ParadiseLost

Ok it's not in Europe but very much tied to the history of the Roman Empire.

Cleopatra lived in Trastevere with Julius Caesar when he placed a gold statue of her in his 'Temple of Venus Genetrix' in the 'Forum of Ceasar'.

This Temple was ~300m from where he also lived with his wife in the Domus Publica. I'm sure this went over real well with the missus .

And Marc Antony was a Roman before he went 'native' in Egypt.
The gossip around the Roman Forum was that Cleopatra had bewitched him and that he actually massaged her feet (that was actually one of the insulting rumors used against him).

It's probably just a longshot but if it is their tomb or even just Cleopatra's this would be a *major* historical event.

http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2006/08/a...parthenon.html OR http://tinyurl.com/qbyu7
Regards, Walter

SeaUrchin

Walter, do you know where in Trastevere that she lived?

BTW, you are the gem of Fodors!!

LCBoniti

Walter, I think this is the actual link:

http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2006/08/f...is-sights.html

Very interesting information.

BTilke

Thanks PL, interesting link and interesting story. What was even more fun to read, however, were the reviews of her Elgin marbles book from the Amazon link she provides. To call them VERY mixed is an understatement! From "superb" and "excellent" to "horrible" and "written by a semi-literate schoolgirl."

ParadiseLost

SeaUrchin: AFAIK there have been no remains discovered from the Gardens and Villa of Julius Caesar in Trastevere.

But there is written evidence of their location.

The Gardens began around the modern 'Piazza Porta Portese' by the 'Ponte Sublicio' bridge.

The Gardens ran southwards along the Tiber River. They extended at the minimum 1 Roman Mile (~1.5km) along the river because they know a temple was built in the Gardens by the 1st Milestone.

And they don't know how far inland away from the Tiber River the Gardens extended either.
After Caesar's assassination Cleopatra decided it was time to 'get outta Dodge' for her safety and that of Caesar's son.

In Caesar's Will that Marc Antony read in his famous speech, the Gardens are given to the Roman people to be used as a park. Regards, Walter

Neopolitan

I think the exact departing words to her were "Cleo, get your asp out of here as soon as possible."