ROME, ITALY
When I think of Rome, I instantly think of the Vatican, the Coliseum, the Forum, the Arch of Constantine, and Trevi Fountain. There is so much to do, that you can hardly do it in one trip (unless you plan very carefully). I did not have time to do it all, so I will share the experiences that I had. There are many ways to see the city, and plenty of organized tours are available. Walking tours provide the best opportunity to experience everything Rome has to offer, so wear a good pair of walking shoes, and take a trip back through time.
The Vatican I have already posted an article on the Vatican, which can be found at:
Read A Complete Review On The Vatican The highlight of my trip to Rome, was my visit to the Vatican, and better yet, the Sistine Chapel. Admission to the Sistine Chapel is not very expensive. The artifacts displayed throughout the Museum (Sistine Chapel) are amazing. Numerous marble sculptures, rugs, paintings, stained glass pieces, mosaics, etc. are displayed throughout the tour leading to the Sistine Chapel. If you appreciate fine art, don’t miss this tour.
The Coliseum When I think about Rome, the most visible picture that comes to my mind is the Coliseum. The coliseum has been around since about 79 AD. The stadium was once covered in marble. However the remains are simply a skeleton of the once grand arena. There once stood a 90 foot statue of Nero, which they called Colossus. Here in Chicago, there was a debate a few years ago about building a new stadium, with a retractable dome. The cost of adding the retractable dome was a major issue in the news (since taxpayers had to foot the bill). Well, the Colosseum had a retractable dome. It sounds like an umbrella-type device, that was attached to the roof. A group of Sailors were kept on stand-by, to deploy the roof, in case of inclement weather. The stadium was even capable of being flooded to stage sea battles. Admission to the interior of the Colosseum is a few dollars, and is only worth the cost of admission, if you absolutely want to see it. There really isn’t a whole lot to see inside. You can see the destruction caused by earthquake, erosion and pilferage of the marble, from the outside. TOURIST WARNING: First of all, Rome is full of scoundrels who will help you to part with your money. Stay in groups whenever possible. Also, you will see many Roman soldiers outside the arena dressed in full Roman armor. They will ask you if you want your picture taken with them, but fail to state a price until afterwards. They will try to hit you up for more than the picture is worth. They wanted 10,000 Lira each, when I was there, which is about six or seven dollars (and the picture is taken with your OWN CAMERA!) Negotiate a price before hand, if you are interested in getting a picture.
Capitoline Hill Before you ascend the large staircase leading to Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), you will notice some ruins that have been dug out below street level. This is an ancient apartment building. The ancient street level is about thirty feet or so below the current level. The streets of Rome were not a good place to walk at night. Obviously, they didn’t have indoor plumbing, and the method of expelling human waste was to dump it out the window. Because this was illegal, most people did so under cover of darkness. Sometimes to the demise of some poor soul walking the street after dark.
After climbing the stairs to Capitoline Hill, you will observe several buildings. A couple of these house museums, which I did not take the time to visit. I was on a walking tour, and we only remained in this area for a few minutes, while our guide explained the layout of the land. The temple to Zeus is located behind where the current buildings stand. After crossing the plaza you come to a ramp-like sidewalk that descends along the ruins. There is a statue of Romulus (for who Rome is named) and Remus, his brother. They are suckling a wolf. Of course, the t-shirt vendor there sells t-shirts which depicts one of the brothers spitting out the milk, stating “this stuff sucks” in English. It is obvious who this type of humor is catered to.
After passing this monument, there is an ancient drinking fountain. Rome was unique because of the many aqueducts that were designed into the city. The fresh water from this fountain is said to have been running for centuries. There is a place on the fountain where you cover a hole with your finger, allowing the ice cold water to spring up like a drinking fountain. Ingenious. More importantly, refreshing. The cold water hits the spot on a hot Roman day.
The Forum The Forum is located in the massive ruins which lie between the Capitoline Hill and the Colosseum. Looking out across the remains of the Forum, you can see two hills. It is believed that these hills contained the original inhabitants of Rome. The Forum was the center of ancient Roman life. Political discourse, trading, bartering, and public gatherings were conducted in this area. During Mussolini’s reign, he built a road from the Colosseum to the Palazzo Venezia, where he used to deliver his speeches. This roadway has become a major artery, and lies directly over some of the ancient Forum landmarks. The via Sacra (Sacred Way) is located here. This is said to be the way that warriors returned from battle, on their way to pay respect at the Temple of Zeus. There are several other ruins that have been identified, and which your walking tour guide will definitely explain.
Trevi Fountain From the Colosseum, my tour group boarded a bus for the walled section of Rome. The Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are located in this part of the city. Trevi Fountain is an interesting landmark. The fountain is massive, and displays an awesome amount of attention to artistic detail. The fountain is part architecture, part statue. I was really impressed by the fountain. The area was very touristy. It looked like an easy place to part with your money, so keep that in mind. Pickpockets are very common in crowded areas like this.
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