Trivia
The Spanish Steps Apartment is located in what was once called the Campus Martius, or, the "Field of Mars." During the Republican period, this was just outside the walls of ancient Rome. This area was populated with many temples, private residences, and military camps, as well as a field area where military triumphs began. During the Imperial period, the area was one of the original Roman rioni ("districts") designated by Augustus, and within the area eventually surrounded by the great Aurelian Wall. During the Middle Ages, the area was designated as the Rione Colonna, a reference to the Column of Marcus Aurelius which stands nearby—it still goes by that name today. The palazzo was built in the late 1880's.
My father, David T. Colin, had come to Rome in World War II, when he was with American military, the legendary Office of Strategic Services run by "Wild Bill" Donovan. After the war, my father returned to Rome, the city that he had fallen in love with, and purchased the apartment. During the late 1960's, he was one of the founders of the American University of Rome (AUR), and, indeed, the apartment was the administrative office (and impromptu party space) for AUR over a number of years.
I was born and raised here in Rome. As a child, I acted in two horror films here in Italy, credited as David Colin Jr. The first was called "Beyond the Door" (1974) and starred actress Juliet Mills. The second, "Beyond the Door II" (1977), starred the "queen" of Italian horror movies, Daria Nicolodi, and was directed by Mario Bava, an Italian director with a cult following for his long line of horror films.
Although I now live near Washington, DC, where I am an economist, I come back to Rome as often as possible. Despite all my time here, Rome continues to be a fascinating city that always has more to offer. I hope you find the Eternal City as welcoming and wonderful as I do.
— David Colin, owner