Monthly Archives: September 2023

We have been lucky to have explored the city on other visits but it was Michael’s first time so Emerson took him on a tour. We only spent about 24 hours there on our way to Pompeii. What an absolutely incredible city – the history, the sights, the restaurants, the museums, just Everything!

Here’s something that blew my mind – the Pantheon is built on the site where a temple used to stand that was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa around 27 BC! Sadly, that structure burned down. The Roman emperor, Hadrian, had the Pantheon built between 113-125 AD. There is no actual inscription of the date of construction because Hadrian wanted to keep the inscription of the original temple commissioned by Agrippa. There is a beautiful dome inside that has an opening (called an oculus) to the sky. The entire building is extremely well preserved for being over two thousand years old, maybe because it has been in continuous use since it was constructed. (The Pantheon is the third photo.)

We walk by this kid often in the village of Pietrasanta. I wanted to replicate what the boy is doing, but Jesse chose to go off on the kid for always being on his cell phone!

I was reading a study on how if you’re looking at art and you think it’s beautiful, there is an immediate release of dopamine in the brain- the chemical linked to the feeling of love. Even if you don’t understand the art, your brain is working to try and figure it out. Art can make us relax, escape, think, solve and love. How cool is that?! In the area where we are staying right now, art is literally around every corner. I think art inspires people to be creative. I read a quote once that said “creativity is intelligence having fun.”

The photos and video below are a tiny fraction of the incredible art we have come across in the last couple of months.