Rome Walks

In the Spring of 1819, the Shelleys left Naples and returned to Rome, where they immediately plunged into a vigorous round of sightseeing. 

Saint Peter's from Palatine Hill.  Miss Batty, Italian Scenery, London:  Rodwell Martin, 1820.  Courtesy Pattee Rare Books room, Pennsylvania State University.   Rome from Palatine Hill.  Miss Batty, Italian Scenery, London:  Rodwell Martin, 1820.  Courtesy Pattee Rare Books room, Pennsylvania State University.  

Shelley had several favorite walks in Rome.  One regular visit was the Quirinal gardens, which now serve as the Presidential Palace.  We were able to get only external shots since the gardens are currently open to the public only once a year in early July.

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The Baths of Caracalla were also a regular walk--perhaps Shelley's favorite in Rome.   It formed the background for Joseph Severn's painting, "Shelley in the Baths of Caracalla."

"Shelley in the Baths of Caracalla" by Severn  smallmvc-003x.jpg (14015 bytes) smallmvc-001x.jpg (19191 bytes)

Near the Baths was the Circus Maximus; the building on the far side of the Circus is the Emperor's Palace, and beyond the Palace is the Forum.

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The Cenci building still stands,

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as does the Pantheon,

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the Coliseum and the Arch of Constantine,

Coliseum.  Miss Batty, Italian Scenery, London: Rodwell Martin, 1820.  Courtesy Pattee Library Rare Books Room, University of Pennsylvania. smallmvc-006x.jpg (25598 bytes)smallmvc-002x.jpg (23519 bytes)   smallmvc-007x.jpg (17203 bytes) smallmvc-008x.jpg (20048 bytes)

the celebrated fountains at Trevi,

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the Forum,

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the Gardens above the Spanish Steps,

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and Keats’ last residence:  the pink building shown below to the right of the Spanish Steps.  Keats lived in the corner room on what Americans would call the third floor, Europeans the second.  The building now houses the Keats-Shelley Society (www.keats-shelley-house.org).

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A good contact at the Keats house is the administrator, Catherine Payling, cpayling@tin.it