Hand-made only! 5 must-see sculptures of Rome

Since Roman sculptures

bear a close resemblance to those by ancient Greeks, their aesthetic and

artistic qualities are considered indisputable and unsurpassable. After all,

after so many centuries they still don’t fail to amaze, leaving visitors of the

Eternal City breathless, inspired and craving for more.

The noble pentagon of Rome

It is true that you

will come across many examples of the cherished art of sculpture virtually

wherever you go. Some of them will impress you with their magnitude, others –

with their attention to detail, but one thing is certain – you’ll never be

disappointed. To facilitate your search for the best impressions, here’s a list

of 5 sculptures you should include on your travel agenda as absolutely

mandatory.

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Pietà

by

Michelangelo Buonarroti

This masterpiece by

Michelangelo, dating back to 1499, is located in the City of Vatican, in St.

Peter’s Basilica. There are, in fact, as many as seven versions of Pietà, but

this one seems to be most-known throughout the whole world. Although this powerful

work of art, created with lots of attention to detail, is now hidden behind a

bulletproof acrylic glass (for safety reasons), it still evokes deep emotions,

as well as fantastic aesthetic impressions.

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The

Belvedere Torso

by Apollonios, son of Nestor

If you’re planning a

trip to Vatican Museums in the Vatican City, this well-known fragment of a nude

male statue, dated to the first or second century BC and created by an Athenian

sculpture, is a must-see. It is a notable example of admiration of the human

body, and an extremely significant source of inspiration for all artists that

gained fame during the Renaissance and later.

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Moses

by

Michelangelo Buonarroti

This stunning

sculpture is yet another contribution by Michelangelo. It is found in the

church of San Pietro in Vincoli and is best viewed with the local light box on,

so better have some coins with you to see the statue in its full glory. You’re

bound to be overwhelmed by the strong presence of the figure, and probably

surprised a bit by the horns attached to its head – but that’s just a symbol of

intelligence and wisdom of the time.

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The Capitoline

Wolf

Although the creator

of this highly important work of art remains unknown to date, there’s no doubt

that this mysterious bronze sculpture is a significant remnant of the past for

the locals, as well as a great sight to see for visitors. It is now to be seen

in Musei Capitolini and depicts a she-wolf feeding the ancient founders of

Rome, Romulus and Remus twins. You’ll be able to read the whole – incredibly

captivating – story in the museum, so there’s no point in spoiling it now. The

sculpture is really popular due its historical importance, as well as artistic

qualities (dating back to as early as the 5th century BC!), so

expect the site to be rather populated with visitors. Still, it is worth to

witness the magnificence of this creation in person.

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Apollo

and Daphne

by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

If you head towards

the Spanish Steps, you should also by all means visit the nearby Villa

Borghese. Apart from the fact it’s a lovely public park (third largest in the

whole city!), it is bound to catch your attention with all the works of art

you’ll find inside. One such masterpiece is no doubt the remarkable

Apollo and Daphne statue by Gian Lorenzo

Bernini. At a distance, the two marble figures seem to be dancing, but on

closer inspection you’ll notice that Daphne in fact tries to escape from Apollo

but seems to fail as her body slowly transforms into branches and leaves. The

sculpture is so real and dynamic, that the characters appear to be ready to

come alive any time! And come to think of it – this masterpiece was completed

at the beginning of the 17th century!