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