Rome

Hi all, 

Here we are in Rome and I have many pictures to show you but for all that are here; I have triple the amount on my camera!  I will try to be brief on my narrative so you can just enjoy the pictures.

Rome was built on 7 hills.

Palatine Hill ( Monte Palatino) The huge Imperial Palace and a view of the Circus Maximus.

These pictures are more of the ruins as you  pass by. below is the Circo Massimo which is where the Romans had their chariot races.

View of Rome

Santa Maria in Aracoeli Church. On top of Capitoline hill; it is old and dear to the hearts of Romans.  "It stands on the site where Emperor Augustus (supposedly) had a premonition of the coming of Mary and Christ standing on an "altar in the sky."  The church is Rome in a nutshell where you can time-travel across 2,000 years by standing in one spot."

Crossing the Tiber River and seeing Castel Sant'Angelo in the background. This was built as a tomb for the emperor and used as a castle,prison, and in 1277 a place for the popes to flee by a corridor from the Vatican.  
 Ancient Rome allowed no tombs within its walls so Emperor Hadrian built this in c.AD 139. His mausoleum is a 210 by 70 feet cylinder. Above is a statue of Hadrian himself riding a chariot.

Santa Maria Maggiore. We have not been in here but will when we return to Rome in 2 weeks. This is supposed to have the best surviving mosaics as the church was built as Rome was falling.

I couldn't resist this picture.  This poor sole had a huge boot put on his wheel and now his car is being towed. Just fun to see how they do it here.  They have a sling on the end of the arm and it was slid under the front of the car. Not like the hooks here and the boot was the biggest one I have ever seen.

                                The bus just zipped through here..not an inch to spare!

                                 Your life is definitely in the someone greater hands!

The Spanish Steps. We walked miles to find these because I had such great memories of them from 22 years ago when I was here last.  I was so  so  disappointed.  The hordes of people and this pictures doesn't show the mob above. The building behind is being renovated so at least it is covered

Another view of the steps. Here is where it was a hangout for  Keats, Wagner, and many others. Keats is said to have pondered his mortality, then died of TB at the age of 25 in the orange building on the right side of the steps.  These 138 steps leads sharply up forming a butterfly shape up to the obelisk with two Baroque church towers hidden behind the curtain.

This is Trevi Fountain. So sad not to see this working. Again I got to see this the first visit and it was beautiful. Romans enjoyed the pure water from the aquaducts. This was completed in 1762 by Nicola Salvi. Neptune's kingdom has 24 spouts tumbling over 30 different kinds of plants while Triton blows his conch shell.

These are just street pictures of life here along the way.
Roasting chestnuts, shops, and people...

The famous Pantheon was originally built by Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC but after several fires Emperor Hadrian  rebuilt it as you see it today in AD 120. The dome room inspired later domes like St Peter's and Duomo.

The dome is a mathematical perfection and a testament to Roman engineering. The dome is as high as it is wide- 142 feet from floor to rooftop and from side to side.  It is made of concrete which gets lighter as it gets higher. The base of the dome is 23 feet thick  and 5 feet thick at the top.   The eye - 30 feet across as you see it (one of my pictures I had a seagull flying by) is open and is the only light source.

Wendy is showing us what 40 feet of one single piece of red granite looks like just outside of the Pantheon.

                        Another beautiful church inside along the way.

            This church is St Pedro in Vincoli ( St Peter in chains) Outside and below inside.

 Moses sculpted by Michelangelo in St Peter in Chains Church. We could practically touch him.

The chains of St Peter.

On top of the Victor Emmanuel Monument. A monument built to Italy's first king to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's unification in 1861. The monument is 200 feet high and 500 feet wide.The horse in front is 43 feet long and weighs 50 tons  It is one of the biggest equestrian statues in the world. (there are many places that will have all different measurements but I am taking most of my facts from Rich Steves)

 This statue in one of two that are on either end of the Victor Emmanuel Monument-massive!

 On top of the monument which has a 360 view of Rome and signs that point out what you are seeing.

                         The eternal flame for the unknown warrior.  Guards flank the tomb.

                              Here we are walking from the Colosseum to the Roman Forum.

 One of the three triumphal aches in the Forum area.

The "Wedding Cake" at night.

A walk along the ruins going for our dinner.

I have taken lots of pictures and these are only a few. I am now heading back to Sorrento to celebrate Easter and experience their traditions.
Ciao :-)