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The Piazza Repubblica
was part of the great redevelopment undertaken when Rome
became part of a unified Italy. Under the sweeping 19th
Century colonnades there were once elegant shops, but
they have been ousted by banks, travel agencies and cafes.
In the middle of the piazza stands the Fontana delle Naiadi.
Mario Rutelli's four naked bronze nymphs caused something
of a scandal when they were unveiled in 1901. Each reclines
on an aquatic creature symbolizing water in various forms:
a sea horse for the oceans, a water snake for rivers,
a swan for lakes, a swan for lakes, and a curious frilled
lizard for subterranean streams.
The figure in the middle added
in 1911, is of the sea god Glacus, who represents man
victorious over the hostile forces of nature. In the immediate
vicinity of Piazza Repubblicayou have Via Parigi home
to the Italian Tourist Board (practically hidden and not
advertised) plus the famous shopping of Via Nazionale.
Did
you Know? There is a multi screen Warner
Bros Cinema at Piazza Repubblica which shows the latest
blockbuster films in their original language... so if
its raining and you get bored surfing the web then go
to the flicks and take in a movie.
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