Capitolini Museum Guide vs Discover Seaham

This hilltop museum with sweeping views of the Roman Campagna is located in the smallest yet most sacred of Rome's seven hills. In the 6th century, it used to be the sacred site of the earliest and most powerful Roman temples dedicated to the god Jupiter where several victorious and religious processions culminated to pay homage to the supreme god. Whilst digging the foundations of this grand edifice, the workers made a fortuitous yet macabre discovery of a severed human head or ‘caput’ that was miraculously preserved intact, and the Roman seers interpreted the sign as the prophecy that Rome would rise to become the undisputed head of the world ‘caput Munda’ hence also the name Capitoline Museum. The museum is home to several world-class artworks such as the Capitoline Venus, Dying Gaul and Capitoline Wolf to name a few, all teeming with historical significance and deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Rome in a highly significant way. Take the Capitoline Venus for example - a model believed to be a faithful copy of the first full-scale, fully nude female form sculpted by Praxiteles in the 4th century BC. Or the Dying Gaul, formerly known as Dying Gladiator whose dignified expression of defeat, and the restrained display of emotional and physical trauma became a standard widely emulated in Western art. But perhaps nothing can beat the cultural and historical significance of Lupa, the she-wolf immortalised in bronze, who nurtured the Roman twins, Romulus and Remulus, sons of Mars after their mother, a vestal virgin, was impregnated by the war god and fearing retribution, abandoned them in the Tiber. These artefacts are spread out in two separate buildings called the Palazzo Nuovo a small two-storey building with ancient antiquities and a larger three-storey building known as the Palazzo Conservatori, which for several years was used as the official residence of the civic magistrates in Rome. These two buildings are actually interconnected by an underground passage that houses several rare inscriptions taken from Roman catacombs. Step into the Palazzo Conservatorio, and passing through each frescoed gallery you will delightedly gaze at the wall to wall paintings that bring to life ancient stories and legends surrounding the birth of the city. View the Roman twins being nurtured under the bushes, or the Horatii brothers swearing an oath to kill their Curatii in-laws, or how the valiant Hammurabi crossed the treacherous snow-filled passes of the Carpathians with dozens of war elephants. Be awed at the majesty of the only full-scale bronze equestrian statue of a Roman emperor to survive from the pre-Christian era, for this is the original equestrian statue of the philosopher king Marcus Aurelius who extends his hand in a magnanimous symbol of mercy to pardon his enemies. His hand points to the she-wolf immortalised in bronze and the sumptuous and sensuous marbles taken from the pleasure gardens of one of Rome’s most eccentric emperors, Caligula are not far away either. The third floor of this building is home to a lovely collection of paintings that include some outstanding works by Caravaggio and Raphael. After you marvel at these sumptuous paintings descend into the secret passageway that will take you to Palazzo Nuovo via an underground tunnel - this building is home to some of the oldest and most beautiful marble pieces which are close copies derived from 4th century Bc Hellenistic bronze models. Here is where you will see the Venus, Dying Gaul, and Cupid stringing his bow as well as the famous pair of Furetti centaurs. And what better way to see these magnificent masterpieces than with your very own personal audio guide that comes with a free 2-hour tour? Click the download button and pop in your headphones to have a great time at the Museum!

Discover the history of Seaham using this interactive trail. Seaham is a wonderful town to stroll around and find hidden gems, interesting buildings and architecture; industries that have flourished and declined and to visit places where historical events have played out in the past. Wherever we stand we are surrounded by history. Sometimes that history is highly visible. Other times it lies beneath the surface and requires a journey of exploration for the unique character of our town to be truly appreciated. If you'd like to find out more about the historic town of Seaham, there's no better place to start than on one of our Heritage Trails. Choose one of three circular trails through 200 years of the history and heritage of Seaham and experience the rich and diverse culture of our town. The Seaham Blue Plaque Heritage Trail (Routes A and B) and Durham Heritage Coast – Seaham Trail take you on a journey past many points of interest, spectacular coastal views and buildings that will enrich your understanding of Seaham’s remarkable history. An ideal way to start that journey is to follow the route of the commemorative blue plaques that have been erected on buildings of historical significance. Alternatively, you can follow your own trail, focussing on the points of interest which are relevant to you. You can also use the fun photo frames in the app to create a souvenir to remember your visit. Walk the walks, learn, explore but most of all enjoy. This app makes use of GPS to show you places of interest close to your current location. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.