We started our time in Rome with a fascinating tour through Ancient Rome. I was in awe upon arriving at the colosseum. Built by the Romans as a venue for gladiator fights it is standing proof of their great engineering skills and quality of workmanship. What have we built that will still be standing in 2000 years. Passing through the Arch of Constantine we visited the Roman Forum. This was Ancient Rome's civic center and anything important that happened in Rome happened here. Though only fragments of buildings and columns remain it is a place that seems to draw you back in time. We then passed through to the Plazza del Campidoglio which sits atop Capital Hill. This was once the political center of Ancient Rome and remains the home of the city's government. In the 1530's the pope of the time called on Michelangelo to reestablish the square to a grand center. Approaching from a grand staircase with numerous statutes and a large fountain the whole area is welcoming.
The Pantheon is antiquity's best preserved interior. Built two millennia ago the 142 foot high and wide dome has astounded architects through the ages.
An evening stroll took us past the beautiful statue of the Four Rivers designed by Bernini centuries ago. The Spanish steps cascade down to a beautiful fountain and are a definite gathering place both day and night and hundreds of tourists and locals do the wide set of 135 stairs. The narrow streets radiating from the square are mostly traffic free and are a shoppers delight. Dotted with many restaurants the area is a reprieve from the crazy drivers of Rome.
Much of the next day was spent exploring Vatican City. Declared a country of its own it is the smallest in the world. The Vatican Museum is immense and has four miles of displays. One cannot help but be impressed with the multitude of ancient statues, frescos and paintings. The museum ends with the magnificent Raphael rooms which were once the apartment of Pope Julius II. One then enters the Sistine Chapel which is the Pope's personal chapel and also the place from which the new pope is elected. The chapel is famous for the painted ceiling done by Michelangelo done over a four year period showing the story of creation. The Last Judgement was painted many years later, also by Michelangelo and covers the whole wall behind the alter. The art was stunning, but crowded with people, there was nothing about the chapel that felt like a church.
St Peter's Basillica is the largest and richest Catholic Church in the world and can accommodate 60,000 people. It is extremely ornate with perhaps its most famous work being The Pieta by Michelangelo which is kept behind bulletproof glass since someone attacked it with a hammer breaking off Mary's nose which has been repaired. St Peters square completes this country of just over 100 acres.
Amongst our exploring was a trip up to the top of the Victor Emmanuel Monument which gave us a wonderful 360 degree view of the city. Sitting at small cafés people watching rounded out our visit to Rome.
Bridge across the Tiber
The Spanish Steps
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