Magical Europe

Friday, May 29, 2020 by Bryan Smith   Filed under:

I'm ready to get back here.

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Sinkhole appears in front of Rome's Pantheon

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 by Bryan Smith   Filed under: News | Pantheon | Rome


A six-foot deep sinkhole opened up in front of the Pantheon in Rome, revealing ancient paving below the modern level. The ancient Travertine blocks were part of the original paving, put in place when the Pantheon was constructed in 27 BC.

If you stand at the back of the square in front of the Pantheon you'll notice that the whole square slopes towards the Pantheon. Over the centuries the level of Rome has risen. New buildings were built on top of older structures. Streets were repaired and improved by building on top of older streets. The slope is evidence of this rise, leading from the modern level at the rear of the square down to the ancient level near the entry to the Pantheon.

Rome was littered with temples, each dedicated to a specific god. Within a block or so of this spot were temples dedicated to Minerva, Serapis, and Isis (the Egyptian goddess, not the current maniacs in the Middle East). You could go to a specific temple and appeal to your chosen god for help in whatever area of life you were having problems. Love life sagging? Go to the temple of Venus. Having problems with your studies? Go talk to Minerva. Headed to war, or thankful for returning safely from battle? Mars is your man.
If you had lots of problems, and didn’t have time to visit all those different temples, you could come here – a temple dedicated to all (pan) the gods (theos). It was like the Walmart of temples. One stop shopping. Whatever ailed you, the Pantheon could fix it.
The Pantheon is absolutely the best preserved monument of ancient Rome. When buildings are abandoned, they tend to fall apart very quickly. Just drive by a house that has been foreclosed and sits empty for a while. The Pantheon is so well-preserved because it was never abandoned – it’s been in constant use since it was built in 27 BC.
The building was originally constructed by Marcus Agrippa, who was the best friend, son-in-law, and right-hand man of Augustus, Rome’s first emperor. The building was destroyed by lightning (was that a sign?), but rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian in about 120 AD. In a remarkable display of humility for a Roman Emperor, Hadrian left Marcus Agrippa’s name on the front. Hmmm, maybe he was worried about more lightning strikes? Anyway, the inscription across the top reads M. Agrippa L.F. Cos. tertium fecit, which means Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, made this. At least that’s what I’ve been told. My Latin isn’t great.
In the 4th century the building was consecrated as a church, dedicated to all the Christian martyrs, and it has been in use ever since.
When barbarian invaders sacked and burned Rome in 410 AD, they stole the church treasures, but they left the building intact. Strip away the bits of Christianity that have been tacked on (especially inside) and we are looking at the same thing that every visitor to Rome has seen for almost 1900 years, from Constantine to Charlemagne to Michelangelo to you.


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Sinkhole appears in front of Rome's Pantheon

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 by Bryan Smith   Filed under: News | Pantheon | Rome


A six-foot deep sinkhole opened up in front of the Pantheon in Rome, revealing ancient paving below the modern level. The ancient Travertine blocks were part of the original paving, put in place when the Pantheon was constructed in 27 BC.

If you stand at the back of the square in front of the Pantheon you'll notice that the whole square slopes towards the Pantheon. Over the centuries the level of Rome has risen. New buildings were built on top of older structures. Streets were repaired and improved by building on top of older streets. The slope is evidence of this rise, leading from the modern level at the rear of the square down to the ancient level near the entry to the Pantheon.

Rome was littered with temples, each dedicated to a specific god. Within a block or so of this spot were temples dedicated to Minerva, Serapis, and Isis (the Egyptian goddess, not the current maniacs in the Middle East). You could go to a specific temple and appeal to your chosen god for help in whatever area of life you were having problems. Love life sagging? Go to the temple of Venus. Having problems with your studies? Go talk to Minerva. Headed to war, or thankful for returning safely from battle? Mars is your man.
If you had lots of problems, and didn’t have time to visit all those different temples, you could come here – a temple dedicated to all (pan) the gods (theos). It was like the Walmart of temples. One stop shopping. Whatever ailed you, the Pantheon could fix it.
The Pantheon is absolutely the best preserved monument of ancient Rome. When buildings are abandoned, they tend to fall apart very quickly. Just drive by a house that has been foreclosed and sits empty for a while. The Pantheon is so well-preserved because it was never abandoned – it’s been in constant use since it was built in 27 BC.
The building was originally constructed by Marcus Agrippa, who was the best friend, son-in-law, and right-hand man of Augustus, Rome’s first emperor. The building was destroyed by lightning (was that a sign?), but rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian in about 120 AD. In a remarkable display of humility for a Roman Emperor, Hadrian left Marcus Agrippa’s name on the front. Hmmm, maybe he was worried about more lightning strikes? Anyway, the inscription across the top reads M. Agrippa L.F. Cos. tertium fecit, which means Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, made this. At least that’s what I’ve been told. My Latin isn’t great.
In the 4th century the building was consecrated as a church, dedicated to all the Christian martyrs, and it has been in use ever since.
When barbarian invaders sacked and burned Rome in 410 AD, they stole the church treasures, but they left the building intact. Strip away the bits of Christianity that have been tacked on (especially inside) and we are looking at the same thing that every visitor to Rome has seen for almost 1900 years, from Constantine to Charlemagne to Michelangelo to you.


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Flights to Italy to resume in June

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 by Bryan Smith   Filed under: COVID-19 | News



My inbox is filled with announcements from travel industry partners who will be resuming business operations in the near future, if they haven't already. Hotels in France and Germany, and restaurants in Italy are back in business. Many museums are open again, or opening soon.

Among the major announcements:

Alitalia said that they will resume flights between Italy and New York, as well as many other international destinations, beginning in mid June. Italy plans to reopen all of the country's airport on June 3.

Spain will drop quarantine requirements for international arrivals beginning in July 1.

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are among the countries that have already eased most of the restrictions for local businesses, and fortunately the COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline in all of these countries.

Hopefully we'll get to visit Europe this year!

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Travel Thought for the Week

Monday, May 25, 2020 by Bryan Smith   Filed under: Travel Thoughts

“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.”
– John Gillespie Magee Jr, 19-year-old volunteer with the Royal Canadian Air Force, KIA 1941

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