I T A L I A   2 0 0 6

ROMA 

NOTE: "HOME" takes you to our initial home page; "UP" will return you 
to the EUROPE/AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST site for more exploring.

Friday, 21 February:  Of course, we were well rested by the time we met The Gang when their flight arrived on Friday morning.  However, they each had the challenge of staying up that first day in order to get on schedule and suffer no jet lag.  These guys were real troopers!

First, we took the train from Leonardo da Vinci Aeroporti to Termini Station, in the heart of Rome.  From there, we walked to our hotel.  Luckily, our rooms were ready so we were able to drop our bags off and begin touring before 11:00AM.  First stop, a sidewalk café for espresso!  Definitely the way most Romans start the day.

Our touring began at one of our favorite sports, the cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore.  This is an absolutely beautiful church.  According to Church doctrine, the Virgin Mary appeared to Pope Liberius and instructed him to build a church where the snow would fall the next day.  Although it was summer, snow fell on this spot on Equiline Hill.  Hence, this beautiful structure.  We then walked to San Pietro in Vincoli.  Here we saw “Moses,” one of three of Michelangelo’s statues found in Roman churches.  It is truly spectacular.  Also on display in the church are the chains that were said to have bound Peter before his crucifixion.

We finished our afternoon by visiting the famous Fontana di Trevi.  As legend has it, if you throw a coin into the fountain, you’re destined to return.  So, The Gang will definitely be back as the photograph below attests!

After an early dinner, we strolled to Piazza del Republica for dessert and then returned to the hotel with everyone ready for a full night’s sleep.

Click on the image to display a larger photo.  Once displayed,
  click on  the BACK button (first button on the left of your browser)
  to return to this page. 

 [ T O P ]

Saturday, 22 April:  We spent the entire day touring the Coliseum and Palatine Hill (including the Roman Forum).  These sites are so amazing, especially when you examine the architecture and culture associated with them.  We were blessed with a gorgeous day and we were able to take lots of photographs despite a large number of tourists.

Click on the image to display a larger photo.  Once displayed,
  click on  the BACK button (first button on the left of your browser)
  to return to this page.

 [ T O P ]

Sunday, 23 April:  We headed out early to Campo Fiore, an open-air market known for flowers and handicrafts.  En route, we stopped in Piazza Spagna and the famous Spanish Steps.  Then we visited Piazza Navona for more shopping.  In the afternoon, we visited the marvelous Pantheon.

Click on the image to display a larger photo.  Once displayed,
  click on  the BACK button (first button on the left of your browser)
  to return to this page.

 [ T O P ]

Monday, 24 April:  We spent the entire day at The Vatican. We had applied for advance tickets but, due to the overwhelming demand – some 30,000-40,000 visitors per day – we had to queue up with the masses.  After awhile, we did manage to link up with a group for a guided tour of parts of The Vatican Museum.  After about a 1.5 hour wait in a queue along the walls of The Vatican City, we began our walk in the Pine Cone Garden at 1:30PM.  Here we received an overview on the various rooms we would be touring, including the Sistine Chapel.  The crowds were enormous but we did manage to see some wonderful sights, statutes, frescoes and paintings.  Then, visiting the Sistine Chapel is so special.  It’s easy to see how crisp Michelangelo’s paintings began and how their quality diminished due to his aging and his failing eyesight (paint dripped into his eyes as he lay on his back to finish this incredible undertaking).  Our tour ended in St. Peters Basilica.  Despite having seen it before (and The Gang had seen it on television), it is almost beyond description.  In addition to the buildings shear enormity (the largest church in the world), there is the beautiful Pieta by Michelangelo.  While it was an exhausting day, the visit was truly an inspiring and emotional one.  After returning to the hotel to gather luggage, we picked up our van at Termini Station and then we proceeded during rush hour out of Roma to Sant’Agnello (near Sorrento) with Ed in the driver’s seat.  We arrived at our hotel at 11:00PM (after getting lost in town a couple of times).  The Gang opted for bed while Ed and Lindy found a small pizzeria and unwound from the day (and Ed from the driving).

Click on the image to display a larger photo.  Once displayed,
  click on  the BACK button (first button on the left of your browser)
  to return to this page.

 [ T O P ]