DorisD
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dorisd.bsky.social
DorisD
@dorisd.bsky.social
120 followers 250 following 64 posts
By day, non-fiction editor and writer. Incurable Romaphile. Lover of history, literature, art and architecture, fountains, arancini, pompelmo gelato and umbrella pines. All photos my own.
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dorisd.bsky.social
A delight of a doorway in Rome's Jewish quarter.
#AdoorableThursday
#Roma #Rome
The picture is a close-up of the ramshackle front of an old building in Rome. In the middle is a wooden door. The left side is shut and the right side is open so you can see some marble stairs going upwards in the shadows inside. Outside the door, on the the sampietrini to the right is a terracotta pot with a straggly plant in it. To the left, a rusty pipe runs up the building. Above the doorway is a rusted grille, to the right of which is a large relief of a lion, and beneath the lion an indistinguishable animal whose head is missing but which may be a deer. Further to the right, in a recessed panel on the same level as the lion is another relied of what looks like a deer. Above the grille is a stone ledge from which spills a tangle of wires across the building.
April 24, 2025 at 10:26 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
My dodeca-vision always involved Party Rings, but the planned KitKat frame was a bust so I had to settle for a pentagonised Jaffa Cakes interior instead.
#DodecaBakeOff
The image shows a dodecahedron made of 12 pink, white and mauve Party Ring biscuits stuck on to a construction of pentagon-shaped Jaffa Cakes, with a Malteser stuck at each angle with icing sugar. It's as weird and messy as it sounds. The photo shows six Jaffa cakes trimmed to make them into pentagons. There's one at the base that you can't see, and the other five are ranged around it position upright to make a kind of basket. They're joined very messily with icing sugar.
April 21, 2025 at 8:45 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
Wow – that's a real work of art. Mine's a fraction less realistic, but likely still enough to get the folks at Norton Disney huffing and puffing.
The image shows a dodecahedron made of 12 pink, white and mauve Party Ring biscuits stuck on to a construction of pentagon-shaped Jaffa Cakes, with a Malteser stuck at each angle with icing sugar. It's as weird and messy as it sounds.
April 21, 2025 at 8:41 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
A snapshot of the Severian Arches on the Palatine Hill for #BlueskyFriday.
#Rome #Roma
This photo is a low-angle view of the vaulted, red brick arches that line the southern edge of the Palatine Hill in Rome. The picture is taken from the street below and the top half of the picture is brilliant clear blue sky. There are rocks and grass on the lower slopes, and to the left of the picture, next to the arches, is a small group of dark green cypress trees.
March 7, 2025 at 9:36 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
The 11th-century Saint Alexis fresco, in the lower basilica of San Clemente in Rome. Description in alt text.
#FrescoFriday
#Rome #Roma
The panel shows a well-preserved fresco in the lower part of the Basilica San Clemente. From the left, the scenes tell the story of St Alexis, the son of a wealthy senator. The father is on horseback on the left, bearing a striking resemblance to the famous equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius now in the Capitoline. He does not recognise his son, but offers him shelter. In the middle, the scene shows the pope reading a piece of paper that identifies him as the son of the household. To the right, the body of Alexis is seen in a bed, his halo shining, while his wife and parents grieve.
February 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
For #BlueskyFriday, here's the Vatican Obelisk in St Peter's Square (brought to Rome from Egypt by Caligula), reaching into the blue.
The photo shows the uninscribed Egyptian obelisk in St Peter's Square. It fills the full height of the vertically-oriented image and is taken from close to the base, looking up. Behind it is the white facade of St Peter's Basilica, topped with a row of statues. The famous dome is hidden by the obelisk. All around – filling most of the photo – is brilliant blue sky.
February 21, 2025 at 11:40 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
Allow me to add a touch of sparkle to your Monday with the ceiling of the marvellous Saint Zeno chapel in the church of Santa Prassede, Rome.
#MosaicMonday
#Rome #Roma
The image is a close of up of the main detail of the ceiling of a cross-vaulted chapel in the church of Santa Prassede in Rome. It's entirely mosaic, dominated by gold. In the four corners, four angels dressed in white are holding up a central medallion, in which is an image of Christ wearing golden robes and with a golden halo.
February 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
One of the best views of the city – the rooftops of Rome from the Janiculum terrace.
#Roma #Rome
A photo taken from the terrace of the Janiculum Hill, looking east across Rome. The bottom half of the photo is filled with rooftops, including the iconic dome of the Pantheon (almost central) and the white spiral crown of Borromini's Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza. In the foreground, trees fill the lower slopes of the hill. In the distance, in the top half of the photo, are the Alban Hills, with light clouds hanging above them in a hazy sky.
February 15, 2025 at 6:54 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
Here's a bluesky view along the Circus Maximus to warm your cockles on this chilly February day.
#BlueskyFriday
#Rome #Roma
A long shot from a slightly raised position looking west along the Circus Maximus in Rome. It's a large open track with a raised mound along the middle, where one tree stands. In the bottom left corner of the photo is a grassy bank sloping down to the white track. There are a few people walking on the circus towards the far end. In the distance are more trees and glimpses of Rome's old buildings, including a church, one tower of the Vittoriano monument with the Winged Victory bronze just visible, and a campanile. The top half of the photo is entirely clear blue sky.
February 7, 2025 at 11:34 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
Cats will be cats, even in 16th-century frescoes.
(Chamber of Birds, Studiolo of Villa Medici, Rome)
#FrescoFriday
A section of a 16th-century fresco on the ceiling of a studio in the grounds of Villa Medici in Rome. Foliage, birds and animals are painted in muted greens and browns. At the bottom of the fresco the artist has included a seated cat with its leg raised, licking its private parts.
January 31, 2025 at 10:39 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
The Garibaldi Ossuary Mausoleum on the quiet slopes of the Janiculum Hill – a memorial to those who fell in the fight for the Italian Republic 1849–70. 'Roma o morte.'
(Via Garibaldi)
A white stone arched structure stands on a stepped plinth, marking an ossuary mausoleum. There's a light paved area all around it, and a white stone fence surrounding that. A large tree, just inside the fence, dominates the middle of the picture. At the top, the sun glints through the branches. Other trees surround the mausoleum. To the left of the picture, looking south, you can just make out the buildings of Rome.
January 23, 2025 at 10:03 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
Feeling a tad disgruntled today, so here's a snarly dolphin for #MosaicMonday.
(Braccio Nuovo/Chiaramonti Museum, Vatican Museums, Rome)
A close-up of a floor mosaic in a wing of the Vatican Museums in Rome. It's a toothy, angry-looking dolphin-like creature picked out in black tiles on a white tile background.
January 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
Time to restart #BlueskyFriday for 2025, so here's the Angel with the Superscription and a picturesque pigeon on the Ponte Sant'Angelo.
#Rome
#Roma
The picture is a close-up of one of the Bernini-designed angels that line the Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome against a backdrop of solid blue sky. The angels is a graceful figure in white marble, her eyes closed and her wings out. She's holding the Superscription from Jesus's cross. There's a pigeon perched on the statue's head looking inquisitively at the camera.
January 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
It's that time of year when I encourage everyone to buy NG Kids 'Weird But True' annual. Much of it is weird. All of it is true. You're practically guaranteed to learn something you don't already know. Plus, my nephews say it's 'so cool', which – not to brag – is high praise indeed.
The picture shows the front cover of National Geographic's 'Werid But True' annual 2025. It includes photos of a racoon, a lava lamp, a parrot, a corpse flower and an origami praying mantis. The strapline is 'wild and wacky facts and photos'.
December 5, 2024 at 5:51 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
Cats will be cats, even in 16th-century frescoes.
(Chamber of Birds, Studiolo of Villa Medici, Rome)
#Caturday
A section of a 16th-century fresco from the ceiling of a studio in the grounds of the Villa Medici in Rome. Foliage, birds and animals are painted in muted greens and browns. At the bottom of the fresco the artist has painted a seated cat with its leg raised, licking its private parts.
November 30, 2024 at 6:44 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
Cats will be cats, even in 16th-century frescoes.
(Chamber of Birds, Studiolo of Villa Medici, Rome)
#Caturday
A section of a 16th-century fresco from the ceiling of a studio in the grounds of the Villa Medici in Rome. Foliage, birds and animals are painted in muted greens and browns. At the bottom of the fresco the artist has painted a seated cat with its leg raised, licking its private parts.
November 30, 2024 at 6:34 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
For #BlueskyFriday here's the Pyramid of Cestius and Porta San Paolo on a spectacular blue-sky October day in Rome.
(Piazza Ostiense)
#Rome #Roma
The photo is taken from a traffic island in the middle of a wide street that splits in two up ahead. There are no cars on the road, though, except on the right-hand split in the distance. Straight ahead, with the roads dividing around it, is the Porta San Paolo, one of the ancient gates in the old city walls. It has two turrets joined by ramparts above an archway. On the left, slightly closer, is the 1st century Pyramid of Cestius, built of light-coloured stone, set into the city walls. behind it are green trees. The top half of the image is mostly bright, clear-blue sky.
November 29, 2024 at 10:17 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
A screen shot of the Bluesky User Count, which keeps a running tally of Bluesky users. It reads 22,650,249, with a note that it's increasing by 1.6 users every second. Taken at 10:40 GMT.
November 26, 2024 at 10:41 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
I still think #BlueskyFriday should be a thing, so here's another glorious blue sky scene from Rome – the peaceful gardens of Villa Celimontana on the Caelian Hill. In Egypt, the obelisk was one of pair that probably stood outside the Temple of Isis; its partner is the one now outside the Pantheon.
A view of the ancient Egyptian obelisk in the grounds of Villa Celimontana on the Caelian Hill in Rome. The obelisk stands in the middle of a small, white-gravel-covered area with a gravel path leading up to it. All around it is lush greenery – shrubs, ferns, pine and palm trees. The cloudless sky is a very deep blue. There are two benches, one on either side of the obelisk. On the left-hand bench can be seen the small figure of a woman in a white t-shirt and sunglasses. She has her hands behind her head and is looking upwards, enjoying the sunshine on her face.
November 22, 2024 at 6:51 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
Anamorphic frescoes in the convent of Trinità dei Monti, Rome.
(Piazza della Trinità dei Monti)
#FrescoFriday
The photo shows a fresco in shades of brownish grey on the wall of a corridor in the convent of Trinita dei Monti (at the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome). The fresco is by Jean-Francois Niceron and is anamorphic. From this perspective, it looks like a view across some countryside. There's a body of water at the bottom, with a small boat, set against some rolling hills with a few trees. Framing the top of the image (actually slightly curved into the arched ceiling of the corridor) is a a large tree branch with several leaves. Seen from another perspective, the picture looks like a man (next photo). This photo shows the same fresco as the previous picture, except the photo has been taken looking down the corridor instead of straight on to the wall. Now, what looked like a countryside scene has become the figure of a beareded old man. He's leaning towards the camera. The rolling hills have turned into the folds of his cloak, with wide sleeves. His hands are folded in top of each other. The same tree branch stretches along the top of the fresco.
November 22, 2024 at 9:03 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
It's National Tree Day in Italy, so here's a picture of my favourite group of trees in Rome. Yes, I have a favourite group of trees.
(Piazza Adriana)
#Rome #Roma
The focus of the photo is a group of about 12 umbrella pines (tall trees with long bare trunks that split into branches only near the top, with a flat canopy of green leaves; the branches often form interesting shapes, as if they're arms holding up the treetops). They're on a raised bank supported by fort-like brickwork, above a grassy channel like a moat. They're in the small park that surround the Castel Sant'Angelo (Hadrian's Mausoleum) in Rome. Behind the trees is a row of high buildings – offices and apartments, with brown and yellow facades and six or seven storeys of rectangular windows. On the right of the image is a fence bordering the pavement, at the top of the grassy bank. A flight of brick steps leads down into the lower area of the park.
November 21, 2024 at 3:32 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
A well-preserved stretch of the Aurelian Walls in Rome's Lateran district.
(Giardini Viale Carlo Felice)
#Rome #Roma
The photo shows an area of grass and flowers in a park in Rome, lined by a well-preserved stretch of the ancient city walls coming in from the right-hand side and stretching all the way to the distance on the left. Its brickwork and arches are clearly on display. Prominent in the left half of the photo is a small group of umbrella pines, which are much higher than the wall. The sky is clear blue and the grass is a vivid green. Some bright red flowers are growing out of the grass in the bottom middle of the image.
November 21, 2024 at 1:20 PM
dorisd.bsky.social
A cute dragon trying to look fierce in the gardens of Villa Borghese. The dragon was one of the Borgheses' heraldic emblems, but I haven't been able to discover what this specifically is/where it's from. If anyone knows, I'd love to find out!
(Viale dell'Aranciera)
#Roma #Rome
The photo is a close-up of a carved block, which looks like the base of a square pillar – clearly once part of a bigger structure. On the block is a relief of a little dragon. It has taloned feet, and a round belly. Its wings are spread and its face (which looks rather duck-like) has a fierce expression. The block stands alone in the middle of a brown gravel path in the gardens of the Villa Boghese in Rome.
November 19, 2024 at 10:20 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
Detail from a tiny-tiled mosaic from the 1st century BC, depicting priests feeding a crocodile that they've courageously crowned with roses. Don't try this at home.
(Centrale Montemartini, Rome)
#MosaicMonday
November 18, 2024 at 10:24 AM
dorisd.bsky.social
So many impressive, beautiful and fun fountains in Rome. The Fontana della Rana in the Coppedè district is one of my favourites.
#Roma #Rome
The picture shows the Fountain of the Frogs in the Coppede district of Rome. It's a circular fountain in the middle of a crossroads. The water-filled basin at the bottom has carvings and spouts around a kind of urn. It's surmounted by a basin, around the edges of which are little crouching frogs looking upwards, each one spouting water from its mouth. In the background of the picture, behind the fountain, is an unusual building, the upper level of which has a brown and cream checked pattern on the outside. The two lower levels have frescoes, arches and loggias.
November 17, 2024 at 11:59 AM