June 15

Today was orientation day at the American Academy.  We met at the Quattro Venti (Four Winds) Metro station and were shown some of the key features of the neighborhood we're in.  We entered the grounds of what was once the Villa de Pamphili.  This magnificent estate was the scene of fierce hand-to-hand combat in 1849-50 between Garibaldi & the Roman Republicans against the French.  Some of the stone walls still have cannonballs punched deep inside.

After leaving the ground of the Villa (now Rome's biggest park) we came to the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, which is also known as Il Fontanone (the big fountain).  Pope Paul V restored the Acqua Traiana (Trajan's Aqueduct) and had this fountain built to commemorate his achievement.  Fifty years later, Pope Alexander VII wanted additional water from the aqueduct so it could supply his new fountain in St. Peter's Square.  The lake water made everything from the Acqua Paola unhealthy to drink, giving birth to a Roman saying "as good as the Acqua Paola" when they really mean something is of poor quality.  

Across the street from the fountain is a terrific view of the city.

In this shot, you can see the done of the Pantheon, just to the right and above the satellite dish(!).

After our tour we entered the grounds of the American Academy.  Here is a view of the courtyard.  We had a series of meetings (pretty boring), but I did get to meet Barbara Weiden-Boyd, the author of the Vergil text most commonly used (and the one I hope to use next year in Latin 4H).  I felt a little bit like a groupie.

Tomorrow is the Forum.  It should be a much better day for pictures, so please stay tuned.