Each week we have a visit to a specific site for our graphic design class. When we’re there, we’re supposed to look around and get a feel for the location. I feel a little out of the loop with this. I seem to have a different approach than a lot of the other people in the class, being one of the only non-graphic design majors. It’s hard to come up with clever concepts and interesting little twists on ideas. Piazza Mincino is different though. It was built in the 1920’s by a man named Gino Coppedé and he liked to mix things up a bit. There are a few different styles all thrown in together and the place is really amazing. It wasn’t much liked when it was built, but now it’s a pretty popular spot with movies filmed there and many people coming to visit its interesting patterns and mish mosh of styles. We didn’t get to spend that much time there, but it’s definitely something worth checking out.
The buildings seem to all have different themes to them. Some are brighter and have lions and mythical creatures while another has a sun dial on it and religious images. While we were standing and looking at one of the buildings in the square, we met some little buddies that wanted to see what was up. It’s pretty funny that so far in Rome, most of the time we pass dogs they seem to be urinating on whatever is closest to them. And their owners don’t really stop them. Even if it’s on someone’s car, which I’ve seen a surprising amount of. Anyway..these dogs did not disappoint. They wanted to make sure to let us know that we were intruding on their territory or something I guess.
Piazza Mincino was also a direction that we haven’t traveled yet this far in our time in Rome. We took the trolly to the Buenos Aires stop and it’s a short walk from there. There are a few restaurants and such around the area where you get off, and of course some flower stands. Flower stands are refreshing in Rome, they’re like life size air fresheners for all of the spots the pups mark their territories. Anyway, the walk is nice and there are a lot of other buildings to check out along the way. In the center of the square there is a fountain called the fountain of the frogs. This is how you’ll know that you’re in the right place. The fountain has some really brightly colored and crazy looking moss and algae on it.
We’re told that the square is much more impressive at night, which is why we’re going to visit it again tonight. They light up the different buildings and it creates a colorful glow around the square. I’m hoping it’s going to be a neat thing to see that not everyone and their mothers that visit Rome see. I’ll be sure to post more pictures of it if it’s all that I hoped for and more!