Fresco (Castel Sant’Angelo)

Castel Sant’Angelo is an architectural fixture in our Prati neighborhood. Its surrounding park was the nonchalant site of a few birthday party picnics; it’s where my son learned to ride a bike. The statue of Hadrian has been “home base” for countless games of hide and seek amidst the pines. Now, on our bikes, we navigate the selfie-taking tourists outside the Castel doors, on our way home. We know the street musicians’ repertoires by heart. One random day, my son said, why don’t we go inside?

Amidst the views and sculptures– and ancient armature to delight any boy, I happened upon this fresco of the Woman and the Unicorn in the Sala dei Festoni, which held my gaze for sometime.