Rome - City Eternal (1951)

[Music] the eagle symbol of Jupiter Patron and protector of ancient Rome spreads its wings in proud flight high above the Eternal [Music] City to those who would seek reminders of the glory of the Rome of the Empire The Coliseum provides an eloquent story in [Music] stone of all Roman amphitheaters this was the largest and the with seats for 50,000 within its vast enclosure in this Arena were staged elaborate battles of men of animals and even of ships built by Vespasian and Titus the amphitheater was dedicated in 80 ad the opening performances lasting 100 days the Coliseum is regarded as one of the finest pieces of architecture produced by Imperial Rome the stonework of the exterior was set in place without mortar iron dowels providing the only fastenings [Music] used some 18 years before the Coliseum was opened Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles came to Rome once a bitter enemy of Christianity Paul became one of its greatest missionaries and theologians here stands his statue within the colon square that spreads before the most famous temple of Christian faith in the world here on ground that is hallowed as the place where the great Christian Saint was inomed stands the Basilica of St Peter Shrine of religion and art on the 18th of April in 15006 pop Julius II wrote to Henry iith of England the news he wished to tell him was that on that very day the foundation stone of the present St peters's had been laid before the Basilica was consecrated 120 years later in 1626 the foremost artists of the Renaissance were to be linked with its design and construction ramante rfel Michael and Angelo berini to enter St Peter's Cathedral is to cross the threshold of a temple not only of religion and art but of the history of the here woven into an artists ber nini's canopy for the high altar that stands above a vault revered as St Peter's tomb St Peter statue in bronze Michelangelo's P the Monument of Pope Alexander II by berini of Gregory the 13th by rascon of Clement the 13th by Canova and from the hand of the same sculpture the Tomb of the last of the steuarts of England a holy water basin by Loni in [Music] madarati a mosaic of the Transfiguration by St Linus by verini St Andrew by duino The Towering Dome designed by Michelangelo the crowning Glory of St Peters and here in contrast to vaulting architecture and imposing statuary light and delicate figures of [Music] Angels the Italian Rena expressed itself in the religious art of St Peters but it expressed its many-sided genius too in the design of magnificent fountains this world famed work is in the grounds of the Vesta inly near Rome fountains and springs have been a feature of Rome since ancient times serving as water supply for the people and enhancing public places with their decorative effect [Music] the water of Rome has always been excellent and abundant and while the design and structure of a fountain May date from the Renaissance or later the water used May flow from the distant saine Hills through an aqueduct built 20 centuries ago [Music] it is said that barini made Rome a city of fountains as well as churches and in the Patza novona stands his Fountain of the four rivers tritons and River Gods ornament this work representing the Nile Ganges danu and Rio de La Plata Bernini was a master of the Baroque style in art and above all in the sculpture of this Fountain he sought dramatic effect 16 centuries before Bernini fashioned his fountains Rome was experiencing the rich urban life of an age of Imperial Glory where now there are only silent ruins in that day there were bustling streets busy shops and marketplaces temples and public buildings this was the center of empire for Julius Caesar Augustus and the Emperors that followed but the Pomp and power of Empire vanished centuries ago pools that reflected Imperial Splendor now mirror scattered ruins so too with the grounds of Hadrian's Palace in tiboli here birds find silent sanctuary and Gardens once reserved for one of the greatest of the Emperors of Rome the ruins of arch waves these are fitting reminders that hadrien was a builder throughout a reign of 20 years he built the outward citadels of Empire as well as an inner structure of law sound finance and Humane public policy [Music] to The Gardens of his Villa hadrien would return When resting from his travels throughout the length and breadth of the Empire travels that took him to Britain Africa Greece and Palestine yet even here were reminders of the Affairs of a mighty Empire for within the 8 Mile length of his estate hadrien built replicas of the places in the provinces that enjoyed the greatest Renown his Empire in miniature was about him this wall within the grounds calls to mind a vaster wall of hadrien erected to defend the northern Frontier of the Roman province of Britain perhaps in this very setting the emperor formed his building plans for Jerusalem Athens and small provincial towns here perhaps beneath rows of cypress trees hadrien walked and talked with the Learned men of his time for he liked to have about him philosophers Scholars and Poets such are the memories that crowd forward as we stand amid the splendors of the Imperial Palace of hadrien a man who gave to the Roman Empire an age of resplendant glory and strength later came the Twilight and the long night after Empires pass away Imperial glories vanish but tradition lives on even today on special occasions fireworks light up the historic structures of Rome as they did in the 17th century when Italy was renowned throughout all Europe for the artistic elaboration of its fireworks displays so are the splendors of the past recalled and so is their passing on Earth Marcus aelius Roman Emperor and philosopher he it was who said all things are formed by nature to change and to be transformed and perish so that other things in continuous succession may exist [Music]