Rome Italy

How to summarize Rome?  First we got us a personal van driver for our group to make our time here as effective as possible.  Between her and Rick Steves' we did the best we could with the time we had. Beatrice met us as we disembarked the ship.  In no time at all we were in our group van and off for Rome.  It is a little over an hours drive into town and Beatrice waisted no time getting us there.  More crazy italian driving and maneuvering through traffic.  She told us that if we thought this was bad just wait until we get to Naples.  "The traffic signs and lights are just for decoration there", she warned. 

We started out at Palatine Hill (Monte Palatino).  We get our word "palace" from this hill, where the emporers of Rome chose to live.  At one point it was so packed with palaces that many later emporeres had to start builing out.  The now rubble used to house "the huts of Romulus", the huge Imperial Palace, and Circus Maximus (where they did the Chariot races).   

Palatine Hill:

Next Beatrice dropped us off right by the Colosseum and said she'd be back in an hour and a half for us.  Talk about VIP service! 

The Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum):

Built when Rome was at its peak in 80 A.D. the Colosseum rpepresents Rome at its grandest.  It was an arena for gladiator contests and public spectacles.  When killing became a spectatior sport, the Romans wanted to share the fun with as many people as possible, so they stuck two semicircular theaters together to create a freestanding amphitheater.  The ouside WAS decorated with a 100-foot-tall bronze starue of Nero that gleamed in the sunlight.  In a later age, the colossal structure was nicknamed a "coloss-eum," the wonder of its age. 

It could house 50,000 roaring fans at one time where ancient Romans watched Gladiators, criminals, and wild animals fight to the death in every conceivable scenario.  Released at floor level, the animals would pop out from behind blinds into the arena-the gladiator didn't know where when, or by what he'd be attacked. 

The 2,000 year old building is the classic example of Roman engineering.  The Romans pioneeered the use of concrete and the rounded arch, which enabled them to build on this tremendous scale.  While the essential structure of the Colosseum is Roman, the four-story facade is decorated with mostly Greek columns.  Doric-like Tuscan columns on the ground level, Corinthian on the next level, and at the top, half-columns with a mix of all three.  (Rick Steves Italy 2011 pg. 729)

We had to play "Gladiator" for fun like the ancient Romans used to do. 

In touch with our aggressive side, we carried on with our tour and headed to the forum. 

We had the best weather in Rome! It was the most beautiful day.

The Arch of Constantine:  This arch marks one of the great turning points in History, the military coup that made Christianity a mainstreatm religion thanks to Emporer Constantine in 312 A.D.

The Forum:  the political, religious, and commercial center of ancient Rome.  Rome's most important temples and halls of justice were here.  Mostly rubble of temples and arches are all that remain. 

Capitol Hill Square:  home to the city's modern day government.  In the 1530's the pope called on Michaelangelo to re-establish this square.  He placed the ancient equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius as the square's focal point.  Michaelangelo intended people to approach the square from his grand stairway.  He gave the buildings the "giant order"-huge pilasters to make the existing two-story buildings feel one- story. 

Also near the square is this famous copy of the "She-Wolf" statue and the il nasone (the big nose) water fountain.  Romans joke that cheap Roman boys take their dates to this fountain for a drink. 

The guys posing in Doug formation for a picture on Michaelangelo's stairs

Beatrice recommended Saby's for lunch for quick pizza.  There were lots to choose from and we found it to be pretty good. 

"When in Rome......Eat like the Romans".... The mozarella, tomato, basil one was mine and Jared's favorite. 

The Spanish Steps:  a long time running romantic spot for many including; Keats, Wagner, Openshaw, and Goethe.  It is named after the Spanish Embassy to the Vactican which has been here for 300 years. 

The Vatican Museum: Beatrice dropped us off to a co-worker Dino just outside of the Vatican Museum.  An expert in art history.....he helped is to "discover" the many beautiful pieces of art within the Vatican Museum.  He definitely knew his stuff, but wow was he dry and dull.  Right after lunch during my nap time?  Not good planning.....The Vatican was amazing however do not misunderstand me!!

Michaelangleo statues


Inside the many areas of the museum before reaching the Sistine Chapel

The detail was impressive and unreal

The Raphael Rooms:

This is the one picture we got inside the Sistine Chapel.  It was different than I had suspected.  It was more colorful and not as high up as I had imagined.  You have to be quiet and there are no pictures allowed.  ooops.  Somehow Jared took a picture.  We don't have a flash on my new camera so we felt it was probably okay. 

Michaelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel:

One of the doors the catholics must pass through every 25 years. 

At the end of the tour you end in St. Peter's Basilica:  Rick Steves says "there is no doubt that this is the richest and grandest church on earth".  One of the main attractions is Michaelangelo's "Pieta" (above).  Amazing.  Even behind bullet proof glass.  He was only 24 when he completed this work.        

"Dino"

St. Peter's Square:  all the chairs were set up because it was a Wednesday when the pope greets a public audience and offers a blessing from a balcony or canopied platform on the square. 

The Pantheon:  The domed temple that is Rome's best preserved interior.  After the fall of Rome it was left alone by the barbarians and is very well preserved. 

The Trevi Fountain:  This fountain shows how Rome took advantage of the abundance of water brought in to the city by its great aqueducts.  This watery Baroque avalanche by Nicola Salvi was completed in 1762.  Water gushes from 24 different spouts. 

Tourists go through this ritual daily.....throwing a coin over your shoulder is supposed to grant you a wish and assure your return to Rome.  The coins are taken out daily and used to feed the poor.