We flew into Rome and took a cab to our hotel in the heart of Rome where we had an airbnb hotel, The Magic Double Guest House.
The view from our room.
One thing we noticed that in all of the more southern cities we visited
we would occasionally catch a wiff of marijuana being smoked.
On our first day in Rome, April 30, we went on a Rick Steve's walk starting at Campo di Fiori and wound up at the Pantheon but it was already closed for the day. Along the way we passed by this memorial to Victor Emmanuel II, first king of the restored Italy in about 1860. Since coming back I've seen some videos of Mussellini speaking from this location.
Piazza Navona.
The Pantheon at night
A busker was performing in the Piazza della Rotonda which is the square on which the Pantheon sits. He sounded quite good to us but the police soon drove up and shut him down. There is a fountain in the middle of the square with spigots where we saw people refilling their water bottles.
On our second attempt to enter the Pantheon the day turned out to be a holiday. We decided to eat at one of the restaurants on the Piazza, the Di Rienzo Ristorante al Pantheon. There was a light rain and the covered outside section was full and nobody eating inside. There was a small table in a large open window facing the outside. We asked about it and our waiter said sure. The food and service were superb. The bottle of house wine was very good, something we learned was true whereever we ate. I had a spaghetti carbonara that was the best ever, no other place else on our trip came close.
Our waiter, Antonio, went in front of the restaurant picked up some roses and took this picture.
We gave our waiter a good tip and after we left Linda noticed that they had already charged us an 18% gratuity. You know, it was a nice experience with a little lesson at the end. We did check the bill much more carefully from then on.
We finally made it inside the Pantheon on our third try, it was well worth the effort. The opening at the top of the building is 29ft in diameter. The dome is 142 ft high the same as the inside diameter. The opening looks much smaller when standing under it. The top opening was used to let out the smoke from candles used for illumination. Twenty two drains are in the floor to get rid of rain water. The Pantheon was completed by Emperor Hadrian circa A.D. 126 after having been started by Marcus Agrippa but his earlier version burned down. It is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. It originally displayed many of the Roman God's. At one point the Pantheon was turned into and is still a Catholic church, the church of St. Mary and the Martyrs.
On the way to the Trevi Fountain we walked along the Via Di Propaganda. This is the street where the Vatican published much of its educational material. This has been the headquarters of Catholicism's global missionary operations since 1627.
Trevi Fountain.
The obligatory coin toss into the Trevi fountain.
The Spanish steps. Named for the nearby Spanish embassy.
A view from the top of the Spanish Steps
The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) is at least as grand on the inside as on the outside.
The sight of the Colosseum must have been totally mindboggling for anybody seeing it the first time in 70AD when it was finished. It could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators depending on how it was setup. Using the technology of the age to build it, it still only took 8-10 years to drain a swamp and complete the amphitheatre. It was started in 72AD and dedicated in 80AD. Vespian used money from looting the temple in Jerusalem to pay for its construction.
A concourse around the Colosseum.
An old photo from the inside.
A google map of the area including the Colesseum, Circus Maximus, the Roman Forum and the Palatine hill.
The arch of Constantin.
The Colesseum looking back as we enter the Palatine Hill.
Looking down from the Palatine hill
The Circus Maximus from the Palatine Hill.
Views inside the Palatine Hill.
We explored the Roman Forum.
The Marcellus colesseum. It is being repaired and we weren't able to go inside. Apartments have actually been built on its top.
We go inside the Capitoline Museum. Pope Clement XII opened it to the public in 1734 making it the first museum open to the public. Its collections started in 1471 under Pope Sixtus IV. Michelangelo worked on the design of the Capitoline Hill circa 1568. It is one of the seven hills of Rome. They have a nice coffee shop with a patio with nice views where you can rest up a bit. We enjoyed coffee and a snack before viewing the exhibits.
A bronze of a young boy (The Spinario) removing a thorn from his foot. 1st century BC.
The Capitoline She-wolf. A bronze most likely from the 5th century BC but might be much newer. The She-wolf was taken up as the symbol of Rome after it was moved to Capitol Hill around 1471. The two boys were added later. The she-wolf appears all over Rome.
More from inside the Capitoline Museum.
The Bust of Medusa by Bernini when she looked into a mirror and turned herself into stone.
Emperor Marcus Aurelius equestrian monument dated 161-180 AD. In the forground is a Lion attacking a horse. The lions ferocity represented the dominance, power and greatness of Rome.
Remaining wall of the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter. The temple became the symbol of Rome. Statue is Hercules from the 2nd Century BC.
There is a long line of busts of the Roman emporers. They were in power a long time. This picture is only the start.
Looking from the Capitoline Museum into the Roman Forum.
The vatican as you first see it when going on a tour.
The hall of maps on our way to the Sistine Chapel. No photography is allowed in the chapel.
We then went through the Sistene Chapel and then to St Peter's Basilica.
The Pieta (The Pity) by Michelangelo.
The Basilica is so immense. They have plaques on the floor showing the exent other big churches. None are bigger.
The wing span of the dove is 6 feet.
Saint Peter Enthroned. There was a short line of people waiting to touch his foot.
Inside view of the Dome.
St's Peter and Paul.
Our next Italian destination was Sorrento. We walked from our room to the Rome Terminal in a light mist. We took a train to Naples and then a local train/trolly (Circumvesuviana) farther south past Mt. Vesuvius to Sorrento.