The Eternal City

Last week, I finally had the chance to see Valentino: The Last Emperor. I had been wanting to watch it for a good while, so I was happy to see that it was available to watch instantly on Netflix. I thought it was touching, poignant, and funny. It was fascinating to see the ins and outs of Valentino’s empire and to learn that every one of his garments has always been made by hand. The beauty and craftsmanship of each garment is truly incredible. His relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, which has spanned four decades was just as interesting. Their dynamic is both hilarious and touching.

A great deal of the film takes place in Rome, which I had the great fortune of visiting three Christmases ago. Since watching the Valentino documentary, I have had the Eternal City on my mind and have been longing to go back and experience la dolce vita yet again. Rome is a city filled with history and wonder. Beauty can be found in almost every corner, even the dusty ones. A couple of days after watching the film, I came across Francesco Lagnese’s absolutely stunning portfolio and was elated to see that he had several gorgeous images taken in Rome. Brilliant!