The Ludus Magnus was Rome’s foremost training academy for gladiators… It was built by the Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD) and lies just to the east of the famous Colosseum. Yet, despite its significance, the hordes of tourists visiting the Colosseum always seem to miss it: Fragments of the Severan Marble Plan, an ancient map of … Continue reading
A shot from one of our Italian correspondents… Continue reading
Taken in Rome… Continue reading
The Partisans’ Home can be seen off in the distance on the right… Italians don’t often get much respect, but I do not believe that is entirely justified. After all, this is the culture that gave us the Roman Empire and then the Renaissance. How many countries can claim two turns at the top of … Continue reading
Taken outside of Rome in the summer of 2011: Continue reading
My Italian and I randomly encountered this artist as we were wandering around Rome one day… He had set up small signs with the names of various sites of cultural or historical significance written on them and then had various objects placed next to the sign that carried some sort of symbolism (symbolism that only … Continue reading
This picture was taken in 2008 on Christmas Eve… Circumstances have not improved for Claudia since I took that photograph. I suppose it is perhaps for the best that I refrained that evening from reminding Claudia that we all die anyway and, therefore, her concerns were meaningless and irrelevant in the broader scheme of things. … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 