May 25, 2017

A close-up of the Lateran Palace in Rome, Italy, which houses the Scala Santa, the legendary staircase Jesus descended after being condemned by Pontius Pilate. May 25, 2017

The Triton Fountain in the Piazza Barberini (1642), by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, is a masterpiece of Baroque sculpture, representing Triton, half-man and half-fish, blowing his horn to calm the waters, following a text by the Roman poet Ovid in the Metamorphoses. May 27, 2017

Designed during the urban redevelopment undertaken after Rome was declared capital of Italy, the Piazza della Republic is home to the huge Fountain of the Naiads. May 27, 2017

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy, was built in the 5th century was according to medieval tradition was erected after the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to both a Pope and a pious Roman asking for the construction of a church dedicated to her on a place where the snow would fall. That snow day came on Aug. 5, 358 on the summit of the Esquiline Hill in Rome. May 27, 2017

The Piazza dell’Esquilino with the apse area or outside rear area of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. May 27, 2017

The mausoleum of emperor Hadrian, along with the bridge, was renamed Sant’Angelo during the Middle Ages, when…as the story goes…Pope Gregory Magnus saw a vision of St. Michael the Archangel on top of the mausoleum, sheathing his sword. And, to the Pope, that meant that the end to the terrible plague that was ravaging Rome in 590 AD. May 28, 2017

A close-up of one of the 10 marbled angels (this one holding the Crown of Thorns) along the Ponte Sant’Angelo, the bridge leading to the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Italy. Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s students created the statuses all holding an in instrument of the Passion of Christ. Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his son Paolo sculpted the original statue, which is at Sant’Andrea delle Fratte in Rome. May 28, 2017

A close-up of one of the 10 marbled angels (this one holding the whips used for the 39 lashes) along the Ponte Sant’Angelo, the bridge leading to the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Italy. Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s students created the statuses all holding an in instrument of the Passion of Christ. May 28, 2017

The exterior portion of Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Italy, that shows the foundation of the original Hadrian mausoleum and as you move up, the addition of the fortification and castle. May 28, 2017

This is a secret corridor escape route created by the popes that connects the Vatican walls to the Castle Sant’Angelo in Rome, Italy. It guaranteed the safety of popes in dangerous situations. May 28, 2017

Ponte Sant’Angelo bridge, as seen from Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Italy, was during the Middle Ages the bridge pilgrims used to reach St. Peter’s Basilica. The original wood bridge, through the years, has been transformed to this bridge which Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s school of sculptors contributed to in the 1670’s. The Bernini bridge project called for ten angels holding instruments related to the Passion of Christ. May 28, 2017