Rome…Ongoing Construction…November/December 2024

Just returned from Rome 10 days ago. It is a mess: more of a mess than I have ever seen it and we lived there for almost 5 years! It would be nice if the monuments and fountains would be cleaned on a regular basis instead of all at once for Jubilee.

Metro Line C is unlikely to be finished in my lifetime.

OTOH, this really affects the ambiance while strolling in Rome, not the sites themselves. Walking beats the tram and Metro, IMO, and cabs are cheap.

Update from our friend who lives in Rome…
“ The arch of Constantine viewed from the colosseum still looks good though, currently the scaffolding is mostly in the south side”.

Laurel…I am sorry that was your recent experience.
We will be there again the end of this month through early December and I am not going to be discouraged by the ongoing restorations. I lived in Italy from 1969 through 1970 and we have been visiting often since then…more times than I can count. I remember many visits where sites were under restoration, but I always try to focus on and enjoy the sites that have been improved since my last visit.

For instance, this Fall…
- October 27th, the scaffolding that has covered Bernini’s Baldachin in St. Peter’s Basilica was finally removed. And from October 27th to December 8th, the ancient Chair of St. Peter will be displayed at the foot of the High Altar before being reinstalled in Bernini's bronze throne.
- the Attic of the Coliseum is again open for visitors to tour…giving an amazing view over the Forum.
- the walkway over the Trevi Fountain gives visitors an up close view of the amazing sculptures without a crush of people in front blocking the view.
- the scaffolding has been recently removed from the Fontana del Pantheon, although the fencing still remains….so you still can now get a lovely view of the restored fountain.

I am excited to see the ongoing improvements in progress, although I will admit that I will miss our tradition of sitting and eating our tartufo from Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona…the fountains in that piazza are still totally under construction.

Thanks for sharing, we leave for Italy in 1 week! While construction work is always a bummer, I'm glad all major sites/museums are open.

Have you heard anything about Pieta in St Peter's? Originally, they said it'd be back for viewing in September, but I can't see anywhere where it says back "open".

lindypope…so far, it seems that the Pieta is sadly still covered. Our daughter works for Georgetown University and she has a Jesuit priest friend who works there. She asked him recently about the status of the Scavi tours and this was his response on November 4th…
“ I don’t think they have resumed the Scavi tours yet. Lots of things are running behind. The Pieta was supposed to be done in September and it’s still covered.”

Have realized over the years that repair construction happens most everywhere in a country with such ancient buildings. Getting around the construction is a drag, but luckily we can refer to the multitude of photos and viseds easily accessible. Just being in Rome is always wonderful and my fondest memories are away from the major sights.

Walking beats the tram and Metro, IMO,...

Right on, Laurel, and all that exercise means one can partake of pasta and gelato with abandon! Yum.

I love those skyline webcams. Have been clicking into them for years when a bit homesick for Italy. Jconsol and lindy, take heart? I'm sure you'll find some fascinating corners which are free of construction and/or not under wraps. I'll agree that aside from the Metro C construction, it would have been nice to have better staggered some of the housekeeping chores but gosh, the Pope didn't give them a lot of advance warning? I don't think he announced Jubilee until May of this year? They probably have every antiquity-cleaning/restoration expert in the city working like one-armed paper hangers!