What I love about Rome.

1. The Museo delle Terme at the Baths of Diocletian; superb epigraphic collection, and cloister restored by Michelangelo in the 16th. century with outdoor displays of altars and funerary sculpture and inscriptions.

2. Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio and the Capitoline museums. As well as the colossal sculpture and epigraphy collection, there is an outstanding view of the Forum. Great to see the columns, arches and temples from above.

3. The American Academy; the library, the Bass Gardens, the Sustainable Food Program run by Chef Mona Talbott and the view of Rome from my window.

4. Looking through the keyhole of the Knights of Malta building in Piazza Cavalieri di Malta on the Aventino hill and seeing St. Peter’s Dome. Il Buco di Roma.

5. Eating artichokes “alla guida” at Da Giggetto restaurant in the Jewish Ghetto overlooking the ruins of the Portico d’Ottavia.

6. Crypta Balbi; discovered in 1981 and museum opened in 2001 featuring the archeological remains of the dig. Consisting of a portico of the ancient theatre of Lucius Cornelius Balbus, a huge grain market and later medieval buildings. A guided tour puts everything in the context of the history of the area; Monastero di Santa Maria Domine Rose (begun nearby in the 8th century), of medieval merchants’ and craftsmen’s homes, of the Conservatorio di Santa Caterina dei Funari (built in the mid-16th century by Ignatius of Loyola to house the daughters of Roman prostitutes and of the Botteghe Obscura.)

7. Having a Spritz aperitivo (Campari or Aperol with Prosecco and selzer). Still can’t decide if I like the Campari Spritz from Venice or the Aperol Spritz from Rome better.

8. The Pantheon and surrounding area; Church of Santa Minerva (the only Gothic church in Rome) built over the foundation of the temple to Minerva, the goddess of wisdom; the Santa Chiara Hotel; Cafe St. Eustaccio renouned to have the best coffee in Rome (although some say Tazza d’Oro is better); The church of San Luigi dei Francesi with the Caravaggio paintings.

9. Acqua di Paola fountain on the Janiculum Hill (known as the Fontanone.) Monumental fountain built in 1610-12 with some marble from the Temple of Minerva. The inscription praises Pope Paul for bringing drinking water to residents of this district. In 1690 Giovanni Fontana, the original designer added an additional circular pool for the overflow of water. In 1707 an ordinance forbade residents to swim in the fountain (too bad as it is very tempting on these hot Roman days). The style of this fountain (and form) served as the inspiration for the later Trevi Fountain.

10. Bramante’s Tiempietto next to the church of San Pietro in Montorio. Small and exquisite.

Arrivederci Roma.