A Walk Through the City of Rome

When we left the Colosseum, we took the bus past the remains of the Circus Maximus (below) which hosted races of chariots for 150,000-250,000 spectators.

We continued the bus ride to the other side of the city to the Spanish Stairs.  Ironically built by the Pope to reach a French language Church of Trinita dei Monti, the Spanish Stairs are located in the square of the Spanish embassy.  The stairs "flow" out of the church and separate and reconnect like rivers at the base of the stairs where the Fountain of the Broken Boat sits in the center of the square.

We continued our walk to the Trevi Fountain.  It was built in the 18th century by Pope Clement XII.  It is fed by an aqueduct that originated 18 km away from Rome.  The legend is that foreigners who toss a coin in the fountain will ensure their return to Rome.

We then walked to the Pantheon, the only classical structure that is still intact.  It was first built in 27 BC.  Originally, it was a temple that celebrated all of the gods of anicent Rome.  However, in 609 AD it became one of the first Christian churches in Rome.  This conversion saved the temple from the destruction seen by many of the temples throughout Rome when Christianity became the state religion.  When Vatican City was officially separated from Italy in 1929, the church was given the name Basilica Palatina, or the national church of all Italians.

Inside, the center of the dome is open to allow for the sun to shine into the main room.  Because of this, there is drainage within the marble flooring.  The Panetheon was built with concrete and the lower interior walls were covered with a facade of various colors of marble.  The floor contains a yellow marble from Tunis that can was completed harvested on the 2nd century and can no longer be found.

We continued our walk through the streets of Rome which are narrow and cobbled.

We also were able to take a peek at the Tiber River, that snakes through the city.

Look familiar? SPQR was the symbol of the Roman Republic and means, the Senate and People of Rome.  Today, they still use the wording on public works throughout the building.

With so much to see today, I could not reach it all.  On the way out of the city, I got a brief peek of St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City.  I guess that means I need to go back!