An Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Little Look at Ol' Bernini

I am in love.

In love with this man.
 

May I introduce you to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the greatest sculptors of all time.

On September 5 we visited the Borghese Villa in Rome. It is a beautiful park and villa that has now been turned into a museum and houses several of Bernini's best works.

The David

Apollo and Daphne

Pluto and Persephone
 

Aren't they gorgeous?! I don't understand how somebody can create such detail, drama and movement in a single block of marble. Bernini has always been one of my favorite artists of the Renaissance but seeing these works for the first time sealed the deal. I am in love with his work! The museum doesn't allow cameras and these pictures don't even begin to show you the artistic level of these statues but... they are unbelievable. He included everything from a tear on Persephone's cheek to the indents in her skin where Pluto is grabbing her. He is amazing!

For my fellow art lovers out there...the Borghese Museum is worth a stop for just these works alone!

The gardens themselves are beautiful as well. The land has now been turned into a public park and it is a good place to people watch and get a more local view of Rome.

Borghese Gardens

Borghese Villa/Museum

Annie, Haley, and I

 
We also visited the Museum of Modern Art here in Rome. It was a very large museum with many treasures including a Van Gogh, Monet, Pollock, and many other masterpieces! As well as some very strange and far too complex pieces that are common to Modern art. But to each his own I guess! 

After the museum we had the rest of the day free. Our first stop was at Giolitti for some gelato of course.

Then we browsed the street markets by the Castel San’Angelo, some of the best street shopping in Rome! 

I found this adorable stand of homemade jewelry and succumbed to a twine and pearl necklace. I loved the combination of rustic and elegance! 

We also found a stand of beautiful 100% silk scarves that we fell in love with. I would consider it a very successful day at the market!

For dinner we wanted to try a nice sit down place for a real plate of pasta. What we found was delicious! I had rigatoni with a carbonara sauce and it is one of my favorite meals here in Italy so far! Pure Joy :)