Juxtaposition.... not into it

One comes to Italy to escape the modern.  Why do they insist on setting up these exhibits that juxtapose the modern with the clearly more superior Baroque.  I'm not buying it, dudes.  For example, today I bought skin cream that is banned by the U.S. FDA.  Why?  Because it is made out of god knows what, DNA from Etruscan placenta?  What ever it is, it works.  I don't need to be saved from my skin cream.  I want to live on the edge.  Frankly, Italians know a thing or two about living forever.  They all smoke, they drive like maniacs, they're all emaciated and short, and they live to be 105. 
I think it's all about gusto.  Beefy, gorgeous, no-holds-barred gusto.  Lop off a couple of heads.  In fact, that is today's theme, compliments of Salome and Judith:

Today I headed to several churches that I love, those that have on exhibit lovely paintings that I like to visit:

A little Caravaggio after colazione.  Gorgeous.  Then I simply want to be in other people's villas.  So I went to two museums that are in family homes: the Rome National (Palazzo Altemps) and the Doria Pamphilj.  I am so inspired by these elegant homes and the interior courtyards filled with fountains, trees in pots and statuary:

Chock full of glorious statuary, 'collected' by the uber-rich, pillaged from archaeological sites in the wonderful days before people got too picky about moving a couple of rocks, for god's sake.  And then of course, I'm off to lunch.  What a fantasy life.  Sleeping in, walking, art, lunch.....at a wonderful Tuscan ristorante, where I had pasta and black truffles:

And a gift of a tiny glass of vin santo from my charming waiter...who thought my italiano was splendido!