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We know that there are those among our readers who are not Facebook fans of eCool and therefore don’t see the many updates we post there about things happening in and around Rome.   Thus, in order that all eCoolers have equal access to all that’s hip and happening in Rome, today we’re publishing a list of links that will probably be of interest to Rome-antics.

We’re also taking this opportunity to show you a photo recently taken by Susan Sanders at the Pantheon, where the plaster covering an ancient brick wall is absolutely filled with scratched-on signatures.  The writing’s on the wall.

So, here we go with some interesting links:

• In 2002, artist Olaf Bruening installed some scary skeletons in the gorgeous gardens at the Villa Medici.  We wish we’d seen the show, but since we missed it, we want to share these photos.

• Lots of art news out there lately.  Martin Kemp, Emeritus Professor of the History of Art at Oxford University, used a “multispectral” camera to find the fingerprint and palm print of Leonardo da Vinci in a portrait on vellum.  He’s matched it to one on the St Jerome in the Vatican in an attempt to verify that the image is by Leonardo.  Kemp also believes it represents Bianca Sforza, daughter of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.  Both the Guardian and Antiquities Trade Gazette are covering this today.

• Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus is on exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago until January 31st.

• If you’re headed to Venice, you’ll want to download the songs on the Gypsy’s Guide Venice playlist.

• More on Caravaggio:  The Adoration of the Magi is being restored and groups of 10-15 people are allowed to watch the restorers at work in Rome’s lower chamber of parliament until January 2010.  For more info and to make the required reservations, visit this site.

• The New York Times covered the scientific process and gadgetry being used to search for a lost Leonardo in Florence.

• National Geographic declared that the Amalfi Coast is one of the 50 greatest drives in the world.  Who’s surprised by that?

• A British team excavated at Porto, an ancient port near the mouth of the Tiber River, found an amphitheater.  The BBC covered the find too.

• The Farnese Collection at the Naples Archaeological Museum reopened at long last.  Boy are we happy!  Can’t get to Naples fast enough!

• Roman sculpture was found in the Blue Grotto at Capri suggesting it was elaborately decorated when Tiberius used it for a swimming pool!

• Not to be outdone by the Vatican Museums, three city-run museums are also opening in the evening on Saturdays during October. The Capitoline Museums are open on 12 and 26 September and 17 October from 20.00 to 23.00, the Ara Pacis is open on 3 and 24 October from 19.00 to 22.00 and the Centrale Montemartini on Via Ostiense is open on 10 and 31 October from 19.00 to 22.00.  More info on Wanted in Rome.

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