If You Gotta Lounge Y'all, then Lounge Like a True Roman

You know the saying, “When in Rome…..”? Well, when in Rome, if you gotta lounge….lounge like a Roman. And two folks who are lounging like a boss….Marforio and Pauline. Read on, and I’ll tell you where you can see them in person!

CAPITOLINE MUSEUM

Staircase leading to the Piazza Campidoglio

In this post, I told you about the She Wolf of Rome, and the fabulous Capitoline Museum in Rome. There’s so many fantastic treasures in this museum, I highly encourage you to make a visit to this important museum! I always spend 3-4 hours in the Capitoline Museum each time I visit Rome.

Marforio….the god of the Lounge

This huge statue has been known as Marforio since the 12th Century. It probably represents the personification of the Ocean, and likely dates from the 2nd or 3rd century A.D. This fabulous minor god, getting a good lounge on, was moved to the Piazza dei Campidoglio in 1592 and became part of a fountain. But, more interestingly, Marforio was a “talking statue”, ancient sculptures upon which discontented citizens used to post anonymous complaints or accusations against the authorities.

Lounge on Marforio…you’ve been doing it since the 2nd or 3rd century A.D….and you’re quite good at it!

Piazza Campidoglio

BORGHESE GALLERY

Probably the second best lounge act (bad pun…sorry) in Rome is the lovely Pauline Bonaparte. The work was commissioned in 1804 by Prince Camillo Borghese to portray his young wife, the younger sister of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

Pauline caused quite a stir! She is lying half-naked on a daybed of painted wood decorated with gold. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that Pauline was kind-of a bad girl…and loved being shown in a fully sexy lounge pose.

You go girl. Lounge on.

Pauline, and my absolute favorite Bernini statues, can all be seen at the Borghese Gallery. When visiting, I advice you to take a cab, as the entrance is a pretty solid walking distance away from other major sites in Rome.

Visiting the Borghese Gallery requires a timed ticket, so I advice to make your booking as soon as you know your plans in Rome. I promise, this is a museum you should not miss seeing.

Galleria Borghese

After a few glorious hours in this fabulous museum, take a stroll through the Villa Borghese. You can walk through endless paths, and soak up the many vignettes throughout the park. Eventually, you will find yourself on the southwest end of the park, and back to the Piazza del Popolo.

Now…as they say, when in Rome…so y’all can find me over here…perfecting my lounge….just like the Romans do.