OMG...I am EXHAUSTED!!!!

I believe that I have reached the point of exhaustion!!  Today we visited the Villa Borghese.  The villa and its parks were designed in 1605 for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V.  The massive park was the first of its kind in Rome.  The parks include an ionic temple dedicated to Aesculapius, built on the lake island, museums and galleries, foreign academies and schools of archaeology, an amphitheater, an artificial lake and many fountains, Neoclassical statuary and much more.  The pinnacle of the park is the Museo e Galleria Borghese.  In the early 19th century, Prince Camillo Borghese assembled the family's magnificent art collection in the Casino Borghese, now the home of the Galleria and the Museo Borghese.  Unfortunately, no photos are allowed in the Museo e Galleria Borghese but one of the most dramatic sculptures is that of David captured the moment before he slays Goliath in the sculpture by Bernini, who used his face as the model for David .  There were many religious works throughout the museum but none more prolific than the pieces by Correggio.  He has two pieces of art that are so life like that they almost appear to be photos.  One is the Testa di Cristo ( the Head of Christ) and the other is Compianto sul Cristo morto ( Lamentation over the the Dead Christ). Correggio has has on display various paintings and drawings were he uses grids to sketch his work.  Many of the sketches that were found are beautiful 'rough drafts' of his planned works.  Many were not complete (or have never been found) so it is through his sketches that his works were able to live on.

At 7:00pm we had a guided tour of Rome at twilight.  Now just to let you know, it was not twilight when we started the tour.  It was a walking tour that took us through 'ancient Rome'.  We started at the Piazza Di Spagna ( the Spanish Steps) where at the foot of the steps is the Fontana della Barcaccia.  We visited the outside of the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain,  the Pie' di Marmo (a gigantic marble foot), the Obelisk of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (sculpted by Ercole Ferrata to Bernini's design), the Piazza Navona with the Fontana del Moro and church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (which is closed due to calcium damage.  Efforts are being made to restore the fountain to prevent further cracking), the Roman Forum, the Temple of Saturn (at night) and the Coloseum (at night).  There were SO MANY other sites that we visited but I just could not keep up with all that this tour had to offer.  It was mind blowing seeing all of the architectural masterpieces being walked over, walked on and walked by.  Such little regard is given to many of the great works offered by the most renowned artists, sculptors and architects of any era.