Rome - Oct 2009

In just three days in Rome, Mom and I saw some unbelievable historical buildings. We saw so much that that I just selected a few to put on here. We did everything by foot and followed the map on our own. We were so glad to have done this ourselves rather than a tour which would have limited our sights. I really recommend walking in Rome on your own with realy good shoes and just exploring!! It was such a terrific experience and we were lucky to have awesome sunny weather!! Next post, I'm hoping to post more of our travels - Croatia, Barcelona, Venice, Florence and Sicily.

This is Castel Sant' Angelo. The sun was going down and the reflection on the quiet Tiber river was just beautiful. The Vatican city is located just behind me and this Castel boasts a secret passageway to the Vatican where the popes/priest could escape if needed. What history!


This is St. Peter's Square within the Vatican city which is a country of its own within Rome! Lots of horses and carriage to be seen..


Just a ray of light inside the Vatican....


St.Peter's Basilica.. the words around the base says... "..you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.." This dome was completed in 1540 by Giacomeo della Porta and Fontana.


We visited the Vatican Mueseum and when done the tour, everyone had to exit by desceding down this very cool stairway..


A hall full of extriciate paintings that blew my mind away. Some paintings seemed to just jump out at you - which shows the skill of the painters. Every corner was painted and I'm sure it took HOURS and HOURS to complete. Each painting had a story to tell.. oh my -if those paintings could speak.....


Spanish Steps.. 138 steps that lead to the church - Trinità dei Montim. Widest staircase in Europe and completed in 1717. Francesco de Sanctis was the designer of these steps.


Trevi Fountain! what can I say, beautiful works by hand. The most famous and beautiful fountain in all of Rome. The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea.


The Pantheon: A temple to all the gods of ancient Rome!


"The building is circular with a portico of three ranks of huge granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment opening into the rotunda, under a coffered, concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome."[


My first glimpse of the Colosseum or Roman Coliseum! :) Construction started between 70 AD and 72 AD and completed in 80 AD. It is considered of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering!


Arch of Constantine: It was erected to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312


Capable of seating 50,000 spectators.. It has been estimated that about 500,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games. Unbelieveable huh? Mom and I touched those walls that made history!





A local man roasting chesnuts by the Trevi Fountain.


Trevi Fountain at night!