Dates: 18-20APR07
Airline: Ryanair
Travelmates: Dawn, Eric and Francis
[For more pictures, please link up to my multiply photo album.]
Rome Facts and Figures:
- Capital City of Italy
- The Vatican, independent sovereignity of the Holy See, is located within Rome
- Nicknamed the eternal city
- Constantine I, the first Christian emperor unified the Roman Empire
- One of the few cities to escape WWII unscathed
- Located in central Italy and enjoys a Mediterranean climate
- Major world centre of the Renaissance, only 2nd to Florence
- The Tiber River flows through Rome
- Hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics; Candidate city for 2016
- Has Paris, France, as its sister city!
(Only Paris is worthy of Rome; only Rome is worthy of Paris)
We arrived at stansted airport close to midnight on the 18APR and hung around for a few hours before checking in at 0400hrs for our flight at 0600hrs to Rome Ciampino airport.
Upon arriving at Ciampino airport, we had to wait more than 45minutes for our terravision bus to take us to the city centre (Ciampino is located an hour outside Rome - as with most ryanair budget terminals). Terravision is promoted widely by ryanair and at many budget airports but it may not always the best option. it definitely wasn't in our case because passengers who were taking the local shuttle services were whisked off within minutes after collecting their baggage!! in addition, they were paying about 4EUROS less for a single! unfamiliar tourists always opt for the best publicised option; terravision knows and takes advantage of this.
Despite having a less than ideal start to our 9day getaway, our spirits were not dampened. we checked into our hostel (located only minutes away from the main train station, Stazione Termini) and set off immediately on foot to explore the ancient city of ROME!
Our first ancient stop. the colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, in its present shell-like state is Rome's greatest architectural legacy. the elliptical bowl seating 50,000 debuted in A.D. 80 with bloody combat between gladiators and wild beasts. Later the Colosseum was denuded by popes who wanted to use its marble elsewhere; it was also damaged by an earthquake. Many historians now doubt legends of Christians being fed to the lions at the Colosseum.
Colosseo at Sunset
The lights illuminate the shell from within. this was taken in the evening on the 2nd day.
Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill is the oldest inhabited site of Rome, standing 40m above and overlooking Foro Romano on one side and Circus Maximus on the other. Evidence suggests that it was inhabited since 1000BC. it houses Palatine House which is thought to be the birthplace of Rome's first Emperor, Augustus.
Near the Flavian Palace
Also known as Domus Flavia, the palace is a part of the vast residential complex of the Roman Emperors on the Hill. Emperor Dominitian saw the completion of the complex which was commonly used for matters of state.
Arch of Constantine
One of the entrances to Palatine Hill. the other entrance is the arch of Titus. The arch was erected to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312 AD.
View of Foro Romano from the Capitoline Museums
Forum Romanum, as it is also known, was the central place where Rome developed. it was a centre for commerce and administration of justice. Imagine these being the grounds upon which Julius Caesar once stood.
Once standing tall, the marble columns are now reduced to stumps.
Fontana de Trevi
The Trevi Fountain is undoubtedly the most famous fountain in Rome among tourists and one of the world's most famous wishing wells. it features oceanic mythical creatures and is the most ambitious baroque fountain in rome.
Legend has it that throwing a single coin into the fountain with your right hand over your left shoulder ensures a return to rome.
Vatican Museum
In the courtyard of the Vatican Museum.
We arrived at the museum at 8am only to be greeted by a snaking queue that was at least 2m wide. fortunately the wait was less than an hour long - well worth it for what we got to see inside (incl. the Sistine chapel that has Michealangelo's Creation of Adam painted on its ceiling). There was no wall, ceiling or floor that was unadorned with paintings, carvings, tapestries, frescos, statues, mosaics or engravings within the museum and chapel. the amount of artwork and the beauty of each one of them blew me away.
One of the many artworks in the neverending hallway
Filling my bottle from a water fountain
The early romans are well known for piping water. water fountains are found everywhere in rome and there is no need to buy bottled water. there is no need to doubt its cleanliness. locals and tourists alike have been drinking it for years.
Piazza de St Pietro
St Peter's Basilica stands right in the centre of the piazza. it is the most dominant building outside the Vatican and one of the 4 main basilica's in Rome. Built by the emperor Constantine, it is the burial site of Peter, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. Most papal ceremonies take place here due to its size and proximity to the papal residence.
Castel Sant'Angelo
The building was originally constructed by the Emperor Hadrian between 123 and 139AD to serve as his mausoleum. A century and a half later, the tomb was incorporated into the Aurelian Wall, and from then on the defensive importance of the monument saw it undergo many military adaptations. It was acquired by the papacy in 1377 and they transformed the strategically located building into a technically-advanced and impregnable citadel to which they could retreat during times of unrest. A covered passageway (the Passetto del Borgo) still connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican: this was the popes' emergency escape route. Unprepared for discomfort even under siege, the pontiffs also developed the internal part of the fortress, fashioning elegant papal apartments - and a strong room with a giant safe for the Vatican's mountain of loot.
In the Castle overlooking glorious Rome
Spanish Steps
The monumental stairway comprising 138 steps links the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy See.
Basilica de St Maria @ Piazza de Republica
One of my fav Michealangelo works
Scala Santa
"The 28 marble stairs carefully preserved in this handsome building are traditionally the steps walked up by Christ on his way to trial before Pontius Pilate. St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, was a pioneering collector of relics, and the staircase is supposedly among her finds, brought to Rome in c.326 AD.
Devout pilgrims still mount the steps on their knees, praying. The rate of progress is very slow and looks suitably punishing. Nowadays the stairs are protected by wood, although there are holes cut through above marks which are supposed to be Jesus's blood (you won't be able to see through these unless you do the kneeling)."
The Pantheon
The word 'Pantheon' signifies all the deities, and the building originated as a temple to twelve of the most important Roman gods. it was built in about 125AD during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian and is the best preserved building of its age in the world. its amazing how it managed to survive battles and fires while the buildings around it were reduced to dust. Michaelangelo studied the architecture of the pantheon while working on St peter's basilica.
Francis, Eric and I outside the Pantheon
Isola Tiberina
Approximately 270 m x 67 m, the island is the site of an ancient temple to Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine and healing.
Capitoline Museums
This place contains a vast array of mainly famous statues and busts. Amazing..
Hall of busts
Tube covered with graffiti
The only thing that really puts me off europe.
City Rating: 9/10
Undoubtedly the european city that has enchanted me the most thus far. the history, culture and art associated with Rome is beyond words and imagination. visiting it has inspired me to learn more about european history and how christianity spread in the early ages. i threw a coin into the Trevi fountain - i guess that signifies my return to rome in the near future.
