Making the Connections
A personal touch. I wanted to concentrate on the plazas, which no matter where you are, connect people together. But in Italy, they are especially special - not only for what they do today but what purposes they served in the past.
Piazzas (Plazas) are vital for cities. Some, like the Piazza di Spagna have strong historical significance. The famous Spanish Steps connect the French Trinita dei Monti to the plaza, and are named after the Spanish Embassy next door (Ermengem). Spagna gives the impression of a crossroads. The story of it intersecting England (tea room) with France (church) and Spain (embassy) in Italy adds meaning to it as a meeting place. It is a classic example of community.
Piazza Navona is another famous plaza in Rome. It boasts an impressive and famous Bernini work, the Four Rivers. It is also by the Brazilian embassy, a similarity to the Spagna. Having places to dine, and the famous tartufo eatery are bonus points for the plaza. Unlike the Spagna, though, this dates back to Roman times standing in the place of Domitian's stadium (86 AD) (Ermengem). This plaza effectively connects past with present.
A very significant piazza is the Piazza del Popolo, the People's Plaza. I would consider it self explanatory, but historically it served the purpose of being the terminus of Via Flaminio, connecting Rome to the Adriatic coast (Ermengem). It was Rome's own gateway. It was here that I was introduced to the passeggiata, or afternoon stroll, and from there experienced it firsthand on the Via del Corso. I wish Miami had it; this is a valuable component of community. In contrast, we have the Third Place here as a social conduit which is remarkably different. The obelisk, in video clip, originated from the Circus Maximus, a part of our concentration, and for me symbolizes the ongoing acts of taking from desolate Roman structures to build new and debatably better things.
Not really a piazza, we have the Trevi Fountain. It joins three streets like a crossroads and historically served as a point in the Acqua Vergine aqueduct. I saw not only Baroque beauty here, but also the flow of life through the unmistakable roar of water. At night, the (recently refurbished) fountain looks absolutely stunning. Here I feel it is the video that talks the best.
Bonus: Piazza del Campo
The Piazza del Campo in Siena embodies the full spirit of an imposing city center, bringing together people and offering traditional events like the horse races that happen between local neighborhoods every summer. I feel that such an interactive space is needed in Miami. But here, we have street fairs, like Calle Ocho which serve a similar purpose.
