Italy-Rome- Day 1

When we booked our flight tickets we had not realized that this weekend Rome was expecting over a million visitors for the Beatification of John Paul II. Well we were here too and due to the rush we ended up with a hotel far from the city centre.

Decided to fit in as much as we could and then leave Rome a day earlier. Bought the Roma pass, very useful, then visited the Colosseum.

After having visited Greece and then Ephesus I thought that ruins would no longer excite me, glad to know I was wrong. It is massive, but has not be named such because of it rather it has been named after the statue of Nero that stood outside. It is quite well preserved, to walk in the areas where people once sat and watched gladiators (some free while the rest prisoners) risk their lives is unreal. The arena is partially renovated , in the other bit the underground network which helped make the games exciting with pulleys and trapdoors is visible.

Exited on to Constantine's Arch. In the courtyard there are men dressed as roman soldiers and gladiators for photo opportunities.

Next stop the Palatine hill and the museum . The hill contained palaces and villas of prominent people in the earlier centuries, most are ruins now. The museum has been built around the archaeological ruins dug up from the prehistoric ages, it is the smallest museum I have been to in a long time. Could not walk in the Roman forum due to a change in the closing time but got good views from above.

Walked along the Imperial forums to get to Complesso del Vittoriano. In Roman history it is a new building as it is only 100 years old but I loved it. It is a large building with chariots on both ends, large statues in the middle ( over a tomb with guards on both side) and along the staircase. You cannot help but notice this building. So far everything in Rome seems to be imposing, like they deserved to rule the world. Along side it is a Basilica containing the jeweled statue of a baby which over years has performed miracles.

Visited the second museum for the day, Musei Capitolini, spent over three hours in there, could have spent more but our brains can assimilate only so much information and our stomachs were growling. The statues seemed so well preserved, especially after Greece, found out later that the Romans in the 15th to18th century restored the ones they found. Impressive collection including Aurelius on a horse ( the copy is outside in the piazza), colossal statue of Nero and the bronze she-wolf. The buildings themselves are over 500 hundred years old.

Spent some time in the Piazza de Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo. It lies between the two buildings of the museum, which connect to each other via an underground passageway . The Piazza is a hot tourist spot as well as for wedding pictures , saw one getting pictures and another party waiting. The pictures at the piazza are followed by further pictures in the horse drawn carriages.

Took pictures ,threw coins, made a wish at the famous Fontana di Trevi, then left. The fountain is obviously very pretty but also extremely crowded with all the tourists in town.

Finally grabbed some dinner, what other than pizza and pasta. Rested our feet at Piazza Spagna, , sat on the Spanish steps and enjoyed the beauty of the flowers, the fountain and again a bridal party. There are groups of people from various countries for the event tomorrow, they fly their flags and break out into songs every so often, there is so much energy and excitement in the air.

Ended the night with gelato, absolutely exhausted.

So far Rome has been lovely other than the public transport which smells and is dirty.




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