Italy: A faux-reign affair – Rome (parte ultimo)
by Alfred Lopez
After an exhausting day in Florence, we headed back to Rome on another .italo train. This time around, we were going to concentrate on Il Colosseo, La Collina Palatino and Il Pantheon. That’s a lot of old stuff to see! Anyway, the Colosseum was about 1.5 miles from Arco del Lauro so we walked. On our way there, we crossed fiume Tevere at the point where Ponte Roto is still standing. It’s kinda weird to be on a bridge and seeing a section of an ancient bridge right next to it just standing in the middle of the river.
The Colosseum is an awesome site! I’m sure the locals are used to it, but I don’t think I will ever get over the marvel of the structure. Granted, it is probably the size of our modern stadiums, but because of it’s ancient-ness, it stands out like a sore thumb amidst the modern streets and buildings. Carline rented an audio device (iPod) where she listened to the description and history of the structure as we walked around. Though construction of the Colosseum was impressive, I felt it was not as impressive as Pompeii with their sewer systems, house plumbing, heating and cooling systems, etc. I’m sure the Romans [in Rome] had those “modern conveniences”, but if your impressed with the Colosseum, you’ll be flabbergasted with Pompeii.
After exploring all levels of the Colosseum, we headed next door to Palatine Hill (our Colosseum tickets allowed us entry). This is a very serene area. Think of it like the Roman suburbs. Rich and famous families lived on “the hill”. I guess you could call it the Ancient Beverly Hills. After visiting The Hill, we grabbed some lunch and headed to Capitoline Hill (ugh, another hill).
We walk quite a ways to Capitoline Hill only to discover there was a short cut (as seem from the top of Capitoline Hill; oh well) where, after perusing the grounds and visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara coeli al Campidoglio, we had some coffee and pastries in the cafe atop Capitoline Hill. This place offered a very nice view of Rome. So after resting and taking pictures with the local seagulls, we headed out to see the Pantheon.
The Pantheon is the only ancient Roman structure in use since it was built . It’s not as awe-inspiring as the other structures we’ve seen, but, architecturally, it is a wonder. The piazza in front of the Pantheon is quite cozy, esepecially if you’re out on an evening stroll and grabbing a cup of coffee and conversation. There are many shops along the way as well as near the piazza. After a bit of shopping, we headed back to Arco del Lauro where we stopped at Taberna Piscinula for dinner (around the corner from Arco). It was a bit emotional saying good-bye to the staff of the taberna where we had our first lunch (and my first native cappuccino) and several dinners after that. The staff of the taberna were very helpful and lessons in Italian phrases when we asked. Our last dinner was a pizza porta via which we ate in our room.
Ritorneremo molto presto!
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- Priest mingling and having coffee at a bar near Arco del Lauro before “going to work”.
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- Baristas. These guys take their craft seriously!
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- On our way to the Colosseum.
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- Our breakfast before embarking to the Colosseum and other sundry ancient structures.
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- Ponte Roto. This is just a one arch of three that used to cross the Tiber river back in 2 A.D.
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- Vespas everywhere! Crossing a street towards the Colosseum.
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- Arco di Costantino
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- Il Colosseo
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- It’s weird to see such an ancient structure in a modern environment.
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- All kinds of people visit the Colosseum.
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- You would think that these tourist would notice the HUMUNGOUS STRUCTURE behind them!
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- Il Colosseo
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- Il Colosseo
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- Smallest Sculpture depicting slaves in Rome.
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- Construction workier at the Colosseum. I guess it’s still being built!
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- The Arena and the lower levels.
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- The lower levels where gladiators (living and dead) would wait to fight or wait to be washed away (see the series “Spartacus” for more detail).
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- Tourist trying to pet “il gatto nero del Colosseo”.
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- Il gatto nero was the star of the arena that day.
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- One of the many entrances to the colosseum “bleachers”
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- Olive tree on the way to Palatine Hill.
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- At the top of Palatine Hill.
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- These trees surround the area at Palatine Hill
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- One of several structures in Palatine Hill.
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- Ancient bench at Palatine Hill. Actually, I just made that up.
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- Palantine Hill
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- View of the Colosseum from Palantine Hill
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- One of several forboding tunnels at Palantine Hill
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- You can see me taking this picture on the window pane.
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- Taking a little rest after climbing many stairs and hills. (I know; what part of “Palatine Hill” didn’t I understand).
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- Capitoline Hill
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- Entrance to Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara coeli al Campidoglio
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- Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara coeli al Campidoglio
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- Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara coeli al Campidoglio
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- On our way to the Portico Dil Consentes which overlooks the Roman Forum behind Capitoline Hill.
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- Roman Forum behind Capitoline Hill as seen from the Portico Dil Consentes.
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- The Colosseum as seen from the top of Capitoline Hill
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- Carline with yet another seagull next to the cafe at Capitoline Hill
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- Portrait of said seagull
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- This seagull wanted me to take his picture with the rainbow as a backdrop.
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- Facade of Santi Luca e Martina
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- Beggar at Capitoline Hill
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- Roman City Hall complete with centurion.
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- Tourist taking pictures with Carabinieri officers.
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- Street on our way to the Pantheon
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- Beggar family.
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- The Pantheon
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- The Pantheon Dome
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- A local paying her respects inside The Pantheon.
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- The hole that Brunelleschi cut in the Pantheon Dome above the entry to figure out how ancient Romans built the thing.
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- Piazza della Rotonda in front of The Pantheon.
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- The Pantheon (again)
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- Gelato shop
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- A relief on the wall of Taberna Piscinula where we had our last dinner and said our good-byes to the staff.