It seems the New York Times can’t make up its mind about Rome.
It is indeed, like much of Italy, a city of contradictions, beauty, grottiness (at times) and is renowned for its chaos.
But how well do we really know it? And how much do international journalists and correspondents understand of the Italian mindset?In an article published April 5, the American newspaper cracks down on the state of the Appian Way in Rome.
A road built by the Romans in 312 B.
C it is an important historical thoroughfare to the port city of Brindisi.
But it appears that the ruins are now being overrun by swimming pools, modern villas for weddings and balls, and restaurants at the cost of ruining the park area that was once destined to protect the monuments and natural environment.
All apparently the fault of Italy’s complex and ignored planning and development laws, and general apathy towards its historical treasures.
But then in an article dated April 20, a different journalist, Ian Fisher, expounds on the marvels of walking Rome by night.
With romantic imagery associated with Caravaggio’s artwork, Fisher says that night time is when one can best enjoy the majesty of this city.
Aside from the romance of strolling and promenading (a particularly Italian passtime), Fisher states that street crime is low and says that in the heat of summer, wanderings in the evening hours are the best way to experience the city including visits to the Vatican, the piazza di Spagna, the Jewish Ghetto and the Trevi Fountain (with of course a citation of Anita Eckberg prancing about in the water).
It all sounds very appealing but our colleagues over at 06blog are not about to rush out and stroll the streets of Rome after dark, saying that despite crime statistics being a lot lower than in New York, they would prefer to avoid the risks.
Who knows what the reality is? Rome anyway, will always be a pilgrimage no matter the villas on the Appian Way or evening excursions through the streets.
