ANCIENT ROME...

Do you know what the Roman Pantheon is? Here's an article that explains a little about this remarkable structure.

http://www.rome.info/pantheon/

REMEMBER THE DUOMO in Florence? Here's an article about the Pantheon DOME.

http://harvey.ro/THE_DOME_OF_THE_PANTHEON.html

PANTHEON VIDEO -- beautiful! Wait for it to start. For a few seconds, you hear nothing after you click on this link. Then, you will hear some piano music. YOU DON'T NEED TO CLICK on anything. It will begin on its own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fM-AiiDoVs&feature=related

PANTHEON VIDEO -- amazing architecture!

This video is very unique. It discusses the actual building of the Pantheon. Even if your interests are not in architecture, I want you to view this video. It really makes you think about all of the INCREDIBLE structures which were created in ANCIENT times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=305niNDG8c4

(5) Many of the "building projects" of the ancient Romans have endured. Have you ever heard of "The Appian Way?" Here's a link to an article. BE SURE to read all the way to the end of this article and notice what the Appian Way and the catacombs have to do with each other!

http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/viaappia.htm

(6) Aquaducts: What do you know about the aquaducts built by the ancient Romans?
Here's a photo:

http://edu.glogster.com/media/3/10/50/51/10505162.jpg

Here's an article about how and why the aquaducts (also spelled aqueducts) were built.

http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/mvigeant/univ270_05/jake_aq/aqueducts.htm

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THE FOUNTAIN...THE FOUNTAIN...THE FOUNTAIN...THE FOUNTAIN...

Maybe you have heard of the TREVI FOUNTAIN...

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

The Trevi fountain, inspired by Roman triumphal arches, is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Rome (standing 25.9 meters high and 19.8 meters wide).

In 1629, Pope Urban VIII, asked Bernini to sketch possible renovations of the fountain, finding it insufficiently theatrical. After the Pope's death the project was abandoned. Bernini's lasting contribution was to situate the fountain from the other side of the square to face the Quirinal Palace (so that the Pope could see and enjoy it).

The Trevi Fountain as we know it today, was designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and competed in 1762.

The central figures of the fountain are Neptune (God of the sea), flanked by two Tritons. One struggles to master a very unruly "sea horse", the other lead a far more docile animal. These symbolize the two contrasting moods of the sea. // The site originally marked the terminal at the Aqua Virgo aqueduct built in 19 BC. // One of the first-story reliefs shows a young girl (the legendary virgin after whom the aqueduct was named) pointing to the spring from which the water flows.

Appropriately for a fountain resembling a stage set, the theatrical Trevi Fountain has been the star of many films shot in Rome, including romantic films such as "Three coins in a fountain" and "Roman holiday", but also "La dolce vita", Federico Fellini's satirical portrait of Rome in the 1950s.

Tradition has it a coin thrown into the water guarantees a visitor's return to Rome.

CLICK ON THE BLUE LINK BELOW to view a video clip about the TREVI FOUNTAIN. (Wait for it... some type of a commercial TRAVEL video clip usually precedes it.)

http://www.5min.com/Video/Visit-the-Trevi-Fountain-in-Rome-Italy-475813482

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NEW WORDS you should learn.
These are TERMS about "church architecture."

NUMBER ONE: apse

The apse of a church building is explained below.

The polygonal or semi-circular end of a church, usually roofed with a vaulted ceiling or a dome. In ancient Rome the basilica had an apse at both ends and this style became the norm in early Christian churches. Medieval churches, particularly on the European continent, had one or more apses at the eastern end of the church. These were generally rounded in Europe, but a square termination was more common in Britain.

Hales, Norfolk, rounded apse

Hales, Norfolk, rounded apse

NUMBER TWO: nave

nave

The west end of a church. where the congregation sits (in modern times) or stood (in the medieval period). The nave is usually the largest part of a church, and may be flanked by one or more parallel aisles. In most churches the east end of the nave terminates in an arch separating it from a chancel, where the high altar stands. In most churches there is a lectern and pulpit at the east end of the nave and a font near the west end.