Arrived on Thursday… and after a good nap and hot shower, we explored the neighborhood around our hotel- the Termini neighborhood near the train station. Our first stop was a gelataria recommended by the hotel. It will be hard to beat this opening “deliciousness” standard of gelato- but I am sure we will try throughout our trip!

We loved exploring the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and its architectural origins of the Baths of Diocletian. An amazing Basilica, designed by Michelangelo, a meridian line and Great Sundial from 1702, wonderful background music… we loved this church!

Friday we took two tours- Hidden Gems of Rome and  the Coliseum night tour. We got drenched in the pouring rain on the first tour- but it was worth it! And we certainly will never forget the rain in the Jewish Ghetto…

Small brass markers on the street in front of homes where victims of the holocaust lived. Quite powerful… the Jewish community in Rome has roots going back before the Diaspora.

 

Keith on the Appian Way… after the rain stopped. Imagining the Roman legions marching through…

Incredible aqueduct outside a Rome- 55 kilometers long in its day – and a large reason for the downfall of a Rome when the “barbarians” destroyed the aqueduct and cut off the water supply to Rome.

Noon cannon fire on Janiculum Hill ( at the Piazza Garibaldi). A daily tradition from the spot where the French bombarded Rome in 1849… and the view from the Janiculum was fantastic!

Great evening tour of Piazza Campidoglio, the Roman Forum and the Coliseum — we were fortunate to have a tour guide who is a Phd Archeologist who dug at the Coliseum for numerous years! The history, stories and night lighting added up to a very special tour– a little rain… but we were spared the big storm that had been predicted.

The brewing storm clouds were  spectacular at the Monument of Vitoria Emanuele II as we waited for the tour guide.

The Roman Forum lit at night- takes your breath away!

The Coliseum at night- quite a remarkable experience!

Saturday brought us to Santa Maria Della Vitoria Church, back to Santa Maria degli Angeli to see the sun on the Meridian Line, and to the National Museum of Rome. Beautiful, partly cloudy day- quite different from the rain yesterday!

Bernini’s St. Teresa in Ecstacy (1652) at Santa Maria Della Vitoria Church – phenomenal piece of sculpture!

Sun on the meridian line at Santa Maria degli Angeli!

Michelangelo’s Cloister at the National Museum of Rome. I loved the sculpture, but the architecture and peace of the cloister was my favorite!

 

The cloister through an oval window in the museum…

off to Florence tomorrow by train… back on line with the blog in a few days… thanks for coming along on our journey!