More of Rome...

From our bus trip through Rome, here is the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, designed by Michangelo Buonarotti in 1562. 

The Coliseum in the daylight, many people around of course! 

Circus Maximus where Ben Hur raced in his chariot is now a public park. Not much grass right now, just lots of dust. It measured 621 m (2,037 ft) in length and 118 m (387 ft) in width, and could accommodate about 150,000 spectators. 

Palatine Hill, overlooking Circus Maximus. 

Some believe people lived here in 1000 BC. According to legend this is the cave where the city's founders Romulus and Remus were discovered by the she-wolf Lupa and raised by Faustulus and his wife Acca. 

Some people call it torta nuziale the wedding cake, others call it macchina per scrivere  the typewriter...because of its huge whiteness! 

It's Il Vittoriano - the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II. It's also known as the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Motherland) — is a monument built to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. 

The neo-classic structure in white marble occupies a site between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill completed in 1935. 

We took the pictures from the bus but obviously, you 

could walk all over and explore this area. 

We are going to have to come back and check out Rome. So much we didn't get to see! You definitely need more than a couple days. 

Rome...Evening One, Day Two

Colin suggested that we go see the Coliseum at night. Although it was chilly, and we thought we were in for the night, we ventured out on the train again to see it. Although there was construction and scaffolding, it was very cool and eery. 

Lots of guys selling scarves, glowy toys and such...

tour groups going into the darkened Coliseum. 

 How much do you suppose LILT paid to have their logo on the Coliseum? 

More scaffolding...

The Arch of Constantine, the triumphal arch of Rome, set between the Coliseum and the Palatine Hills.  It was built to commemorate Constantine's victory but also his 

conversion to Christianity. 

Sunday, we got up and took the train to Vatican City....along with everyone in Italy I think. Everyone was leaving after Mass. Apparently, we missed it. 

Late for Mass again!

The Papal Swiss Guard...must be Swiss, Catholic and single. 

 

The place is absolutely enormous. Can't imagine how many people were there for Mass since half were gone when we got there. 

Oh and.the line to get into St. Peter's was at least two hours long...Maybe next time. 

St. Peter's Square. another Egyptian obelisk. 

According to history, St. Peter requested to be crucified upside down as he is not worthy of being crucified in similar way as with Jesus Christ. It happened at the Circus of Nero in ancient Rome, the Obelisk was a silent witness to the execution of St. Peter.

That would be the reason why it's called "The Witness".

A view of St. Peter's,,,you can see where the Pope is at the top of the steps, then the altar boys exiting behind into the doorway. 

There was a special Mass being said later for a bunch of people we saw. 

140 Saint statues atop the columns. 

 One of the two fountains in the square. 

Didn't see anyone using these security machines...maybe before Mass? 

Ponte Sant'Angelo, the Bridge of Angels that connects Rome to Hadrain's Mausoleum, spanning the River Tiber. 

Haidrain's Mausoleum or Castel Sant'Angelo

On to some of the Fountains of Rome (minus Trevi!)

Fontana del Tritone, fish at the base...

Fontana del Naiads... in the Piazza della Repubblica, 

next to it the Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

They call it the Terrina Fountain because it looks like a soup terrine.

Next....the Coliseum and more! 

Ah...Rome!

Took the train to Rome for the weekend... 

Got there at night, went to the hotel, woke up and saw this out our window...

like they were waiting for us to be thrown to them! 

Off we went on the commuter train, first stop Trevi Fountain. The fountain from films, history and legend. Took and hour to find it, and here it is under all that scaffolding. 

This guy has a plastic bag over his mouth/spout...

Still threw a coin in the non-water, we'll see if we will be back! 

I am going to post the high points of the trip. All the other photos - because I took a TON - will be on my flickr.com page under carolecat. 

Next up, the Spanish Steps... amid TONS of people... and scaffolding.

Next to that, the house that a young John Keats died in...

Artist creating with chalk on a Roman sidewalk...

They consider Rome the city of obelisks, which were supposedly stolen from Egypt. 

The one on the right is in front of the Pantheon...

Next we found the Pantheon...

built in 126 AD, then in the 7th century used as a Catholic church called Santa Maria Rotunda.

Still performing Mass to this day...

The Pantheon dome has a 27 foot wide opening, NO glass. They say it's 

wonderful to see when it rains or especially when snow comes down through the opening. 

Next, we rest our feet then go back out to see the Coliseum lit up at night...