Monday, November 24, 2025

The Man from Uncle

 The Man from Uncle, 2015

* The Spanish Steps
* Theater of Marcellus
* Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (Piazza Venezia)
* Trajan's Column & the Church of the Holy Name of Mary at Trajan Forum

The Spanish Steps

Here is the movie clip from The Man from Uncle at the Spanish Steps:  Spanish Steps

Built in the 17th century, these might be the most famous steps in the world.  135 steps in total, the Spanish Steps are one of the most visited tourist stops in Rome.  They are easily accessible using the Spagna metro stop.  

The Spanish Steps are located at Piazza di Spagna, 00187 in Rome.  The steps were created in the 18th century in an effort to allow access between the Piazza di Spagna and the Trinita dei Monti church at the top of the hill.  They were completed in 1725.  You can visit the Spanish Steps 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge.  They are relatively close to the Trevi Fountain, about a 9 minute walk.  They are also very close to the Piazza del Popolo, about an 11 minute walk.


View from the top of the steps


view of the terrace above the lower staircase





Trinita dei Monti church, at the top of the Spanish steps 


The obelisk above the Spanish Steps, the Sallustiano Obelisk




2024

Fontana della Barcaccia





My daughter on the Spanish Steps in 2025
















Location of the Spanish Steps

The Theater of Marcellus

The Teatro di Marcelo could easily be mistaken for the Roman Colosseum when viewed in photos or on movies, because of its similar shape and structure.  It is a circular building as well, but was used as a Roman theater.  The theater was completed in 13 BC.  It was commissioned by Julius Caesar, although he didn't live long enough to see it completed.  At the time of its completion, it was the largest and most important theater in Rome.  It could seat 17, 580 people.  The theater was dedicated to the memory of Marcus Claudius Marcellus, who was the son of Octavia, and the nephew of Augustus.  Therefore, he was the great-great-nephew-by marriage of Julius Caesar.  

The theater was used for a variety of purposes after its original use as a theater was discarded.  Currently it's used for club meetings or concerts.  You can't tour the interior of the Teatro because it is privately owned and includes residences now.  You can visit the outside at any time and take photographs.  It is located at Via del Teatro di Marcelo in Rome.

You can watch a scene from The Man From Uncle filmed at the Theater of Marcellus here.  It is actually the same spot used for filming Roman Holiday:  The Man From Uncle at Theater of Marcellus


The location of Teatro di Marcello:  Teatro di Marcelo




Teatro di Marcelo appears in several movies, including Roman Holiday.






Piazza Venezia



Piazza Venezia is named after the adjacent Palazzo Venezia.  Entrance to the Palazzo Venezia is from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm with an entrance fee of 18 euro.  The Palazzo is probably not what draws your attention to Piazza Venezia, however.  The Vittoriano is the most important monument to the first king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II.  This very large, majestic monument can be seen in various movies and is one of the iconic sights of Rome.  You can enter the monument for free, although an entrance fee of 18 euro is required to enter its museums or to ride the lift to the top of the monument.  The official website for the monument and also for the palazzo is here:  Piazza Venezia

My daughter and I walked through the monument in March of 2025.  One thing to note is that if you need to use the bathroom while visiting this monument, it is located on the lowest level and there is a very long line to wait in to use one of two stalls - boys and girls combined.  There is no cost to use these facilities, other than the long wait in line.


The highlight of the Piazza Venezia is the Vittorio Emanuele II monument, which is a spacious, opulent building which you can tour for free, although entering the museums does require an entrance fee of eighteen euro for the day, entering any time between 9:30 am and 7 pm.  The monument was built beginning in 1885 and was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi.  It was inaugurated in 1911 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.  This bronze statue is of Victor Emanuele II.

My daughter on the stairs of the monument in March of 2025

Every time I have visited the Piazza Venezia it has been under construction.
Inside the atrium of the monument: Quadriga of Liberty






"The sacred borders of Italy returned with arms."










One of the triumphal columns

My daughter and I on the terrace of the monument in March of 2025







This lift takes visitors who have paid the 18 euro entrance fee up to the top floor and includes entrance to the museums and more.



view of the city from the monument



Bronze chariots on the Panoramic Terrace


Victor Emmanuel II


Bronze chariots

The colonnade with 16 columns that represent the regions of Italy in the second half of the nineteenth century

A pair of triumphal columns with winged Victories on top


Victor Emmanuel




The Door of Liberty


Freedom, The Right, Tyranny, and the People

"The Sacrifice" by Leonardo Bistolfi

Victor Emmanuel II


Altar of the Fatherland

Altar of the Fatherland with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was added in 1921


Altar of the Fatherland, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Bronze chariots, and Victor Emmanuel II

Altar of the Fatherland & Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

One of the bronze Victories





The sculpture entitled "The Thought" by Giulio Monteverde





Lamassu, a monster with the body of a winged lion



One of the Victory's

"The Sacrifice"




The Action



Victor Emmanuel II and The Sacrifice














Trajan's Column & Church of Santissimo Nome di Maria:

Trajan's Column was completed in 113 AD.  It is one of the more famous columns in Rome.  It is located next to the Church of The Most Holy Name of Mary at the Forum of Trajan.  It is about 115 feet tall.  You can visit it at any time of day or night.  It's very close to the Roman Forum and Piazza Venezia.  The official website of the Church is here:  Church of the Holy Name of Mary at the Forum of Trajan  The church is closed on Mondays, but other days you can visit it beginning at 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  The cornerstone of the church was laid in 1736 and it was consecrated in 1741.  

Trajan's column tells the story of the wars between the Romans and the Dacians that took place from 101 to 106 AD.  It may have been created by Apollodorus of Damascus.

View of the Column from the Church





The google maps location is here:  Trajan's Column


Trajan's Column from inside the Roman Forum - with the Church in the background






The Column and the Triumphal Arches are my favorite parts of the Roman Forum

Walking through the Forum in the direction of Foro di Traiano

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