Rome is currently playing host to the Internazionale BNL d’Italia–the Italian Open Tennis Tournament. The men played last week and Novak Djovokic was crowned “the new emperor of Rome” (as the Italian papers put it). This week the women have taken to the courts–but these aren’t your usual playing fields. In fact, over the course of the past months, Rome’s tried-and-true tennis stadium has been disassembled and a makeshift arena is home to the tournament during the construction of a brand new tennis center.
The makeshift stadium has been built over and above the early 20th century Pietrangeli arena (for photos, see here). Built by Mussolini as part of his Foro Italico, a complex dedicated to the cult of sport, the gorgeous Pietrangeli stadium is not large enough to house all of Rome’s tennis fans. Thus, a temporary stadium has been installed over its marble seats–and atop the marble sculptures of athletes that line its perimeter.
On this Photo Friday, Susan Sanders brings us evocative images of the Boys of Marble, now imprisoned by the stadium that rises above them. For more photos of Rome by Susan, visit her blog: Rome With A View.
