Rome, Italy

View from Castel Saint'Angelo

On the Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps

ROMA! With every trip I take, I fall more and more in love with all that Italy has to offer. Early Friday morning we met our group and traveled via coach bus to Rome. Upon arrival we immediately set off on a walking tour. With the help of a guide, we walked down the large cobble stoned streets soaking up the warmth of the 60-degree weather. The tour began with a trip through the historical center. While wandering down the main streets we came upon Piazza di Spagna – the famous Spanish Steps. Climbing the stairs and reaching the top offers a birds eye view of the bustling city center of Rome. I popped into the church of Trinita dei Monti that sits atop the hill and witnessed a few moments of a communion ceremony! After leaving the busy streets crowded with cars and people we headed towards the Pantheon. Interestingly we were told that a layer of scaffolding that once covered the outside of the Pantheon had just recently been removed (we were lucky to be able to take photos not tainted by the construction!). This building was commissioned as a temple to all gods of Ancient Rome and was later rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian. The name, Pantheon which means “to every god”, is speculated to come from the many statues of gods placed around the building, or from the resemblance of the dome to the heavens. The building is circular with three ranks of huge granite columns and a concrete dome. The interior is covered with decorative marble facing and the exterior by stone and stucco. After grabbing a cone of gelato, we sat on the steps in the square in front of the Pantheon and enjoyed people watching and listening to the street performers.

            Next stop – Trevi Fountain! This area was bursting with activity and crowds of eager tourists. The Fontana di Trevi or Trevi Fountain is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. The central figure of the fountain is Neptune, god of the sea. Of course my roommates and I took part in the typical action of tossing a coin into the fountain! Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water (I hope I am lucky enough to come back one day!). Following the Trevi Fountain visit, we went to Piazza Navona, a large and lively square featuring three magnificent fountains and the baroque church of Sant’Agnese in Agone. We sat near a beautiful flowing fountain just to enjoy the warmth of the sun’s rays and snap some photos. The Piazza Navona is situated in the historic center of Rome, west of the Pantheon. It is one of Rome’s liveliest squares, with many outdoor cafes and restaurants in the neighborhood. Interestingly, the square is built on the former Domitian’s stadium, built by emperor Domitian. Hence why the piazza is in a long, oval shape.

            Later on that night I was able to meet up with a large group of friends that I study with back at UVM. We all went to dinner at a quaint little restaurant where large amounts of wine, pasta, and bread were consumed. It was great to catch up with my friends and enjoy a night in Rome together.

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

            

The next morning we grabbed some breakfast at the hotel and headed off to a guided visit of Castel Saint’Angelo. The Castel is an imposing building on the right bank of the Tiber River and has had a turbulent history. During its many years of existence, the building functioned first as a mausoleum, then became part of the city wall and later turned into a fortress before it functioned as a papal residence and finally as a barracks and military prison. Currently, it serves as a national museum. The interior of the fortress is decorated with many frescoes and a spiral corridor leading down to the original part of the mausoleum. At the top of the fortress you can look out over the panoramic terrace and take in the breathtaking view of the city. The last part of the guided tour ended with a trip to St. Peters Basilica. St. Peter’s Basilica is a major basilica in Vatican City, an enclave of Rome. St. Peter’s Sqaure (Piazza San Pietro) was designed by Bernini and built between 1656 and 1667. The basilica itself is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter. In the square, there are two fountains and a tall obelisk stands in the center. The building in particular is truly impressive. The largest church in the world, it has a large dome and an interior, which includes 45 altars decorated by many famous artists. Some of the most important works in the church are the Pieta by Michelangelo, the papal altar by Bernini, and the Monument to the Stuarts by Canova. Having the opportunity to see the magnificent church and actually visit one of the holiest Catholic sites was truly an experience I will never forget.

Borghese Gardens

            After the amazing time spent in St. Peters Church a few of my friends and I headed towards the Borghese Gardens to relax and wander through the grounds. Stretching from above Piazza del Popolo to the top of Via Veneto, Villa Borghese remains a green and pleasant space to escape from the bustling city of Rome. There are museums, a theatre, a park, a lake, rollerblade space as well as numerous fountains dotted throughout. Villa Borghese remains one of Rome’s abiding pleasures for Romans and visitors alike. The peace, graceful trees, and panoramic views of the city made it a perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon.

            On Sunday morning, prior to departure, we hoped a tram and headed over to Porta Portese Sunday Market. Porta Portese is one of the largest most diverse and popular flea-markets in Europe. The vendors sell all imaginable merchandise, including antiques, second hand clothes, books, magazines, decorative items and food products. Although I did not purchase anything, it was nice to explore and search for possible hidden treasures. At noontime, we hoped on the buses and participated in a private bus tour of Piazza Venezia, Fori Imperiali, Via Cavour, Piazza Repubblica, Villa Borghese, and Circo Massimo. Although it was difficult to take photos from the inside of the bus, the tour guide proved informational and intriguing. After such a busy weekend it was nice to sit in the comfort of a bus while touring around the large city. The bus tour dropped us off to see our last and final attraction before heading back home to Florence – the Colosseum. We were not only able to tour around the outside of the Colosseum but explore the inside as well. This monumental structure has fallen into ruins, but even today it is an imposing and beautiful sight. Emperors used the Colosseum to entertain the public with free games. Those games were a symbol of prestige and power and they were held for a whole day or even several days in a row. They usually started with comical acts and displays of exotic animals and ended with fights to the death between gladiators. Despite being partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome.

Colosseum

Colosseum

Colosseum

Colosseum

In Borghese Gardens

St. Peter's Basilica

Outside St. Peter's Basilica

View from Castel Saint'Angelo

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

View from Castel Saint'Angelo

Inside Castel Saint'Angelo

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona

Inside the Pantheon

Inside the Pantheon

Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain

            The Eternal City offers visitors and residents magnificent ancient monuments, quaint piazzas, incredible museums and gardens, and mouth-watering cuisine. Rome is bursting with entertainment options and never-ending sources of both day and evening activities. After a busy weekend I slept the entire bus ride back home to Florence. Rome is a beautiful city and I hope to return someday soon!