A different tour of Rome. Civis Romanus sum

If you are in Rome this friday (June 24), at the midnight, you have to go to the obelisk in San Giovanni and drink (or wet yourself with) the water of the fountain. Infact the June 24 is the festivity of San Giovanni and since the moyen-age, romans always drink the water of the obelisk to avoid bane and witches. It takes a lot of luck. For more, post me. Dblk

The name of via della Gatta (the street of the cat) derives from the marble statue of the cat found near the temple of Isis (so it was a divinity), and situated on the first cornice of Palazzo Grazioli. About this cat there is a legend:if you look in the same direction of the cat, you should find a treasure. For more information, post me. Dblk.

The forum of the Peace was built during Flavi's age to celebrate the peace in whole empire of Rome abd it was considered the 8th marvel of the world. At the two sides of the temple of the peace there were two libraries, one greek one of Rome. Then this area became a museum in which there were collected all treasures stolen from every population conquered by Rome. So here you had could find treasures of battles of Vespasianus and Titus. Titus in 71 conquered Jerusalem, so he took its treasures, including those that were protected in the temple. Those important things arrived in Rome (a trial are the bas-reliefes in the Arch of Titus): some of them are still in Rome today (for example the golden candelabrum that now you can see at the Vatican Museum). A legend tells that in the booty of Titus there was also the legendary Ark of Alliance: if it is true, the Ark now should be in the Vatican Museum, propriety of the Vatican. For a comment, post me. Dblk.

Under the church of San Giuseppe Falegname, there is the most famous prison of the ancient Rome: the Mamertinum. This prison was considered by Romans as a negative place because of the lot of people who found his death here: for example Caius Graccus and Catilinae (a revolutionary). But surely the most famous prisoner it's been S. Peter (other versions of the story tell us that there was also S. Paul with him). The story tells that he was chained here and that his guards didn't give him anything to eat or drink: so Peter made a tullus (the name of this part of the prison became Tullianum) a well and with the water of this well he baptized his guards Processo and Martiniano. Then he escaped with the help of an angel. Another detail of the story describe S. Peter that, when he was going down the stairs to reach the prison, fell and hit the wall with his head, leaving his mark on the same wall. To visit the Mamertinum (9-12 am / 2:30-5 pm) you have to go to Via dei Fori Imperiali, just after the temple Concordia. If you have any questions post me a comment. Dblk.

I've already told you about "nobles" ghosts. This is the story of a particular one. We are in 30's in front of the Pantheon. Once a temple of Rome, then a church, now (it is still a church) it is a sacrarium of kings of Italy: for example there is the grave of Umberto I of Savoia, killed in the 1900 in Monza. His ghost is usual to appear around the monument and this is the same spirit of our story. As I told, we are in 30's and the ghost of the King Umberto I appeared to a guard telling to him a very important political message, but it remained secret. The trial is that the King left his "flaming" mark on the sleeve of the scared guard. For more informations post me a comment. Dblk.