Giaccomo Puccini's most famous opera, Tosca , is now playing at the Teatro Flaiano near the Pantheon . Tosca, the main character for whom the opera is named, is a singer who commits a serious crime to save her lover. The opera culminates in a dramatic scene atop the Castel Sant'Angelo . Don't miss the opportunity to see this quintessential Roman opera while you are in Rome. In the past the opera has actually been performed on the Castel Sant'Angelo, so if you miss it at the Teatro Flaiano, you may get lucky and see it where Puccini imagined it!
Anthony Everitt, who brought us biographies of Cicero and Augustus, has just published a new book about the emperor Hadrian. While I haven't read it yet, I am a great fan of his last two books. Everitt is a conscientious scholar and his portrayal of Cicero was entertaining and intriguing. Augustus was a more shadowy figure and the lack of personal correspondence made his personality very difficult to pin down. I am curious to see how he portrays Hadrian, whose reign is well-documented but whose personal life was difficult to interpret. Read a review of the book in The New Yorker or buy it here.
A recent ruling in Rome has banned all snacking near major monuments like the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon! If you are caught dribbling your gelato on something famous, be prepared to pay a fine of about $80. The ban is in effect until October, when the tourists go home. Yet another reason to visit Rome after the high season!
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