Italy Part III – Roma! (Rome) (Lots to tell!)

The train from Florence to Rome took about 2 hours and had beautiful views during the ride. When we arrived in Rome, our hotel was conveniently located about 5 minutes from the train station, so it was a piece of cake getting there. We dumped our bags and off we went to explore the City. We had 5 nights in Rome before heading home. Our hotel was in walking distance to all of the major sites around the City (well, walking distance for us – we love to walk and probably did about 15-20 km a day if not more).

Our first walk landed us on the famous “Spanish Steps”. Cascading steps that trail down from the Spanish Embassy in Rome and where many tourists sit and sun themselves and drink cappuccinos and talk and just people-watch really. Very cool. From there we headed to the Trevi Fountain. Gorgeous – except SO many tourists that it almost took away from the beauty of the fountain. But I looked past that and was happy to be standing in front of one of the most famous fountains of the world. We went back another time to the fountain at night and it was all lit up – beautiful!

Our hotel in Rome had a small fridge in it, which was great because we went to the supermarket and bought wine and cheese and fruit and salami (for Rich) and crackers and fresh bread, and had a “bed picnic” in our room for dinner our first night because we were out all day and so tired and just wanted to relax. It was great! We also were able to eat breakfasts in our room each morning which saved us money and time.

Day two we went to the Coliseum and Forum of Ancient Rome. I think this had the most impact on me of the whole trip. To be standing in this place that was built in the first century - 82 A.D. – was just amazing to me. The walls have partially crumbled and what’s left is really only the stone foundation or skeleton of what was once covered completely in white marble, but the grandeur and power of what it once was, was still very obvious and you could “feel” what it must have been like for the prisoners and slaves (the gladiators) who were about to have the fight of their lives. In my pictures you can see where the prisoners were kept before the fights and how they were “elevated” through secret passages that lifted them up to the “floor” of the coliseum, where only then, would they see which beast or other gladiator they were about to fight. I believe the fights took place from 100-300 A.D. If you’ve seen the movie “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe – this is what I’m talking about!

Before retiring back to our hotel for the evening, we stopped by the Pantheon. The Pantheon is one of the great spiritual buildings of the world. It was built as a Roman temple between 118 and 126 A.D and later consecrated as a Catholic Church. Through huge bronze doors, you enter into one big circular room. The interior is cylinder-shaped, above which rises the hemispherical dome. The only natural light enters through an oculus in the ceiling at the center of the dome and through the bronze doors to the portico. As the sun moves, striking patterns of light illuminate the walls and floors of granite and yellow marble. The first King of United Italy, Vittorio Emanuelle II, as well as his son, Umberto, are both entombed here. A choir was singing when we were here and the acoustics were amazing. Loved the Pantheon!

Day three was Vatican City! Home of the Pope. We started in the Vatican Museums, which is home to the Sistine Chapel. We were one of the first ones there (we went really early!) so we were able to take it all in before all the crazy tourists started to fill up the room. The ceiling, painted by Michelangelo, was too grand for words. We were not allowed to take pictures of the ceiling, but we did get one of the wall behind the altar which is just as amazing. I am so grateful to have seen this work of art. Spectacular. After leaving the museum, we made our way to St. Peter’s Basilica, which is the largest in the world, and this is where the Pope gives a public mass on Wednesday mornings. The open area in front of the Basilica is quite something. Makes you feel very small, yet welcomes you with open “arms”.

Day four we spent taking it a bit easier as our feet were sore from all the walking and standing at the museum. We walked through the gardens surrounding the Villa Borghese, which is the largest public park in Rome. It was once a vineyard in the 16th century that was transformed into a Park with an artificial lake. It was very beautiful, peaceful and calming walking through here. We also went back to the Spanish Steps and stopped to buy some wine to bring home, and also some olive oil, which is the best I’ve ever had. It was a nice relaxing day.

Our last day in Rome, we decided to take a day trip (about ½ hour train ride) to a city called Ostia Antica or “Ancient Ostia”. It lies in the meadows between the Tiber River and the Tyrrhenian Sea. It was founded, near the 4th century BC, as a military colony to guard the river mouth against seaborne invasions. Later, during the centuries when pretty much all imports reached the Capital via the Tiber, Ostia gained prominence as the domestic landing for cargo boats. By the 2nd century AD, it had become a flourishing commercial center inhabited by more than 100,000 people, whose apartment buildings, taverns, and grocery shops are still intact. We went for a walking tour around this ancient city and it was just wonderful to see the ancient ruins of the city and the theatre and the shops. Our pictures have captured some of this as well.

The other part of the city of Ostia, is the seaside, Ostia Lido, which is on the Mediterranean Sea and the “beach”, which of course I had to see. Rich and I took a short train ride to Lido, made our way to the sandy beach and rented a couple of beach chairs to relax in the sun before heading home the next day. A perfect way to end a truly wonderful vacation.

This trip to Italy taught me so much and I feel more knowledgeable having spent time in different cities and learning about historical events that have happened over the years. There is so much more I want to learn, and this was a good place for me to start. It’s peaked my interest to learn more about the history of the world! That’s why I love travelling so much. I always feel smarter when I come home!

Here are our Rome pictures. Thanks for sharing in this journey with me!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=jzztdya.8cb57eia&x=0&y=t268uf&localeid=en_US