi coast with a huge church
in the background.
a church and housing area in Amalfi. (click to enlarge)
a typical Italian Amalfi coastal town from the medieval period.
(click to enlarge)
Another photo of mine from the same village; flowers, vinyards,
and lush greenery adorn every inch of the Amalfi coast.
The Blue Grotto/Isle of
Capri:
The Blue Grotto is a natural
phenomenon outside of Sorrento on the Isle of Capri in southern
Italy with an intricate cavern system inside a mountain offering
a bizarre opportunity to enter a crystal-blue shimmering cave
through a tiny hole less than 4 feet tall. The neighboring
mountain city of Capri -- with its famous funicolare tram
system atop the hill -- offers a rich array of paintings,
leather designs, artwork, jewelry, and fantastic scenic views
of the entire island covered in descending fog banks.
the beautiful Isle of Capri, where the Blue Grotto cave system
resides. (click to enlarge)
Capri's famous funicolare rail system atop the cave-carved
mountain.
Capri from atop the mountain. (click to enlarge)
the entrance tothe Blue Grotto cave system. Notice the chains
that the boatmen must use to pull themselves into the tiny
hole; passengers must lay entirely flat.
the main interior of the Blue Grotto.
the stunning blue crystal-clear waters of the Grotto.
Pre-Christian Pantheon
of Rome converted into a church:
The Pantheon of Rome is a
bizarre Athenian-like domed temple originally built in the
2nd century CE (shortly before Christianization of the Roman
Empire by Constantine the Great and Theodosius) to celebrate
the glory of the Roman pantheon. After Christendom became
compulsory, the temple was converted into a church. Its massive
interior is reminiscent of the radiant 5th-century Hagia Sophia
in Istanbul before its conversion to a mosque after the victory
of the Turkish jihad. Its location right in the center of
modern Rome makes this ancient monument -- in near-perfect
condition -- a worthy candidate of the status of a wonder.
The interior offers a variety of purposes including a Catholic
sermon section, a commemorative tomb to Vittorio Emmanuel
II (Italy's first emperor), and an honor to the war-dead in
Italy's many colonial wars in Africa (especially Ethiopia
and Libya) and in both World Wars. It is incredible in its
interior and exterior alike. The church is of course now the
property of the Vatican.
the magnificent Pantheon right in the middle of town square.
(click to enlarge)
the interior ancient domes of the church. A clear pagan style
before Christendom indeed. (click to enlarge)
a glorious Catholic altar therein.
the commemorative tomb of Vittorio Emmanuel II, first king
of Italy in the 19th century.
the Catholic sermon area in the church.
the commemorative tomb of Emperor Umberto.
Trevi Fountain:
The Trevi Fountain is one
of Europe's most famous monuments and tourist destinations.
Originally a major aqueduct source of Rome's water supply
during the Roman period, Pope Urban VIII in the 17th century
ordered for the aqueduct fountain to be adorned with a massive
and intricate architectural design complete with stone, white
marble, statues, and attractive fountain directional arrangements.
The house behind it is one of the homes of the president of
Italy after each inauguration. It is covered with tourists
at all times of day.
Trevi Fountain from the side. (click to enlarge)
a close-up of the fountain from the center. (click
to enlarge)
Stromboli Volcano, Sicily:
Stromboli volcano is a bizarrely
unique site on one of Sicily's many northern islands near
the Straight of Messina. Populated for centuries, a series
of massive eruptions has caused the island to be entirely
abandoned for the safety of its inhabitants. The fact that
this island had quite a large and thriving fishing community
with hundreds of homes is now abandoned is quite a stunning
sight. Much of the island is bright lush green whilst the
other is deep brown due to the volcanic activity. The island
can be heard rumbling, and gas clouds emit from the peak all
day long as seen below. Vents of steam also can be seen emitting
from different parts of the shoreline of the volcanic island.
Stromboli volcano in Sicily from the distance. Local homes
by the hundreds can be seen below, entirely abandoned. (click
to enlarge)
Stromboli volcano close-up. The black smoke and gas clouds
can be seen bursting from the volcano all day long. The dark
clouds in the sky far above are actually from the volcano
as well. (click to enlarge)
Monument to Italian Unification,
Guiseppi, & Vittorio Emmanuel II:
In the center of Rome stands
one of the world's largest square monuments, a huge series
of steps akin to an acropolis in commemoration to Italy's
united statehood in the 19th century, to the unifying achievements
of the Italian cultural hero Giuseppe and Italy's first king
Vittorio Emmanuel II, and to the thousands of war-dead Italian
soldiers in Italy's many wars. The monument has soldiers standing
motionlessly the entire day with halberds and firearms, others
holding flags next to eternally-burning flames to signify
the interminable Italian ethnic and historical heritage since
the Roman Empire. Crosses are all over the monument, maintaining
the strong links of Italian heritage to Catholicism. Atop
the monument also lies a tomb of the unknown soldier for those
missing in actions.
downtown Rome square next to the massive monument, with ancient
Roman forums and medieval churches in background. (click
to enlarge)
the main side of the massive monument. The horseman is Vittorio
Emmanuel next to quadrigas of goddess statues. (click
to enlarge)
a close-up view of the Vittorio Emmanuel monument. (click
to enlarge)
the nearby local church for prayer.
Assorted Roman ruins:
Rome has an endless supply
of Roman ruins directly in the middle of town next to modern
restaurants and homes, offering more tourist sights than can
be fully explored in a lifetime. Much construction and recovery
work is in progress.
the ancient Roman forum of Trajan (2nd century), built after
the conquest of the Thracian tribes of the Balkans and Dacia
(today's Romania). (click to enlarge)
a massive bed of Roman ruins below the city. (click
to enlarge)
more Roman ruins visible in the distance. Such sights are
at every turn of the head in Rome. (click to enlarge)
a small Roman aqueduct and bridge to a Catholic church. (click
to enlarge)
________________________________________
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
James Mayfield is a historian
and the Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I have
a Cum Laude BA in History with a Minor in Germanic Studies
(language and history), am presently working for my Masters
in History, and plan to immediately progress to my PhD Doctorate.
I have a special academic interest in Europe's diverse ethnic
identities, languages, and cultures, and the political struggles
of native European and immigrant minority identities. See
my staff entry for more information.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES
USED:
No additional citations or
sources necessary.
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