Cio bella Roma!
Original description dates back to May 2012.
Rome, Rome, Rome... So much has been written about Rome! And even more three is to come for this eternal city. In Rome you cannot survive without a guide or history book, it's an open air museum and on every corner there is something to read about and to figure out. The best inspiration for what to do in Rome in in Ron's blog - amazing information and very very useful. http://www.roninrome.com
We arrive in Fiumcino with a delay and it's a complete mess... no trap, no luggage, no bus... After a while we manage to get to the train finally. We take the local train, it's cheaper and feels more local.
Our b&b is in Monti, not far from piazza Venezia - a perfect location! And by the way a view to the Colosseum!!!
First day
In the evening we manage to get to the Pantheon - oh so impressive - world's largest self carrying dome - 43,3 m. We have an impression that Pantheon is playing a game - yes it's a church, but deep inside it's a pagan temple.
On the way back home we visit the Trevi fountain, beautiful yes, but all we want to do is to get away asap! Probably it's a perfect place 5 am in the morning.
Colosseum is also on the list - oh so pretty and the weather is perfect. We are out with other hundreds of people there and feels like a day but the atmosphere is very relaxed.
Second day
The plan is to see St. Peter's and Vatican. We got up very early and what a good decision it was. In the St. Peter's square it's just us and couple of nuns on their way to work, what a beautiful sight! We go up the dome and we are all alone! All views are for ourselves, we even manage to write a postcard in the post office in the top! Apparently Vatican post office is the most reliable post office in the world!
And then it's a treat to see the Pieta. I remember it very well from my book at school. After at home we also watched (again) the Angels and Demons. Nice memories.
We check out also the Swiss guards and their costumes. Stylish ;-) Around 9 o'clock the church is already full,we just want to get to the museum. And surprise! The queue!!! We decide to wait a bit next to the castle and what a good decision. It allows us to observe locals, small children playing and how homeless people wash themselves in superb fountains... At least the water is there for everybody and for free and everywhere: http://www.roninrome.com/wp-content/uplo…
Ron is right in his blog - after 12 o clock it's easy to get into the museum! We are blinded by all the richness around, pictures from the history book turn alive in front of my eyes. Magic. Time to time we join some guided groups to hear one or other interesting fact, not very polite but it always works :-) The highlight, is, of course, the Sistine chapel but the screams "no photo, no photo" somehow spoil the feeling a bit. Apparently the copy right belong to a Japanese company which sponsored the renewal of the chapel...
Third day
The golden rule of a traveller - be as early as you can - works perfectly also in Rome. This morning we are a bit late but manage to buy a ticket at the Forum easily. And then directly to the Colosseum! That's the trick to pass the queue! And it's impressive again, we wish we had taken a guided tour but the descriptions are detailed enough, memories from movies too, so it's easy to put the picture together. Did not know that women were also gladiators, but they were fighting with animals, not with each other or men.
Just after we saw the Forum, the Paletine hill. For inspiration the soap opera "Rome" works pretty well! Just think about the hands of Cicerone... I'm also thinking about kids is school - they have so much to learn about their history! For Latvia the real action started in 13th century but for Italians... hehe
Just after we see the Circo Makssimo - nothing much is left over but just next to it is a hidden hem - a rose garden!
http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/rome/roseto…
Just after - another hidden gem - Giardino aranci - beautiful place with beautiful views over Rome!
http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rome/a…
And just next Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta - and indeed you see St Peter's through the key hole! Magic!
http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rome/a…
Next stop – bocca della verita – So big! And a very interesting story is available here:
http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rome/a…
Fourth day
After busy Rome we want to see the country side. Villa d'Este in Tivoli is magnificent! 36 fountains, two of them playing music powered by laws of physics!
No surprise that this villa has been inspiration to Ferenc List: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crEdOBGMr…
Next stop - villa Adriana. Oh, this is not just a villa, it's the whole complex! Huge! And beautiful and relaxing.
Fifth day
In the morning we visit Santa Maria Maggiore, we are surprised by the number of places to admit one's sins and in all possible languages! And people do use this! Ok, this is not really for us, so we are heading towards the aqua-ducts. Another discovery, there are only locals, running or just chilling. http://www.roninrome.com/sites-and-attra…
Sixth day
Holiday are over! Oh, I will miss this beauty and pizzas!
Some observations:
- I have never found so many coins on the street! They are everywhere! And no, I did not take them from the fountains, they were just there! All possible euro coins from all the corners of Europe.
- Don't speak Italian? No problem, that's why you have hands!
- The house wine was delicious... everywhere... too delicious! And cheap.
- It was very interesting to observe the fashion for nuns! Some with baseball hats... not so stylish I guess... or maybe extremely stylish?
- And the ice cream! Our favorite Giolitti! I'm not really an ice cream person but Italian ice-cream.... mmmm nothing compares! Apparently even the Pope John Paul II was getting his favorite (chest nut) from Giolitti. No surprise!
- Somehow the shopping in Rome was disappointing, probably wrong place, wrong mood...
- Best dinner here: http://www.letavernelle.it