I don’t know, what about you, but I truly love history. I read a lot of books with this topic, Dan Brown’s included, and I am looking forward to seeing these historical places in real time! With making the marks on maps. The amazing story where you can look for wisdom is Angels & Demons. So, one day I convinced myself to team up with my interests and vacation. I decided to visit Rome to show you the true meaning of The Journey to ‘‘Enlightenment.’’
To get into Illuminati Temple and absorb their wisdom, it is necessary to make a cross through Rome. But how to find a temple? The work of the builder and sculptor Bernini, dealing with the various elements of science - earth, air, fire and water - is help for its direction.
If you follow the book (Angels & Demon), the main character Robert Langdon starts by mistake in Pantheon (marker START on the map), because he was looking for the grave of Raffael Santi.
START - Pantheon
The Pantheon means ''Temple of all the gods." It is a temple made by Romans, during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD), but it was finished up by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD.
Unfortunately, as I said, prof. Langdon was here by mistake.
We are looking for a tomb made by Raffael Sancti, not his grave.
And this place is located on Piazza del Popolo (marker number 1 in the map). The journey continues to Church Santa Maria del Popolo, which includes a tomb in Chigi Chapel.
1. Santa Maria del Popolo
This is a titular church and a minor basilica in Rome run by the Augustinian order. Chapel Chigi represents EARTH and according to Brown’s novels, the 1st cardinal (preferiti) under this hatch was suffocated here, stuffed with earth in the throat.
This church was currently under construction, so I did not make a picture of the front building.
How did we suppose to find a second marker? Bernini statues!
In Chigi Chapel is a statue of an angel (see the middle picture) made by Bernini and his hand is pointing on the west. But where?
Exactly on the Piazza San Pietro (marker number 2 in the map).
2. Piazza San Pietro
The funny part is, that today is Piazza San Pietro and the holiest Basilica di San Pietro (home of the Pope - currently Papa Francesco) located in a different country - Vatican. Basically is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome. The Vatican was in 1929 established with the Lateran Treaty, it is in full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction of the Holy See (Sancta Sedes). The Vatican is very small, it has an area of 44 hectares and a population of about 1 000 (mostly cardinals and the Swiss guard).
In the centre of Piazza San Pietro, you can see Egyptian obelisk.
I was looking for another direction, but just like prof. Langdon, I was confused with all angel statues around. You can see also angel faces on the ground, on the oval, almost-meter long plates.
Finally, the picture of the angel blowing wind called West Ponente (see the third picture) shows the way to the east - to the place (marker number 3 in the map) Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vittoria.
West Ponente means exactly the West Wind.
And as historical alchemy, everything points to another element - the AIR.
According to Brown’s novel, the 2nd cardinal (another one of the preferiti) was killed by the stabbed lungs here.
3. Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vittoria
This church is known for the masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel, the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. The whole picture in the Chapel is made with two central sculptural figures of the swooning nun and the angel with the spear. The group is illuminated by natural light which filters through a hidden window in the dome of the surrounding aedicule and underscored by gilded stucco rays. Teresa is shown lying on a cloud indicating that this is intended to be a divine apparition we are witnessing.
In short version, it depicts Saint Teresa experiencing a huge orgasm and above her is a twinkling smiley angel with a fire arrow.
I got again a very bad picture of Saint Teresa, because of scaffold during reconstruction.
Anyway, as I mentioned above, the angel has a flaming arrow, which represents obviously next element FIRE.
Here was according to Brown’s novel the 3rd cardinal (another one of the preferiti) killed by the fire.
The Flaming arrow is also showing another direction (marker number 4 in the map) to the south - Piazza Navona.
4. Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona was built in the 1st century AD as an open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans went there to watch the agones (games), and hence it was known as Circus Agonalis (competition arena). It is believed that over time the name changed to in avone to navone and eventually to navona.
Piazza Navona is surrounded by restaurants and shops. In the middle of the square is a fountain with Egyptian obelisk surmounted with the Palazzo Pamphili (today is the Brazilian Embassy).
The Fountain is called Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), because it represents four major rivers of the four continents through which pope’s authority (Innocent X) had spread: the Nile representing Africa, the Danube representing Europe, the Ganges representing Asia, and the Río de la Plata representing the Americas.
According to Brown’s novel, the 4th cardinal (another one of the preferiti) was drowned here in fountain symbolically by WATER.
Our way through Rome is almost done. The Illuminati Temple should be in the middle of the journey’s cross. The nearest point is Castel Sant’Angelo (marker DESTINATION in the map).
FINAL DESTINATION - Castel Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant’Angelo had previous name the Mausoleum of Hadrian. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle and is now a museum.
Legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared atop the mausoleum (see two pictures), sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590, thus lending the castle its present name. According to Brown’s novel, Illuminati’s Temple of Enlightenment is here and the Archangel Michaels is the last angel pointing exactly underneath. As our proverb in Czech republic say: ‘‘Under the candle is the darkest place.’’ Illuminati was in the war with Christian’s church and where they could hide their temple? Right under their Christians noses. Noone would expect Illuminati temple in Christian building. So the last stop is to go via Ponte S. Angelo straight to Castelo Sant 'Angelo.
And find Enlightenment.
I hope you learn something today guys and see you next time 
PS: Whole travel around Rome was for free, except Castel Sant’Angelo, where is a few euros entrance fee.
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For instance, Inferno (another by Dan Brown). I am going to make post about that next time.