CCR Walks: The Santa Croce Neighbourhood - March 19, 2016

Join us on a walk through a neighbourhood which lies outside the usual tourist routes -- that of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, or Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem. Along the way we'll explore well preserved sections of the Aurelian Walls, the remains of a Roman circus, and the history of one of Europe's most enduring legends, the so-called Golden Legend, which turned this church into an important focus of worship for Medieval Christian pilgrims.

When: Saturday, Mar. 19, 2016
Time: 9:45 a.m. departure, 9:30 for coffee beforehand.
Meeting point: Exact location to be provided to those registered for this walk.
Cost: €10 for CCR members, €15 non-members.
RSVP required by Thu. Mar. 18th, ATTN Joe at canadarome@gmail.com. You are financially responsible for your reservation.
NOTE: Please bring correct change. 
NB: Should it be a rainy day, the walk will include the fascinating and little-known Museum of Musical Instruments (separate €5 admission ticket).

CCR Walks: The Empire’s Crumbs: feeding what was left of the Empire - October 18, 2015

This guided walk follows on the theme of the one on September 27, 2015.

How did the building of the Aurelian(ic) Walls impact people's food supply and the neighbourhoods they lived in? How quickly did the city's population contract, and how much, during the Dark Ages?

Let's explore these and other topics at the Crypta Balbi. It's Rome's museum of the Middle Ages and is still a "work-in-progress" archaeological excavation just off Piazza Argentina. We take the chance to review Rome's Late Imperial and Early Medieval food production and consumption, in light of the momentous changes in the city's structure as the the Ancient Roman Empire declined. Artifacts, reconstructions and texts help understand everyday life in Medieval Rome. 

When: Sunday, October 18, 2015
Time & Meeting point: Bar Amore via Florida 17 at 9.45 for coffee, starting 10 am sharp. 
Cost: €10 for CCR members, €15 non members for the guided tour, plus Crypta Balbi admission €7 (valid three days for three other sites -- Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, and the Baths of Diocletian); reduced entrance ticket €3.50; children up to 17 years old are free (teens should bring ID). 
RVSP required by Thursday, Oct. 15th:  ATTN Peter at canadarome@gmail.com. You are financially responsible for your reservation. 
NOTE: Please bring correct change, familiarize yourself with the meeting place ahead of time and make sure you are ready to depart promptly.

CCR Walks with Olivia: Constantine and the Arco di Malborghetto - February 8, 2015

All Italian school children are taught that Constantine beat his rival Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in the year 312 AD, ushering in a new era in Western Europe. Very few people have actually visited one of the few extant sites linked to the momentous battle -- the Malborghetto Arch, at km 19 along the Via Flaminia, which was erected by a thankful Constantine as a four-sided triumphal monument to mark the place where he pitched his camp before the fateful battle. The arch was walled up and turned into a medieval “casale” or fortified farm house, which was bought by a “pomatarius” or herbalist, to whom it owes its present castle-like appearance, and was only identified in the early 1900s. We will visit the small museum inside, and chart the story of the arch and its history.

When: Sunday, February 8, 2015
Time & Meeting Place: 10:15 a.m. at Sacrofano railway station parking lot. The 9:30 commuter train from Piazzale Flaminio arrives at Sacrofano at 9:57. 
Cost: €10 for CCR members, €15 for non-members for the guided tour. Please bring exact change, as this will greatly facilitate the process for everyone.
RVSP required by Wednesday, February 4th:  ATTN Joe at canadarome@gmail.com. You are financially responsible for your reservation.
NOTE: Please bring correct change, familiarize yourself with the meeting place ahead of time and make sure you are ready to depart promptly.

CCR Walks with Olivia: The Politics of Food (Part 1) - April 6, 2013

Medieval marketplaces and their descendants are still an important feature of today's city landscape -- but for how much longer? Take a tour of open air marketplaces from Roman to Medieval times. Find out about the different choices made by Emperors and Popes to ensure food security through the centuries. The development of marketplaces helped shape the city throughout the Roman, Renaissance and Baroque periods. This tour is one of a two-part series on the role of food security in the ancient and post-ancient world and the lessons we can learn from history; part two will take us to Portus to inspect exciting new digs (special permission).

When: Saturday, April 6, 2013 
Where: Bar dei Cerchi on via dei Cerchi, 47 
Time: 10 a.m. The walk will last two and a half hours, starting promptly at 10 a.m. (concluding around 12:30); those who would like to meet for coffee beforehand please joins us at 9:30 a.m. 

Cost: €10 for CCR members, €15 for non-members 
RVSP required by Wednesday April 3, ATTN Linda at canadarome@gmail.com or Olivia Ercoli at oliviaercoli1@gmail.com. You are financially responsible for your reservation. 
NOTE: Please bring correct change, familiarize yourself with the meeting place ahead of time and make sure you are ready to depart promptly.

Historic Walks - 2010-2011

As the CCR Season begins we are all looking forward to the numerous activities for 2010-2011. One of the perennially popular activities has been the historical walks with Olivia Ercoli. This fall Olivia has numerous professional and family commitments and has decided to take a hiatus from her walk schedule with the CCR. However she will be back as soon as her calendar clears up.

In the meantime we might suggest two options that offer opportunities to discover the wonders of our adopted city. Many CCR members are familiar with well-known art historian and long-time Rome resident Nancy di Conciliis who has an intriguing Fall schedule of Monday and Tuesday daytime walks in English. Nancy's colourful commentary and wealth of knowledge make any walk through Rome a treat.

A left click on the icon below will take you to a complete list of Nancy's Fall Schedule.

For French speaking members - or even those with just the basics - INVENTER ROME offers a varied series of events. This group of professors and academics, all specialist in their field, give wonderful talks and walks on various historical subjects in and around Rome. Some of you have been on their tours and they are truly recommended to the history aficionado. Full details may be found here.


Please note that these walks are not sponsored by the CCR nor are we responsible for their content. The links and information are provide as a service to our members only and all communications should be directly with Nancy or INVENTER ROME.

Historic Walks - May 2010

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled.

Our popular Historic Walks with Olivia Ercoli continue in May.

Olivia is a certified tour guide with many years' experience, a main contributor to the best-selling guidebook "Rome" (Dorling Kindersley). Over the last 16 years, she has been teaching Roman Topography and Art History courses for various US University Programs in Rome. She has recently appeared in the National Geographic series "Cities of the Underworld" (History Channel) and in the CBS series "Love, Hate and War".

Please note you are financially responsible for your booking, which must be made by the deadlines indicated and final confirmation will be sent by e-mail.

Cortigiane Oneste
May 15, 2010 - 10:00 am
Sign up deadline: May 13th - Final Confirmation May 14th.

Courtesans, together with humanists, artists and adventurers, constituted one of the socially mobile group which flourished in Rome during Renaissance. We piece together the story of Imperia, Tullia, Fiametta and many other less-well known women whose memory lives on in the monuments, streets, and churches of Rome.

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the church of Sant'Agostino, piazza Sant'Agostino, (North of Piazza Navona).
Price: CCR Members &euro10.00 Non-members &euro14.00

To book for the Cortigiane Oneste walk please contact Olivia directly at oercoli@yahoo.com.

Historic Walk - June 2010 - Canceled

Unfortunately the Historic Walk scheduled for June 5, 2010 has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Historic Walks - March - April 2010

In our continuing series of weekend events to get you out and about Roma and environs, Olivia Ercoli and the CCR have come up with an unusual walk and a timely talk!

Olivia is a certified tour guide with many years' experience, a main contributor to the best-selling guidebook "Rome" (Dorling Kindersley). Over the last 16 years, she has been teaching Roman Topography and Art History courses for various US University Programs in Rome. She has recently appeared in the National Geographic series "Cities of the Underworld" (History Channel) and in the upcoming CBS series "Love, Hate and War".

Please note you are financially responsible for your booking, which must be made by the deadlines indicated and final confirmation will be sent by e-mail.

The Roman Aqueducts
March 21, 2010 - 09:45 am
Sign up deadline: March 19th - Final Confirmation March 20th.

Hardly mentioned in official guide-books, the little-known Parco Appio Claudio comprises a vast expanse of land on the eastern outskirts of the city. Its main features are the impressive remains of the Roman aqueducts, Appia, Claudia, Marcia and Anio Novu as well as the remains of Roman villas and Medieval fortified farms. And from the Park there are unimpaired views of the Castelli hills which provided the inspiration for countless artists, travellers and archaeologists as in the 1843 painting by Ippolito Caffi of the Claudia Aqueduct above.

Practical Information:

Meeting time: 9.45 on Sunday March 21st – Remember this is the day of Rome's Marathon, so plan your trip accordingly! Click here for information on the Marathon itinerary.

Meeting Place: at corner of viale Tito Labieno and Piazza.le di Cinecittà. If you come by car, park on via Lemonia. If you use public transport, take the underground railway metropolitana linea A to the SUBAUGUSTA stop. Please also see www.googlemaps.com for directions or www.atac.roma.it for information on public transportation.

Price: 14 euro for non members, 10 euro for members.

For booking, carpooling and information for the March 21 walk please e-mail oercoli@yahoo.com.

Caravaggio Exhibition Overview
April 10th, 2010 - 7:00 pm
Sign up deadline - April 7th and final confirmation - April 8th.

Marking 400 years from the death of the great artist, the exhibition “Caravaggio alle Scuderie del Quirinale” has certainly proved a best-selling event. Choosing a few of the paintings present at the exhibition, this lecture provides a wider perspective by looking at the social and economic background of 17th century Italy, at Caravaggio, his patrons, their interests in science and politics, as well as his own personal experience in the light of new research.

Practical Information:

Meet at 7:00 pm for an aperitivo at "Wellness in Rome", a newly opened Feldenkrais studio overlooking Porta Pia. The talk starts promptly at 7.30 with a break at 8.30 for refreshments. The evening will end at approximately 10:00 pm.

Meeting place: via Palestro 18. Ring the bell marked Alloni Rumolo, enter and proceed by lift to fourth floor. See www.googlemaps.com for directions or www.atac.roma.it for public transportation information.

Price: 16 euro for non members, 12 euro for members.
Includes 2 euro contribution for refreshments.

For booking and information for the April 10th talk please e-mail oercoli@yahoo.com.

Historic Walks - The Port of Trajan

The Port of Trajan
February 7, 2010 - booking deadline February 4

To avoid the threat to trade posed by the silting up of the Tiber, various emperors sought ways to set up new docking facilities in the neighbourhood of Ostia. The little-known site of Portus, which was once the beating heart of Rome's commercial activity, took over the role of Ancient Ostia but over time fell into total oblivion. Today it is privately owned by the noble Torlonia Family and is gradually revealing its hidden treasures.

PRACTICAL INFO:

10 euro per person for CCR members
14 euro per person for non-members
No extra charges

Carpooling available.

Meet at: Museo delle navi, Via Guidoni 35 (Fiumicino Airport) at 10 am sharp.
Parking available. Please check site ahead on googlemaps.com.

By car only: take main road to Fiumicino Airport, at airport roundabout turn left, past petrol station to small building on right, Museo delle Navi.Museum staff will take us to the site, so make sure you arrive on time.

Please note: In the event of inclement weather this walk will be rescheduled.

For booking, carpooling and information for the February 7th walk please e-mail oercoli@yahoo.com.

Please note: walks are outside of Rome - please take time to become familiar with the location and logistics; for all information please refer to http://www.atac.roma.it/ and http://www.googlemaps.com/.

Photo credit: Portus from the British School of Rome Roman Ports Project.

Historic Walks - January - February 2010

Start the year with a new set of Walks with CCR to get you out and about on the weekend!

Olivia Ercoli is a certified tour guide with many years' experience, a main contributor to the best-selling guidebook "Rome" (Dorling Kindersley). Over the last 16 years, she has been teaching Roman Topography and Art History courses for various US University Programs in Rome. She has recently appeared in the National Geographic series "Cities of the Underworld" (History Channel) and in the upcoming CBS series "Love, Hate and War".

Please note you are financially responsible for your booking, which must be made at least three days ahead of the walk in question. Confirmation of the walk will be given two days before the walk.

From Cecilia Metella to the Tombs of the Horatii
January 16, 2010 - booking deadline January 13th

Surrounded by Roman tombs, Medieval strongholds, and memories from the time of the Grand Tour, the venerable remains of the Appian Way, built 312 B.C., constitute one of Rome's most miraculous feats of preservation. Still today threatened by environmental and man made dangers to its survival, it holds memories of countless historical events which occurred along its route.
This January, come and re-live the struggle of the Horatii and the Curiatii, the anguish of Spartacus's defeated followers, the pomp of Augustus or Sulla's funerals, and listen to the clatter of farmers' carts, the tread of the legions, the gossip, the mournful funeral dirges of funeral processions on their way out of the city.

PRACTICAL INFO:

10 euro per person. No extra charges.

Meet at: The Tomb of Cecilia Metella, Via Appia Antica 10 am sharp

By bus: take metro A to Colli Albani metro stop. Take bus 660 (departures every 30mins) for 8 stops to via Appia Antica, Cecilia Metella stop. Walk a few hundred meters' to huge castle-like ruin: you are at Cecilia Metella. Also consult: http://www.atac.roma.it/ or googlemaps.com

By car: drive out along the Ardeatina, turn left on to Appia Antica, left again and uphill to the Tomba di Cecilia Metella. Parking on site.

For booking, carpooling and information for the January 16 walkplease e-mail oercoli@yahoo.com.

The Port of Trajan
February 7, 2010 - booking deadline February 4

To avoid the threat to trade posed by the silting up of the Tiber, various emperors sought ways to set up new docking facilities in the neighbourhood of Ostia. The little-known site of Portus, which was once the beating heart of Rome's commercial activity, took over the role of Ancient Ostia but over time fell into total oblivion. Today it is privately owned by the noble Torlonia Family and is gradually revealing its hidden treasures.

PRACTICAL INFO:

10 euro per person for CCR members
14 euro per person for non-members
No extra charges

Carpooling available.

Meet at: Museo delle navi, Via Guidoni 35 (Fiumicino Airport) at 10 am sharp.
Parking available. Please check site ahead on googlemaps.com.

By car only: take main road to Fiumicino Airport, at airport roundabout turn left, past petrol station to small building on right, Museo delle Navi.Museum staff will take us to the site, so make sure you arrive on time.

Please note: In the event of inclement weather this walk will be rescheduled.

For booking, carpooling and information for the February 7th walk please e-mail oercoli@yahoo.com.

Please note: walks are outside of Rome - please take time to become familiar with the location and logistics; for all information please refer to http://www.atac.roma.it/ and http://www.googlemaps.com/.

Photo credit: Portus from the British School of Rome Roman Ports Project.

Historic Walks

There are no walks scheduled for the month of December 2009 however keep an eye on this posting for information. There are some fascinating walks and talks coming up in the New Year.