Day 13: Rome

Today was a whirlwind tour of Rome. The most difficult and stressful part about a new city, for me at least, is getting comfortable with the layout and transportation system. When you know exactly where you want to go but can't find out how to get there, it can be frustrating. So, our first day in Rome was a little rocky at times, but honestly it wasn't too bad. I wasn't impressed with the confusing bus system they had, but the city is so large that even if you take the subway to a general area of Rome, you most likely will need to take a bus or walk a very long way.

Our first stop was the Colosseum. I was prepared to be disappointed, but I really wasn't. It was amazing. From there, we went to the Roman Forum which, next to Pompeii, was probably my favorite architectural sight-seeing spot. How incredible it feels to walk along the same roads and touch the same stones that countless Caesars had walked and touched. We nosed around the Pantheon (in daylight this time) and had some great gelato nearby. We sneaked into the National Museum of Rome thirty minutes to closing (it's included in the Roma Pass, so it was "free") and got to see a few pieces of art before we were ushered out. We ate in the Campo de Fiori and after dinner we strolled around to see some other sights like the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Four Rivers Fountain, Piazza del Popolo, and so on. Rome is certainly enchanting, especially after dark.

A panorama of one side of the colosseum.

A panorama of inside the Colosseum.

A closer view of a small floor section they have built to show that the Colosseum originally had one!

A view to the Forum from inside the Colosseum. One of two days we had dark clouds (that I remember) and just a few sprinkles.

Arches running around the portico of the Colosseum.

Tourism run amok.

Another shot of the Colosseum.

The Arch of Constantine between the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

The Arch of Titus that leads into the Roman Forum.

More of the Roman Forum.

What remains of the Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina.

The Temple of Vesta. (Behind that is where the Vestal Virgins kept the eternal flame.)

The Forum Square with the Column of Phocas, Temple of Vesta and Caligula's Palace to the back and right.

This kind of stuff was lying around all over. What must have taken so much skill and was so beautiful 2,000 years ago now lies among the grass, a testament to the ruin of the Roman Empire.

The Temple of Saturn

St. Peter's Basilica in the background as seen from a bridge over the Tiber River.

The next day can be found here.