Photographs of history on the streets of Rome, Italy

[Regions of Italy]

Rome probably has more famous monuments than any other city on earth, but there are "mundane" traces of history on every street in town, so we thought we'd show you a minute fraction of what awaits around every corner:

Ancient Roman columns imbedded in Renaissance palazzos Renaissance palazzos imbedded in ancient Roman temples Medieval homes resting atop ancient Roman foundations Marble plaques bearing 300-year-old inscriptions Slender belltowers Ornate belltowers Castle towers Clocktowers Watchtowers Towering domes Monumental fountains the size of a house Intimate fountains just big enough to enjoy a cool sip of spring water (all Rome's fountains disperse natural spring water from the aqueducts) Things that look like fountains but are actually repositories of alms for the poor Fountains made from the tubs used in the ancient Roman baths Concave façades Convex façades Roadside altars for a quick prayer Crumbling façades stripped of their former glory Imposing façades Fake façades Presidential palaces, papal domains, aristocratic palazzi, humble apartment buildings in the city where apartment buildings were invented 2100 years ago

All these exteriors and more you will see as you hurry from one world-renowned monument to another. In the end it may be these unnamed sights that linger longest in your memory, so be sure to look up, down and all around as you make your way through the bustling modern metropolis that clings to so many centuries of history, all imbedded inside, above and below each other. This is the true magic of Rome, Eternal City!

Text and photographs by Kristin Jarratt

Click here for more information about Rome.