The faint scent of ancient stone hangs in the air, whispering tales of a time long past. Right here, before us, stand the remnants of the Sedia del Diavolo, the Devil’s Chair. This crumbling monument, shrouded in myth and folklore, offers a glimpse into Rome’s captivating past. The Sedia del Diavolo began its life not as a seat of darkness, but as a grand tomb. It was built in the 2nd century AD for a freedman of Emperor Hadrian named Aelius Callistion. Imagine, if you will, a majestic, temple-like structure, its white mosaics shimmering under the Italian sun. But time, as it often does, reshaped its story. The once-grand edifice fell into ruin, its facade crumbling away. This is where the tale takes a darker turn. The ruins, with their two jutting side walls, began to resemble a giant chair, a throne fit for a king… or a devil. Locals, whispering tales of strange lights and shadowy figures lurking amidst the stones, dubbed it the “Sedia del Diavolo.” Legend has it that the Devil himself used these ruins as his throne, his presence causing its final collapse. This eerie moniker stuck, and until the 1950s, the square where it stood was even known as Piazza della Sedia del Diavolo. Today, the name may have changed, but the chilling nickname persists. The Sedia del Diavolo stands as a stark reminder that even in the heart of a bustling metropolis, echoes of ancient myths and legends continue to resonate.
Chiesa di Santa Maria in Monticelli
Is this heaven? Because standing before the Chiesa di Santa Maria in Monticelli, one might feel a touch of the