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Explore Five Hidden Gems of Ancient Rome: A Three Part Course with Veronica Iacomi
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During our time together you will explore underground aqueducts, little known museums, and more fascinating statues which tell the stories of Romans through the ages.
Covering the most meaningful events which shaped the face of the city during the ages, we'll get a clear picture of why Rome boasts one of the most extraordinary series of heritage monuments in the world. As a case study, we'll deal with our first hidden gem: the Talking Statues, a series of ancient Roman sculptures which acquire a totally different meaning and role after the end of the Roman Empire.
Lecture Two – The Caelian Hill & Centrale Montemartini
A short walk away from the iconic Colosseum, the Caelian Hill, hidden gem #2, offers an extraordinary set of testimonies of antiquities: in a sort of a virtual itinerary, we'll literally bump into the Walls of Rome, a massive Temple devoted to Emperor Claudius, a Roman House turned into an early medieval church. The hidden gem #3, the Museum Centrale Montemartini, is an impressive collection of statues and findings from the central area of Rome, set in a dismissed power plant of the early XX c.
Lecture Three – The Aqua Virgo Aqueduct & The Ara Pacis Augusti (Altar of Peace of Augustus)
Built during the reign of Augustus by his fellow Agrippa, the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, hidden gem #4, is still preserved in some sections visible in the busy city center of Rome: we'll follow its itinerary, ideally walking along its path from the spring to Piazza Navona. We'll conclude with the Ara Pacis, hidden gem #5, the lavish altar erected in honor of Augustus, gone lost during the Middle Ages, rediscovered in modern times, and moved into a Museum, recently restored as an elegant building of notable contemporary architecture.
Veronica is a PhD archaeologist who worked on excavations in Rome and abroad (Turkey) for over 20 years. Subject topics of her research range from funerary archaeology to domestic architecture, with a special interest in Late Antiquity, the Provinces of the Roman Empire, processes of assimilation and cultural interchanges, economy and production in the Antiquity. Enthusiastic traveller and explorer, she has always devoted herself not only to her academic career but also to dissemination activities as a lecturer, tour guide in Rome (for over 10 years), tour planner and leader for trips all around the Mediterrenean. History buff, in love for her city - Rome, the Eternal City! -, moved by curiousity and a genuine passion for stories behind History, she likes to convey her expertise while never forgetting how to be also a good companion for your exploration of the ancient world.
This is a three-part series held weekly and hosted on Zoom. Please check the schedule for the specific dates and times for each lecture.
Your link to enter the Zoom room will be the same for all sessions. It will be sent to the email address used to place your order 30 minutes prior to each lecture's start time.
Though the course is open to participants with no background on this topic, there are suggested readings for further investigation. These will be provided at the course's conclusion.
Each lecture is 90 minutes long with time for Q&A.
The course is $105 USD for three lectures.
Yes. All registered participants will be sent a recording link within 48 hours of each session's conclusion. It will be available to re-watch for 15 days after the course concludes.
This conversation is suitable for all ages.
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
Packed with detailed info - learned about the aqueducts that I didn’t know.
We are going to Rome in May - this webinar has info about off-the-beaten places which we appreciate. Well done!
I’m so impressed about all there is to see in Rome besides the standard tourist destinations. Veronica keeps introducing me to fabulous places I must see. She’s also a Great presenter and it’s obvious she “knows her stuff”.
I love this in-depth thorough exploration of numerous sites in Ancient Rome. Veronica is detailed and clear in her descriptions. Her presentation was wonderfully visualized with maps and photos and diagrams
I loved chapter 1! It was so exciting to see, for me to discover, these fascinating statues and hear their wonderfully described and detailed stories from Veronica Iacomi. Her visuals (great maps) were also terrific.