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Gianluca Pica
La Roma segreta dei Papi - Gabriela Habich
Everybody knows that Rome is strictly related with the presence of the Popes, who ruled the Eternal City over the centuries. It is the reason why, sometimes, we say that Rome was founded two times: the first one by the two twins, Romulus and Remus, who "created" the Eternal City. But on the other side, after some centuries, another couple of guys founded a new Rome, the sacred and Christian one: St Peter and St Paul. Anyway we should thank the Popes if the Eternal City is so full of beauties, becase there were the main sponsors, with cardinals and noblemen, of several artistis who came in Rome in order to work. Without the Popes we probably shouldn't have the Michelangelo or Raphael's masterpieces.
The author, starting from this point, in an easy why writes something about the history of Rome from the point of view of the Popes, knowing some of the most important pontiffs who really changed the city. People like Pope Urban VIII or Alexander VII were great art sponsors, commissioning several masterpieces to some of the most famous artists of the Renaissance and Baroque Age. Also in this way Rome became a real jewel.
But we shouldn't forget how Popes were human being and how sometimes the stories and deeds about them are not so good, clear and respectable. Thanks to this Pope we can know better the lifes of some fundamental Popes and, sometimes, we can face stories related to corruption, homicides or legends.
To read this book you don't need to be experts. Or better I can suggest to the people who don't several things about Rome to read it. In this way, understanding who were the most important Popes of the Eternal City, according to the author, who can really get in touch with Rome, understanding better its origins, its monuments, its different aspects, its beauty and history. It could be funny to cross the story of the Eternal City trying to understand how the Popes ruled the city, what kind of people used to work for them and even the wills that led some specifis Popes in order to do something specific. So, with this back, you will travel in the Rome of the past, but who will know better too some of the real kings who had the power here...
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