Last week (10/26-11/2) we had the opportunity to travel to Rome, Italy for fall break.  This is one of the many reasons we decided to teach abroad. The students in my class traveled all over the area too. Here are just a few of the places my six year olds took off to; Hong Kong, China, Israel, and Georgia.

 

Our first full day was spent at the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Palatine Hill. The Colosseum's construction took eight years and was started by Vespasian. Titus inaugurated it in 80 AD. The structure is 3 storeys tall with 80 arches per story. Thousands of blocks of travertine were transported from the quarries at Tivoli for its construction. The Colosseum is 165 ft. high. It's oval and measures 620 ft X 515 ft. It held 50,000 spectators. The lower level had 76 entries to accommodate so many people at once.

 

The Roman Forum was the political, religious, legal, and administrative center of the ancient city. The Forum's disrepair is due to the destruction by man and not by time or natural causes.

 

Terry's favorite spot (most heartbreaking) was the Arch of Titus. This arch was erected after the Emperor's death in 81 AD to celebrate his victory over the Judeans and the conquest of Jerusalem. There are two pictorial reliefs immortalizing his conquest. One of them carrying away the spoils of war, the menorah and silver trumpets. The other depicting his advancing chariot and army. 

 

We visited numerous Catholic Churches throughout the city. Many were very old and had amazing sculptures. One had each of the disciples carved from marble in niches along the main room.

 

Our favorite spot was the Trevi fountain. This fountain has the legend that whoever drinks it or throws a coin in the fountain will assure his return to Rome. It is the facade of a large palace decorated with statues and bas-reliefs on heaps of rocks. The fountain was created by the architect Salvi in 1735. The work had begun in 1641 under the artist Bernini.

 

The only guided tour we took was that of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. After walking around and looking at Basilicas and such we showed up at our departure destination. We said, "We're here." "Great, come back in an hour." We answered, "But it's time to get on the bus." "No, you're an hour early." We looked at the clock and sure enough it said 1:40...we had lived for nearly two days not knowing Italy had rolled back the clock for day-light-savings. That's why when we went to the Baths of Caracalla we couldn't figure out why they weren't open! The Vatican Museum was filled with marble sculptures, paintings, artifacts, and tapestries.

 

 

Following the museum we neared the entrance of the Sistine Chapel. The sign said no photos and our guide cautioned us to be quiet and not take pictures. But to our amazement as we entered the room of hundreds of people...flash, flash, flash. People everywhere were taking pictures. I had been taking pictures of everything we had seen so far without using my flash, so I took a few too. The guards finally told those using flash to stop. That didn't last for long...flash, flash, flash. 

 

 

On Wednesday we went back to the Vatican to tour the St. Peter's Basilica. It was POURING rain. When we arrived we saw rows and rows of seats set out. Come to find out the Pope was having a special service ...I think for All Saints Day. We decided to sit in the back and take in a little of the service. Much to our surprise here came the Pope in his car moving between the sections of seating. He came within 10 feet of where we were sitting. But of course...his body guard got in the way of my picture.

I took a picture of the monitor to show the service looked. You can see us in the back left section, next to the small opening, with the black umbrella.

 

 The Pope was real close...body guard got in the way of my camera and they were traveling very quickly. Great zoom on my camera...that was one of the reasons I bought it.

While everyone was at the service, and the Basilica was closed due to the service, we traveled over to Castel Sant'Angelo. This fortress was created by the Emperor Hadrian as his tomb. The story of the Mausoleum closely follows that of Rome: the struggles and treachery of the Middle Ages, the Papal Court, and the Renaissance. The Mausoleum transformed into a castle about the 10th century and was occupied by many figures including the Crescenzi family, and Pope Nicholas III who joined the castle to the Vatican by the famous passetto or passageway. The passage allowed the Pope to travel back and forth as needed.

 

 

 

It was still pouring rain when we went back to St. Peter's Basilica. The line was long and we waited for about an hour and 15 minutes to get through the security check. The Vatican has been the residence of the popes since 1377. Michelangelo designed the dome and began the project in 1546. At his death in 1564 only the drum had been completed. The rest of the work was completed between 1588 and 1589 by Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana. The Colonnade is the structure surrounding the square in front of the church. It was designed by Bernini and provides a beautiful entrance into the Vatican area. There are 140 statues of saints which decorate the colonnade.

 

 

 

 

Michalangelo's Pieta is in the first nave inside the chapel. He sculpted the masterpiece between 1498-1499.

 

Time does not permit me to tell you about each of the chapels inside the church. I'll just post a few pictures for you to view. While we were there a service began behind the high alter. Yes, there again was the Pope directing a service and again...a flower in the way!

Our final day in Rome we picked up a few ruins that we missed along the way. We returned to the Baths of Caracalla which we had missed due to the time change. This was an enormous sight. The structure was built in 206-217. The structure is lined with basalt, granite, and alabaster. The enormous baths of hot, warm, and cold water could accommodate 1,600 people at a time. It housed splendid vaults, porticoes, esedrae and gymnasiums were decorated with the most precious marble, beautiful sculptures, and the largest columns imaginable. The ruins were surprisingly intact. Much of the tile flooring is still visible.

 

 

The Temple of Vesta and Fortune is the most ancient building in the city.

 

I hate to admit it but we were lost a few times and uncertain why people were standing in lines in various places in Rome. As we turned around from the before mentioned temple, we saw a long line of people entering a church. A common looking church to us however, it was the Santa Maria in Cosmedin one of the gems of medieval Rome. It stands on the ruins of a Temple to Hercules visible in the crypt inside the church. Just inside the porch area is a marble masked called the Bocca della Verita, the Mouth of Truth. According to legend a liar who puts his hand in the mouth will have it bitten off. In Roman times the masked covered a drain hole nearby. I'm telling the truth!

 

We made a final attempt to visit the Capitol building. Piazza Venezia was built in 1455 by Venetian Pope Paul II. It was the first great Renaissance palace in Rome. The equestrian monument  of the king was worked on for 20 years by sculptor Chiaradia. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies at the feet of the statue and alter underneath. But of course we arrived a little late and they closed the interior after we barely arrived.

 

We had a great time. Mostly good weather. Good food. Friendly people. Leather boots. And we figured out the bus system! Arrivederci Rome!