Villa Borghese

Yes, that's a real Caravaggio.  No, I wasn't supposed to take a picture.

We walked a lot today.  Our goal was to get to the Villa Borghese, a massive garden complex bigger than the Vatican.  On the way, we spotted Castel Sant'Angelo before heading to a rare Gothic church, and finally Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo.  At the Basilica -- which is on Piazza del Popolo, bordering the Borghese grounds -- I saw two Caravaggios in a side chapel.  He is one of my favorite painters (alongside Norman Rockwell).

The Borghese Gardens are influenced by the English Romantic garden, where winding paths in a naturalistic setting contrast the linear planning of a classical one (think Stourhead as opposed to Versailles).  Everything is still carefully planned and designed to make the landscape "better than God did," to borrow a wisecrack from our professor.  This past week, we have been designing both types (and a hybrid) for our studio pinups each class.  It was therefore apt timing to visit the gardens and buildings.

The bells are ringing.  It's 7pm which means it is time for dinner at L'Archetto, a pasta place we visited during our second night.

Our nearly 7 mile walk took us along the Tiber to Villa Borghese before arriving at studio late in the afternoon