Wat Chaiyo or Wat Ket Chaiyo was built during the Ayutthaya Period. It became important during the reign of King Rama IV. The venerable Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) of Wat Rakhang Khositaram built the large Buddha image in a subduing Mara gesture and placed it outdoors. However, the image collapsed soon after construction. He re-built it in the same pose but smaller, covered it in plaster and without gold leaf. As the image could be seen from far, the villagers called it Luangpho To (meaning huge image). Further temple restoration during the reign of King Rama V the Buddha image collapsed again. The King ordered the renovation of the image with steel bars inside. The new image was covered in gold leaf and monks’ robes and was given the new name by King Rama V the Great “Phra Maha Phutthaphim”. A new main chapel was constructed to house the image. Upon completion, King Rama V the Great established the temple as one of the royal temples.
To pay respect to Luangpho ...
Nestled in the heart of Rome, between the Capitoline Hill and the Circus Maximus, the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum together form the ancient core of the city—a place where myth, history, and imperial ambition intertwine. According to legend, it was on the Palatine Hill that Romulus founded Rome in 753 BC, after slaying his brother Remus, and where the she-wolf nurtured the twins in the Lupercal cave. This centermost of Rome’s seven hills quickly became the most desirable address, evolving from modest Iron Age huts to the opulent residences of the elite during the Republic, and finally to the sprawling palaces of emperors like Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, and Domitian. The word “palace” itself derives from “Palatine,” a testament to its enduring association with power and luxury.
Below the hill lies the Roman Forum, once a marshy valley reclaimed in the 7th century BC to become the bustling political, religious, commercial, and social center of the ancient world. For over a ...
The Mercatino di Natale (Christmas market) in Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s oldest and most beloved traditions, often called the Mercatino della Befana. Its roots trace back over 200 years, evolving from seasonal street sellers. The piazza hosted a daily food market from 1477 until 1869 (later moved to Campo de’ Fiori), but by the late 19th century (around 1876), it became dedicated to an annual Christmas fair—initially toys, sweets, and nativity figures tied to Epiphany celebrations.
Today, it’s a festive, family-oriented market filling the piazza with wooden stalls selling artisanal Christmas decorations, handmade nativity scenes (presepi), wooden toys, leather goods, ceramics, books, regional sweets (like panettone and roasted chestnuts), and gift items.
Attractions include a vintage carousel, street performers, puppet shows, and workshops for children. The atmosphere is magical at night with twinkling lights framing the Baroque fountains and palaces.
It typically runs from early ...
The Colosseum, officially known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, stands as the largest ancient amphitheatre ever constructed and remains the biggest standing one in the world today. Situated in the heart of Rome, just east of the Roman Forum, it exemplifies the extraordinary engineering achievements and vibrant entertainment traditions of Imperial Rome.
Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty commissioned it around 70–72 AD as a generous act to restore land previously taken by Nero for his private palace and artificial lake, returning it to public use. His son Titus completed and inaugurated the structure in 80 AD with 100 days of spectacular games, while further enhancements, such as the underground hypogeum, came under Domitian between 81 and 96 AD.
The project drew funding primarily from the spoils of the Roman victory in Jerusalem in 70 AD, with much of the demanding labor carried out by tens of thousands of Jewish prisoners of war alongside skilled Roman engineers, architects, and artisans. ...
