Pacis of Pasta

Let's get things started with a holiday post! We just spent new year in Rome with our friends Rachel and Ben (you should really check out their blog if you haven't already - 3prosecco4). We gambled through the city one day (when the weather was fine) to visit the Ara Pacis (pictured above in a rough Hockney-esque way), which is situated on the edge of the river Tiber in (what I think is) a gorgeous modern building designed by American architect Richard Meier. The right-wing mayor of Rome has threatened to tear it down, which I think would be a real shame as it compliments the surrounding ancient buildings, without detracting from them, or it's important contents.

Anyway, the Ara Pacis (the alter to peace) is incredibly detailed, and very well preserved - well worth a visit (especially if you have a guide with as much knowledge as Ben does)! As an extra visitor bonus there is currently an exhibition running downstairs showing Italian patents for some incredible, and some not so incredible Italian designs and inventions. These include varieties of pasta, shoes, cars and webbed gloves (see the last photo). I'm pretty sure that last one falls into the not so incredible - but I might be wrong!