Rome At Night
There were several evenings throughout my time in Rome when I went exploring after the sun went down. I am fascinated by the way spaces are used during the day versus at night. Is the area still active? How has it changed? Who are the users? How is the space perceived with daylight as compared to artificial lighting? These are just some of the questions that I tried to answer when I spent time different piazzas, on various roads, and around the major sights.
To analyze these similarities and differences, I visited some of the most popular spots in Rome during both the day and night. I went to attractions such as the Pantheon, Capitol Hill, the Piazzas, and more. I found that in general, most areas were just as busy at night as during the day. Though the museums and sights were closed, the restaurants, piazzas, streets, and other areas were filled with people. For example, the Pantheon and Colosseum would close before sunset, but people gathered in the piazzas and spaces surrounding them long after they closed their doors. The restaurants, cafes, and bars would spill into the piazzas and streets, filled with people enjoying the scenery and each other’s company. There was hardly a restaurant that I would walk by that wasn’t brimming with people. Art vendors would keep their work up on the streets and piazzas, and music would fill the air.
Lighting was also an interesting factor. One of the main roads, Via Dei Fori Imperiali, was lined with important sights such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Imperial Forum, Capitol Hill, and Piazza Venezia. When the sky was dark, the monuments and ruins would be lighted to showcase the ancient columns and stones. It even went so far as to have the busts of different emperors projected on the Senate building of the Roman Forum.
The city takes on a different character throughout the day, and it is constantly changing. I enjoyed seeing how people would gather and use the spaces – moving to the shaded areas during the day, and gathering near the fountains, monuments, and restaurants at night. It seemed that no matter what time of day or night, Rome was alive and bustling!
[nggallery id=19]
Leave a reply