Living in Rome

This is Rome as you have never seen it. Through the perceptive text of Bruno Racine, current director of the French Academy in Rome, and the stunning photographs of Alain Fleischer, this book reveals aspects of the city that most visitors miss.

Stone and Color
Rome's stone, brick and plaster shimmer in countless hues, according to the time of day and the season. Goethe and Stendhal celebrated the incomparable light, which is a never-ending delight-- particularly sweet at sunset, when the city seems to be ablaze.

Strolling in Rome
Rome is made for strolling, with its narrow winding streets, multitude of squares and fountains glittering in the sunlight. For those prepared to take it at a leisurely pace, the city is an endless source of surprises.

Roman Gardens
A vestige of the rural Rome of the past, entire hills have retained their cloak of greenery. Public or private, the city's parks and gardens offer another vision of the city, in the aromatic shade of orange trees and umbrella pines.

Roman Interiors
A passion for art has graced Roman homes for centuries. From magnificent palaces to modern apartments, with unequalled opulence or complete simplicity, the city continually affirms its love of beauty in all its forms.

Roman Rendezvous
The Rome that Romans love: museums, ignored by the tour operators, traditional artisans, antique dealers, hotels with panoramic views, charming cafés and restaurants.

Connoisseur's Guide
The best addresses and tips from Romans. Where to go for a room with a view, a good meal or a cappuccino. Exploring the riches of the museums and antique dealers. Where to find exceptional artisans and chic fashion clothing. Discovering the many sights in the environs of Rome and enjoying the big events of the year in the city itself.

Rome has grown since the days when it was the capital of the Roman Empire, but this incomparable city has lost none of its unique charm. It is a place which enjoys a special privilege: time. Time, be it that of history or that of everyday life, has a particular quality in Rome.

This is the reason why Rome's charm is easier to experience than it is to describe. A person in a hurry might fall in love with the city, but the sheer abundance of artistic riches can all too often be oppressive. Rome's charm will reveal itself more readily to someone who is prepared to discover it at a leisurely pace, without a stopwatch. The art of living in Rome means taking the time to yield to its subtle powers of seduction.

A permanent miracle, Rome unites in one love the believer and the atheist, classical rigor and baroque exuberance, attachment to the past and a passion for life.

Author Bruno Racine, who has published several prize-winning novels, has been director of the French Academy in Rome since 1997, notably giving its lavish premises in the Villa Medici new luster for the jubilee year 2000. Living in Rome is the fruit of a thirty-five-year love affair with the city, offering a fascinating insight into one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Alain Fleischer is a film-maker, photographer, writer and artist. He has been awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome in photography, earning a sabbatical at the Villa Medici. He now divides his time between Paris, Rome and Tourcoing in northern France, where he founded Le Fresnoy, a contemporary art studio. He regularly exhibits his work in museums and galleries in France and abroad. A major retrospective of his photographs will be held in Paris in 2002.