Just an ordinary hotel and restaurant in Roma, right? No, this is the oldest continuous run albergo in the Eternal City. Visitors have been housed here continuously since 1460 which is 30 years before Christopher Columbus discovered the New World. And there is even more important history. This building is built in the ruins of the Theater of Pompey where Julius Caesear was reportedly assassinated in 44 BC. 
The name of the restaurant next door is a reference to that event. There are ruins of the famous theater seen in the basement.
It is special to us because we stayed here as a family for a semester with architecture students on our first trip to Roma. The location is in the heart or centro of the old city. Just down the street is the Campo de Fiori which is the most popular and beautiful of the old outdoor markets. Its name means Field of Flowers. 
This beautiful piazza was also a place of death for a philosopher Giordano Bruno who was burnt alive in 1600 for heresy against the church on the very spot marked now by his statue.
The church dome is St. Andrea della Valle where Puccini’s opera, Tosca, was set. We loved the bells ringing each and every afternoon. This is shot from the roof garden of the Albergo Sole.
This is from the roof looking down into the central garden filled with statues and plants and a table. This is were I held school for the children in the morning before taking field trips in the afternoon to all the ancient sites of Roma. What a wonderful way to live history!
Stairs going either up or down from the roof garden.
Just a few blocks is the Piazza Navona which is listed in the top 10 spots in Rome. I wanted you to notice the obliesk that was taken from the Egypt by the ancient Romans and now is on the top of the Bernini fountain. We were also excited to see the filming of “European Vacation” in this beautiful piazza.
It is also about a 10 minute walk to St. Peter’s Cathedral and about 20 minutes to the Coluseum, by foot. Our hotel bill on our first trip to Rome was $19.00 a night, but no more. Those were the good old days!
Namaste. . . . .This is Roma
TalesAlongTheWay 
I’m wondering if the architecture school still has a liaison with the Alberto Sole. We fondly remember our stay there Christmas of ’97 or ’98 upon your recommendation. We were amazed at how the cars parked down below our room and had no trouble honking their hours ad nauseum any hour of the day or night to get other car owners to come and move their cars so the puzzle of a parking lot could be unlocked!
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The program has changed a lot in the last few years. The whole program has moved out of the centro to save money on apartments and studio space . Sad really as this area was so perfect . We only stayed the whole time at the Sole this once and stayed in apartments in Trestavere the other times. I forgot you guys stayed there. I think the Wayner’s did, too. We loved it there.
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WOW! these photos hold a lot of history. Beautiful places and beautiful photos. You are an awesome photographer. take care.
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Beautiful pictures. I looked on with so much awe 🙂
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I am so glad you enjoyed the post. Visit soon again and often. Namaste. . . .Anne
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I Nominate you for A Bunch of Awards – 13 Nominations
please choose any 2 awards out of the 13
accept it and oblige
there are no linkbacks for this award
http://ajaytao2010.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/a-bunch-of-awards-13-nominations/
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What a wonderful review of your time in Rome. $19.00 @ night for this gorgeous place? oh, my!
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Your writing made me nostalgic…as someone has said – “Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson where past always seems perfect!” 🙂
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You are a very caring and sensitive person. Love the quote!
Namaste.. . .Anne
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What makes this post be nostalgic for you ? Have to been to Rome!
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No, I’ve never been to Rome but last winter I went into the hills(parts of Himachal Pradesh) in search of some solace and on my way back from Mcleodganj (One of the Top 3 offbeat destinations for foreign tourists; the other two are Sikkim and Laddakh), I stayed in Shimla and some of the photographs above resembles parts of Shimla!
Oh no, not again!! I’ve started feeling nostalgic – again!
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Oh there are so many wonderful Indian places to visit, more than one can see in a lifetime! You are a wonderful writer…and I am not kidding. listen I got a link this morning from amitanshushukla that you might find interesting. It was in the Sunday Guardian and is written by an esteemed Indian lawyer. Do please comment. I can’t really argue, but I do like to read your thoughts! 😎
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analysis/let-truth-be-known-about-modi
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Thanks Anne! That post is lovely! What an amazing place! I haven’t been to Italy but I’ve taught Reception (4 yrs) in England and it was wonderful. Love Lucy
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There are so many wonderful places to visit. Traveling gets in your blood! An itch that must be scratched!
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I have had a bit of a hiatus with three children and one of them with ASD. Before I had kids and in my childhood I have lived in four countries, 3 states of Australia and even ducked over to China with my husband and his parents to see where they were born etc. very cool!
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I have to say that Italy has the most amazing art, architecture, clothes, shopping….and even food. The talent they have is above all others, I think, even down to widow displays for stores. But they can be very temperamental and difficult with all their creative side…….wonderful place. Venice is my favorite cities in the whole darn world! 😎
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Sounds wonderful! Hope to get there one day. I have booked my family on their first flying holiday this week so we ‘ll see how we go. Then the sky will be the limit! Lucy
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