When in Rome...

We spent last weekend in Rome with our good

friends, Kristin and Paul. The weather was great

and since we had all been to Rome before we did not

have to rush around and site see. But we still got plenty in...

The famous Spanish steps. These steps
connect the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza
Trinita dei Monti. Funny thing is that they were
built with French funds. It is the longest and widest

staircase in Europe.

Here I am over looking my favorite shopping streets in Rome

on one of the three landings on the Spanish Steps.

Fontana della Barcaccia (the leaky boat fountain).

This is at the bottom of the Spanish Steps and depicts

a half-sunken boat that is gently spilling out water.

The place to shop in Roma!

This is the beautiful street where Derek and I had

lunch on our first day.

This is the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II,

a grand palace that Mussolini once requisitioned and

whose balcony he liked to strut about on. It was built for

Pope Paul II.

Kristin and I at the famous Roman Forum.

This was the heart of Ancient Republican Rome

which grew up in the 1st - 4th centuries.

Derek loving every minute of the Forum.


More Ruins...

Derek and I down in the Forum. Derek was

our tour guide and did a fabulous job.

Yep, the Colosseum. The most spectacular building

of ancient Rome. This sports arena was built to hold 50,000

spectators for combats between beasts and gladiators. The

Colosseum was inaugurated by Titus in AD 80.

Later that day we all went to the Borghese Gardens.

This is the second largest public park in Rome.

This is the Villa Borghese which houses the Borghese
Gallery. The gallery consists of 20 rooms across 2 floors.
It is mainly dedicated to classical antiquities of the 1st-3rd

centuries. One of our favorites was a ceiling fresco by Rossi
that makes such good use of foreshortening that is appears
three-dimensional. The gallery is quite small and you need

to book ahead as they only allow a certain number of visitors

per slot. It was worth it!

This is Rome's Pantheon built in 27 BC.

Hadrian rebuilt it in AD 120. It is the best preserved
monument of imperial Rome. It was at one time a pagan
temple but was consecrated as a church in AD 608.

Until 1960 the Pantheon's dome was the largest
ever built. The unity of the building comes from

the diameter of the dome exactly matching the height.

The great opening at the apex of the dome is 30 ft in

diameter and was the temple's only source of light.
It was intended to symbolize "the all seeing eye of heaven".

Now we are in the Piazza Navona amongst all
the artists selling their pieces. The Piazza Navona

looks much like it did during the 17th and 18th
centuries. It has antiquity, Bernini sculptures,
three gorgeous fountains, a magnificently
Baroque church and the excitement of people out
to enjoy themselves. This is the piazza's most famous
work of art, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi by Bernini.

Here we are at St Peter's Basilica. Whether you travel

here as an art lover or as a devout Catholic or

anything in between there is an awe inspiring landscape

that offers something for every visitor. St Paul's Basilica
is the largest church on earth by area, volume and length.
It was built up over St Peter's tomb and is the most
overwhelming architectural achievement of the Renaissance.


On our last day we decided to to go the Vatican

and see the Pope. Every Sunday at noon the Pope
comes out and blesses the crowd gathered in
St Peter's square. We were really excited
until we realized that the TVs were set up
because Pope Benedict was out of Rome. You
can see him on the TV screen in the lower
right hand corner.

Kristin and I awaiting the Pope.




The view from outside the Vatican walls.

We are crossing over the Saint Angelo bridge
that is adorned with fabulous statues by Bernini.

Castel Sant' Angelo stands between the Tiber
River and the Vatican. It was built as a mausoleum

for emperor Hadrian staring in AD 135 and finished
five years later by Antonius Pius.

Sitting a top these 137 steps is the Santa
Maria di Aracoeli. This church rests
on the sire of the ancient Roman temple
of Juno Moneta and also housed the Roman
mint, hence the origin of the word money.

Last, but not least, and my favorite Roman site, the
Trevi Fountain. Commanding the rushing waters and marble

sea creatures is Oceanus. This fountain is the work of Nicola
Salvi though Bernini is thought to have been responsible for
some of the design. It was completed in 1762 and took
center stage for Anita Ekberg's dip in La Dolce Vita. You will
find throngs of tourists here tossing coins over their shoulder to ensure
their return to Rome. (The fountain grosses over 120,000 euros a year)
It worked for Derek and I.

Best wishes to all!

Leah and Derek