So last year around this time, I was in Rome for a conference involving my day job.

The Capitoline Venus had just come to the National Gallery of Art in Washington in honor of our newly minted sister city agreement with Rome, and I was at the Capitoline Museum looking at her empty pedestal.

It seemed like the perfect opportunity to blog about the similarities between our two capitals – and it would be Historic District’s first official field trip.

Unfortunately, the day job took over, and I never got around to blogging.

Well, tempus fugit, and this month I find myself back in the Eternal City.

The difference this time is that I’m purely on vacation, and I’ve made my offering to the blog gods to keep me writing as long as I’m here.

Follow Historic District over the next couple of weeks as I explore the links, both intended and accidental, between two great cities – Washington, D.C. and Rome.

I promise lots of great photos. And as my friends know, I’m sure some images of food and drink will somehow find their way among the ancient monuments and ruins.

Ciao e a più tarde!

NB: The title of this blog refers to a Woody Allen movie about Rome released this summer. It was being filmed during my last visit here, and Woody Allen and much of the cast were staying in the same hotel as me and my colleagues.

After seeing the results a few weeks ago, I would advise you to skip the movie.

But by all means, pour your own offering to the gods as you read this.