ROME – Walked up a hill to see the most famous – and most infamous – of all tennis players. That would be the great painter Caravaggio, of course. Oh, I know he’s been dead for 400 years, but you never know who you’ll run into while wandering along Rome’s skinny cobblestone streets. Caravaggio, whose straight name was Michelangelo Mensi, is hanging out on the museum walls … [Read more...] about A VISIT WITH CARAVAGGIO, THE PAINTER AND TENNIS PLAYER –- RUN OUT OF ROME AS A POOR SPORT
Rome
RAVAGING RAFA , EMPEROR OF ROME –AGAIN!
While Roman emperors have come and gone over the centuries, the current one – of Spanish origin – holds the old town in the palm of his left hand. And has no intention of letting go. Crowned for a Roman record fifth time, Rafael I should be known as Ravaging Rafa as he comes to town, sweeps up the goodies, and nobody dares to resist. Rafa started winning the Italian Open … [Read more...] about RAVAGING RAFA , EMPEROR OF ROME –AGAIN!
A BOSTONIAN FINDS SPRING AGAIN IN ROME – AND A WEIRD ITALIAN OPEN
ROME — For 35 years, a remedy to Boston’s erratic, pseudo spring has seemed to be a flight to the Italian Open and almost guaranteed sunshine. Rome sweet Rome has been the annual escape for me since 1973, a discovery of Il Foro Italico, the playpen whose earthen courts have been such a frustrating mystery for American guys. Originally named Il Foro Mussolini for the dictator … [Read more...] about A BOSTONIAN FINDS SPRING AGAIN IN ROME – AND A WEIRD ITALIAN OPEN