When in Rome...............

Boy have we got a lot on the agenda for today!!

 

First stop is the Coliseum of Rome.

 This is the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. 

 

Now off to the Roman Forum

 

I am about to enter into the ruins of several important ancient government buildings in the center of the city of Rome.

Amongst the sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations, there are a few partial surviving structures.

 

 

Temple of Saturn

Palatine Hill is another area of great ruins and is one of the most ancient parts of the city.
 

Palatine Hill
 

Heading up to Capitoline Hill

 

 

This is one of the seven hills of Rome. It was the citadel (equivalent of the ancient Greek acropolis) of the earliest Romans.

Capitoline Hill

The history and the architecture in Rome is just so spectacular!

Here are just a couple of pictures of some things I saw while strolling around this amazing city.

 

Santa Maria in Cosmedin

 

Piazza Venezia, Vittoriano
 

I then made my way to the Vatican City.  To get to St. Peters Basilica you walk through St. Peters Square. 

 

 

 

St. Peter's Square is a massive plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City

 

St. Peters Square

 

St. Peters Basilica is the most important religious temple in Catholicism and the church where the Pope celebrates the most important liturgies.
 

St. Peters Basilica

Close to the Vatican is Castel Sant'Angelo.  This Fortress was built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian (AD130-139), but it has also been a prison and a papal residence. It was used by former Popes who absconded there for protection in times of danger. There has been a covered passageway which still connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican.




Castel Sant Angelo

As I stood in front of the Pantheon I was in awe of it's massive pillars, yet it was so breathtakingly beautiful to me.  It is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings.

 

Pantheon

It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a church dedicated to "Santa Marie Ad Martyres", informally known as "Santa Maria Rotonda"

 

 

In the small Piazza Di Pietra you can see what remains of the great temple dedicated to Hadrian

 

 

Temple of Hadrian

 

When I made it to Trevi Fountain I was so sad that I didn't get to throw a coin into it's waters.  You see a traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome!  Apparently they drain it from time to time, and I hit the wrong time!



Fontana di Trevi

 

Moved onto the Spanish Steps, thousands of tourists and locals were sitting on the steps of the famous Spanish Steps.

 

The Spanish Steps, also known as the Scalinata della Trinita dei Monti, is a set of 138 stone steps in the center of Rome, leading from the Piazza di Spagna to the hill of the Pincio and the church of Trinita dei Monti at the top

 

 

 

This has been an amazing day in Rome!

So it's time to do what the Roman's do, while in Rome.....