Italy - Day 11 - Our Last Day - Rome

The Colosseum - HUGE!

Our last full day in this magical place.  After our usual breakfast of wonderful coffee, fruit, and pastries, we took off.  Today we wanted to visit the Colosseum, AKA the Flavian Amphitheatre.  As we approached the famous structure, we were struck by its massive size.  Although according to data, almost 2/3 of the amphitheatre has been destroyed, it is still one of the main attractions of Italy.  

Just one side of the Colosseum

another side

The Colosseum was commissioned around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian as a gift to the people.  It opened in A.D. 80 with 100 days of "games"...gladiator combats and wild animal hunts, and executions.   I read somewhere that over 2000 gladiators were killed during the 100 opening days! The Colosseum remained active for over 500 years, but natural and man made disasters took its toll.  Earthquakes, floods and even bombings from WWII destroyed much of the amphitheatre.    Today it is visited by millions of people each year.

Arch of Constantine

Arch of Constantine

Arco di Constantino

Up close carvings on the Arch

While you could spend all day walking around the ruins, we had more to see and more to eat on this our last day.   We started off toward the district of Testaccio.  Once again, it was the food that sent us in that direction.  True Roman cuisine is the trademark of Testaccio.  

On our way, we stumbled into a small piazza, with this church in the square.  

 

San Pado Della Croce

By Rome standards, it looked unadorned from the outside.  But once inside....on my!

Inside San Pado della Croce

My sweetie keeps referring to this church as the church of chandeliers.  I think he stopped counting at 32.

 

Becky staring in amazement

Absolutely beautiful

The churches are amazing...the art, sculptures, marble tiles...can go on and on. Can't imagine the cost of this in its day.  Or now...priceless.

I did not get any more pictures after leaving the church.  We walked into Testaccio and absorbed the sights and sounds, had our last dinner in Italy in a wonderful Italian restaurants whose owner was a elderly Roman who spoke little with his mouth but volumes with his eyes.  He was proud of his heritage and the food he presented.  The food was amazing.

As we were heading back to our hotel, I was saddened by the fact that early the next day we would be leaving.  Our stay here was magical...my dream come true.  Each day in this country was beyond words.  I said when I started this adventure that I loved this country.  As our time here was ending...I can say that I truly love, love this place. Historical richness, majestic landscape, beautiful people, captivating language, and food...delizioso!!!

Arrivederci  Italy...I leave a little piece of my heart with you.

Until next time...

Enjoy!

Italy - Day 10 - Part 2, Da Vinci Museum

replica of the famous Mona Lisa

After our wonderful experience at St. Peter's Square, we strolled along the beautiful streets of Rome, just soaking in the wonder of this place.   After a short walk, we stumbled across Leonardi Da Vinci's Museum.  We opted to get a peek inside.  Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci - artist, inventor, sculptor, architect and scientific student.  

Madonna of the Carnation

 

Annunciation

The Baptism of Christ

Bacchus

Did da Vinci invent the bicycle?

The Last Supper

Of course, all the paintings in this museum are life size replicas, but still awesome to view.  The Last Supper is 15 feet by 29 feet!  Took da Vinci three years to complete.  Amazing.

We lingered in the museum taking in the paintings and inventions.  Then afterwards,  turned back to the streets of Rome.  Such a beautiful city.  I made up my mind...I must come back to stay longer.

Once again, we opted to walk back to the Trastevere district for dinner.  Our choice for this evening was the vegetable lasagna.   

Vino and lasagna

More walking after dinner, and then more vino from the Lazio region.  All of the wines here were remarkable.  And no headaches!

We wandered the streets a little longer this evening, then headed back to our hotel.  We tried to linger as long as we could, our days here coming to a close.  Only one more day..😢


Until next time...


Enjoy!

Italy - Day 10 Part I - The Vatican City and Our Surprise Blessing from the Pope

Guarding St. Peter's Square

What a day!  What was to happen was not on our itinerary.  While we wanted to go to the Vatican City, we did not plan for a specific time to do so.  We just kind of thought if we had the time, we would go.  And this morning, my sweetie decided we should go.  We ate breakfast, and started walking in that direction.  Of course, as with all of Italy, I was captivated by the art, architecture and culture on display. 

Ponte Sant' Angelo

Entering the Square

Old bridges with angels watching over you

The Tiber River

End of the Square

I wanted to stop and read about each piece but you would have to stay here at least a month, or more!

 

Once we got close to St. Peter's Square, we noticed a lot of security and many areas roped off.  Not having been here before, we thought this was just business as usual.

St Peter's Basilica

We also noted large screen monitors placed in several places around the square. Could it be?!?!?

 

Note the large screened monitor

Due to the timing and urging of my better half, we happened to get to St. Peter's Square around 11:40am.  We wanted to get inside so we had to go through a security line that took about 15 minutes to muddle through.

Inside the Square

We got inside just a few minutes before noon. We noted everyone turning in a certain direction.  So we did the same. 

What is getting ready to happen

And what to our wondering eyes should appear?  Pope Francis peering out of his study window.  He spoke and opened with a prayer...The "Angelus" prayer on All Saints Day.  Being away from the states, we forgot about Halloween.  Today was the day after Halloween and the Pope offers a blessing on All Saints Day. And we were here to hear it!!! He read from a passage in Revelations.  While I could only understand a few words while he was speaking, I felt such a blessing come over me.  I felt this was truly meant for us to be there at this particle time, not planned but just there at the precise moment he comes out of his study to give us an invitation to follow the way of the Beatitudes.  I was humbled and felt as if I was blessed beyond measure.  I silently thanked God for allowing me to be in such a special place and where I am at this point in my life.  So touched and thankful, there were no words for the feeling.  

 

Pope Francis at the window of his study

Once he started speaking, I put my phone away.  No more pics for me...I had to listen to see if I could pick up bits and pieces of his words.  Of course, once I got back to our room later that evening I had to look up what was said.  His speech is posted on you tube, if you should choose to check it out.  I was so thrilled to have been there at that precise moment.

Well, after that...we just looked at each other and said "how can we top that?".  We left feeling beside ourselves and with huge smiles on our faces, thinking how blessed and lucky we were.

Whew...

Until next time...

Enjoy!

Italy - Day 9 - Back to Rome

Mt. Vesuvius

It was hard to believe, but time came for us to return to Rome. But not without another quick shopping trip in Piazza Tasso.   Becky and I left the guys and did a whirlwind shopping spree.  Many craftsmen in their little shoppes working away skillfully in time lost art.  We met one such craftsman along with his son.  They are artisans skilled in intarsia... inlaid woodwork.  This craft is over 500 years old and can only be done by highly trained artisans.  Augusto and Luca are such artisans.  Augusto is third generation, and his son Luca is fourth generation who are masters of this art.  The wood is hand cut with small blades, then inserted and placed together on the same level, with wood pieces that are no thicker than 6 millimeters.  Beautiful work.  

My beautiful treasure made by Augusto

Augusto and his son, Luca

We spent a long time lingering over the lovely pieces.  Many thanks to these artist who are keeping their craft alive.

We were being beckoned by our guys to get going and it was time to leave.  We left Sorrento with regret...our time here was not long enough.  

We left Sorrento with regret...our time here was not long enough.  But we needed to return the rental car and we were approaching our last few days in this beautiful country.  

 

Heading back to Rome with Mt. Vesuvius in the background

the road trip back with more beautiful views

It was hard to stop taking pictures

Beautiful villas along the cliff overlooking the sea

Another lovely village

The distance from Sorrento to Rome is approximately 265 kilometers.  We wanted to return the rental car, and not use the car in Rome.  Marcus was done with the driving and we were happy to oblige.  He was a trooper and we were thankful for his driving.  The rental was returned at the airport and we had a most eventful cab ride back into the Eternal City.  It was quite an adventure.  Apparently cabbies have the right to drive on train and rail tracks if the streets are congested.  We held on tight and hoped for the best during this ride, and made it safely to our hotel.   

Becky and I collapsed once we got out of the cab

 Another lovely meal and we were ready to call it a day.  Tomorrow awaits.

Until next time...

Enjoy!