Sometimes the road less traveled
is less traveled
for a reason.
Jerry Seinfeld
What is your favorite corner in the Eternal City?
Piazza Navona
This is my favorite piazza for its open space, sculptures in fountains and its nightlife of hawkers, locals and street artists. This is the neighborhood I consider central for booking a hotel to stay in because I can walk in every which direction to different neighborhoods.
The Tiber River
There are lots of points along this river that you could use. Here are three of the most popular choices.
- The view to St Peter’s Basilica – The view down to St Peter’s from Ponte Sant’Angelo is one of the best in Rome. Certainly the best along the river Tiber. Aim for sunset and blue hour to make the best of this location.
- Castel Sant’Angelo – Looking along the same bridge, Ponte Sant’Angelo, is Castel Sant’Angelo. The lines of the bridge leading up to the Castel offer another great photo from this location.
Altare de la Patria (aka Vittorio Emmanuel monument or The Typewriter Building)
The Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) is an imposing structure with striking architecture. Get up close to get interesting details of the sculptures. You can take the elevator to the top for the views.
Spanish Steps
Always crowded with tourists because it’s iconic and has been featured in popular movies set in Rome. New regulation does not allow people to sit on the steps anymore which takes away from its personality.
The Colosseum
Among the “new” 7 Wonders of the World is the Colosseum. Can you imagine its glory days when the entire structure was wrapped in white marble? There are plenty of good options for photographing this masterpiece, so let’s look at some of the potential photographs you could take.
Arriving at dawn means you can photograph the Colosseum with no people with the bonus of catching the sun peak through its arches.
Trevi Fountain
Completed in 1762, this still counts among Rome’s most popular tourist attractions. Its statues are dramatic backdrops for portraits if you can avoid the crowds by waking early or elbowing your way to the front row. Crowds can provide an important narrative element to a photo, giving the image context and life. To get the best of crowds in a photo you’ll want to get above them.
The Pantheon
This building has a lovely dome with genius construction in allowing rain to fall from the hole in its center and flow down the gently sloped marble floors with built in drains. If you get lucky at night to catch its front foyer lit, you can create a fun picture with someone in the spotlight juxtaposed with the gigantic pillars.
For a wide shot of the entire building, come at twilight when it is lit up and you’ll have the blue skies to complement the yellow glow of lamp lights.
St. Peter’s Basilica
Get lucky with the Pope’s appearance or enjoy the details in the architecture and the mosaics that look like very fine paintings.
Best time to photograph Arrive early to avoid queues at tourist locations. Sunrise and sunset are fun for playing with shadows. The twilight hour after sunset is magical when the sky is that shade of blue that complements the brightness of streetlamps.
Click on “Leave a Comment” (top left) to share your favorite corner in the Eternal City. All photos on this page from Google images.
xoxox
Give the women you love the most unique gift
of elegant and timeless portraits with a
Powerful Goddess Gift Certificate
for a most memorable photo shoot for up to three people!
© Sharon Birke
Managing Member, DoubleSmart LLC
201 697 1947
Sharon@PowerfulGoddess.com
Glamour Portraits of the Goddess in Every Woman