The rubbish of Rome
- Richard
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
What a mess it is there. A very old, dilapidated stadium on the verge of collapse. Fallen pillars everywhere and a large piece of wasteland with rubble in the grass. Can't they just clear that old mess? It's truly beyond words. Just imagine all the nice restaurants and shops you could build there. Or a beautiful city park, if you like. Rome's government, do something, take action!
Open-air museum
Okay, okay. I'm joking, of course. In reality, Rome is one of the most impressive places on earth. Rome is one big open-air museum. Everywhere you look, you see history that has literally stood the test of time. It's incredible that these buildings have lasted so long. Will the things we're building now still be standing in two thousand years? I doubt it.
The Colosseum, a time machine
Take the Colosseum. What a building! And not just any old stadium: thousands of people were entertained here. But did you know they also staged naval battles there? Complete with sailing ships and all the trimmings. The idea that all this was possible in an era without modern technology? I simply can't grasp it. The other side of the story is that thousands of people and animals were murdered solely for the spectators' amusement. That, too, is hard to grasp.
The beauty of decay
What I called "a mess" is actually a story of beauty. Every fallen column, every crack in the marble, tells a story. Of architects who wanted to create something beautiful, of emperors who wanted to demonstrate their power, centuries of history literally visible here. If you pause to consider it, you sense a kind of timeless connection.
“Rome will stand as long as the Colosseum stands; when the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall; and when Rome falls, the world will fall.” – Prayer to the Venerable
Until a hundred years ago…
Until a hundred years ago, buildings were crafted with an eye for detail and beauty. Today, many buildings are sleek, square, and functional, but often lack the sense of wonder that makes you see things anew with every step. In Rome, you see how craftsmanship and creativity have endured for centuries.
Support us:
Click on this banner and buy something at bol.com
A small percentage of your purchase goes towards funding this website.
Get inspired by Rome
As we strolled through the streets, taking photos and filming, it became clear that this is a city that continues to fascinate, in every corner and square. So I highly recommend everyone see Rome for themselves. But until then, you can get a taste of what's to come by watching our latest video .
Enter your email address at the bottom of this page and you'll receive an email no more than once a week when we post a new blog post. If you'd like to support us financially so we can keep this website online, please donate via this link .
Comments