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   Benvenuti a Italia!

Welcome to Italy!

We will start with a look at Rome and branch out from here.

We will be updating this page from time to time so be sure to check back.

Colosseum, Rome

It was commissioned in AD 72.  The inaugural games were held in AD 80.This arena could hold up to 55,000 people.

It is commonly believed that Christians were killed here.  Probably few actually were.  They did not put up much of a fight.  Thus, it was not entertaining enough for the bloodthirsty Romans. 

If you have not seen the "extras" on the Gladiator DVD we recommend you do.  It has great information on the arenas and the events that took place there.

The tiers inspired many Renaissance architects, who plundered the building, using its marble to build palaces and part of St. Peter's.  There is very little besides the basic bricks used as a base for the marble overlay. 

 

 

Roman Forum

The Forum was a chaotic place with food stalls, temples and the Senate House.  

This was the hub of activity and the ceremonial center of the city.

 

There are free English speaking tours offered here.  Join in for all or part of the tour.  They are trying to sell you on taking additional tours throughout Rome.  You are not obligated to sign up for ahything.

The Forum is located near the Colosseum and both can be visited on the same day.

Just on the edge of the Forum is the Mammertine Prison.  This is where the saints Peter and Paul were believed to be held in Rome.  A church has now been built over the site of the prison.

There is a hole in the ceiling of the cell through which prisoners were lowered.  Once inside you will see a natural spring in the floor of the cell.  There is a legend of the saints baptizing prisoners with water from this spring.

St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

St.  Peter was buried in AD 64 in a necropolis near the site of his crucifixion in the Circus or Nero.  In AD 324 Constantine constructed a basilica over the tomb.  The old church was rebuilt in the 15th century, and throughout the 16th and 17th centuries various architects developed the structure.  The new church was inaugurated in 1626.

If you have not visited this site you need to be aware that the Sistine Chapel is not in this facility.  It is part of the Vatican Museum.  Proceed through the curved line of columns on the right of St. Peter's square and follow the crowd around the block to the entrance of the museum.  Go early in the day or you may not get in!

Just in case the line is too long, the site below offers a great virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel!

Walking Tour

There is a great walk that takes you from the Vatican to the Roma Termini (Rome Train Station).  There are great places to eat, shop, drink cappuccino and enjoy gelato along this path.

First you walk into the Piazza Navona

This was originally a track for racing chariots.   It is also believed to have been flooded and naval battles we played out here (not in the colosseum).

Eventually buildings were built around the edge and it is now a place for shopping and eating

The next stop on the walk is the Pantheon.

It has been in use since AD 27 as a place of worship.   Originally it was a temple to "all the gods."  It is now a church to the God.  It was claimed in the 7th century by the Christians.

 

It is one of the best preserved ancient buildings of Rome.  The domed ceiling is open to the sky.  There is a drain directly underneath for the rain. 

Today it is lined with tombs ranging from a restrained monument to Raphael to a huge marble sarcophagi holding the bodies of Italian monarchs.

 

Directly across the the piazza from the Pantheon is a site Richard always must visit.   It has Coke with ice and a restroom.

Richard and Jay Akkerman just could not pass the opportunity to pose with this sign.

Our next stop along the way is the Trevi Fountain.

The largest and most famous of Rome's fountains was completed in 1762.  This site marked the end of the aqueduct built in 19 BC to channel water to Rome's new bath complex.  

It may have been named for Trivia.  A young girl who is said to have shown the spring to thirsty Roman soldiers.  This would make an excellent "trivia" question. Sorry, couldn't pass that up.

Throwing coins in the fountain assures you will one day return to Rome.

There is an ancient legend that the Mouth of Truth will tell if you speak the truth or are a liar.  You place your hand in the mouth and if you can remove your hand safely - you speak the truth.  Click on the picture to see what happened when we tested the Mouth!!

You have arrived at the Rome train station.  This is included for Tanner, our nephew, who loves trains!

              

         

Thank you to our friend Jay Akkerman for some of our photos