20 October 2009 - Roaming Around Rome!

All Roads Lead to Rome - I think it's true! Our next adventure was to take the Hop-On Hop-Off open-topped bus, which mosied its way through the main areas of Rome. Each seat had its own personal audio receiver so we could learn about each place we were passing.

We were absolutely amazed at the beauty of the buildings, the incredible and often huge sculptures and fountains that we passed around the city, the history that was around every corner we turned, as well as the chaos and amount of traffic negotiating what were often incredibly narrow streets with cars, scooters and bicycles traveling in both directions and parked whichever way and wherever they wanted!

Ponte Sant'Angelo - Bridge built in 134AD, which crosses the beautiful Tiber River

One of the many bridges that cross the Tiber River that winds its way through Rome

Tiered roof-lines on apartment buildings in the city Rome's ornate Supreme Courthouse on the banks of the Tiber River - I wouldn't mind working there!

The impressive Mary Magdalene Church on the banks of the Tiber River

Ornate and pristine buildings at Piazza Del Porto Di Ripetta - I just loved the assortment of buildings, each with its own individual style and characteristic and all of them clean and tidy

Beautiful white marble church, one of hundreds in Rome - with another one whose dome is clearly seen to the left

Piazza del Popolo - one of the busiest piazzas in Rome with people and traffic going in all directions with no lines to indicate lanes, yet no accidents and all the drivers were very patient, just waiting for their turn to go. We decided Australians could learn a lot from them!

Church of Santa Maria di Montesanto at Piazza del Popolo We couldn't get over the streets of Rome - so many cars on such narrow streets! The bus would almost scrape the sides of buildings, signs, scooters and cars, yet didn't slow down at all! In the two weeks we were in Italy we only saw one accident and that was on the autostrada!

Site of Julius Caesar's Death on 15 March 44BC. He was stabbed 23 times by what is estimated to be sixty or more men. Me thinks they were not very happy with him!

Side view of the Campidoglio or Capital Building - it was enormous, which you will see in the following pictures!

Impressive staircases in Rome leading up to more beautiful buildings and statues

Beautifully detailed statue of a Gladiator, etched on the corner of a building. We saw similar etchings to this everywhere - so many of the buildings had artwork of some form on them.

A very small portion of the Campidoglio Building, designed by Michelangelo. It was enormous and being restored in several areas. The statues and incredible detail on the building were astonishing.

Impressive statues on the Campidoglio, where the Italian Government sits.

The imposing Campidoglio or Capital Building, seat of the Italian Government. Designed by Michelangelo construction commenced in 1546 but only the staircase was completed when he died in 1564. Finally completed in the 17th Century, it incorporated most of Michelangelo's designs. Very wide street in Rome, outside the Campidoglio Building - again no lines marked at all Roman building with ancient pillars down one of the many narrow roads the bus made its way down, weaving between the cars, scooters and pedestrians. Often the streets were so narrow there wasn't much of a pavement - and often cars were parked on whatever pavement there was - so the pedestrians had to walk in the middle of the street but the traffic just went round them!

The architecture in this city was so diverse - one minute we saw buildings from pre-Christ times and the next could be renaissance style from the 14th and 15th centuries, or merely one hundred years ago! They were often standing next to each other and just seemed to fit together.

Impressive facade of a church in Rome - they were stunning, especially against the blue sky

One of the many imposing obelisks found in the piazzas of Rome

Another spectacular white marble church - nearly every street has one - and they are all unique and beautiful to look at. The streets are full of pedestrians, cars, bikes, scooters and buses - with no road markings and whoever is in front gets right of way. The sublime to the ridiculous! Just had to take this picture to prove we really were in Rome!

I just loved the buildings in Rome - some were curved, some were white marble, others red or pink marble, while others were sandstone. All different and all with amazing historical significance. I just wish I'd had the time to see all of them and hear the unique stories attached to each one.

You turn a corner and in front of you was "Modern" history versus "Ancient" history. Bernini was a famous architect in Rome in the 1600s and this building from the late 1900s is named in honour of him, while the building below is hundreds of years old. Just look at the size of the smaller door on the left, inside a larger arch, inside an even larger arch!

No, this isn't a laneway. It's a main street in the CBD: they park facing both ways, up on the footpaths and cars still drive down them - you tell me how they get out!

Thank you! We felt very welcome. I loved the curved building behind this sign - it was very elegant and so old.

An elegant tree-lined street right in the central business district of Rome - a welcome respite from the sun

The old and the new: a graceful old church towering over scores of scooters - one of the most popular forms of transport in Rome

A grand entrance to one of the many beautiful buildings in this great city - how many thousands of people have passed beneath this arch over the centuries? Just look at the "age lines" in the columns.

Both of us were in awe of the ancient and modern history of Rome - no building we saw would have been less than a hundred years old and most of them were centuries old. It certainly earns it's name "The Eternal City".

Above and below are buildings that line the Piaza Della Republica - a very busy thoroughfare in Rome. The buildings were curved to be in harmony with the curved piazza - a very impressive sight.

The central fountain at Piazza Della Republica

Baths of Diocletian, Santa Maria degli Angeli in Piazza Della Republica - 306AD. They are the largest and most sumptuous of the imperial baths, which remained in use until the aquaducts that fed them were cut off by the Goths in 537. Various sections were later converted to churches and museums to ensure their preservation.

Rear of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore - absolutely stunning Another of the many obelisks in Rome's piazzas

Entrance to the impressive Church of Santa Maria Maggiore

We passed hundreds of narrow laneways like this with typical Trattorias, offering a peaceful respite from the busyness of this city

Turn a corner - Ancient Columns, Chaotic Traffic and Ornate Buildings - This is Rome! Through ancient ruins to the Domes of Rome A lone horse and carriage waiting patiently outside the Roman Forum

We turned a corner and this was my first glimpse of the Colosseum - I actually had to catch my breath and then I got quite teary - firstly for actually seeing it in the flesh, but also due to all the emotions that rose up as to what had happened there thousands of years ago. If I had lived in Rome then I could very well have been killed here for my faith...

The Colosseum - breathtaking, and now in ruins - what must it have been like when it was in pristine condition? The Roman Forum is on the right.

Section of the Roman Forum from our bus as we passed

History - but not quite as ancient! "Charlie Chaplin" entertaining the tourists at the Colosseum.

Roman Forum Pillars - sunkissed and spectacular

How about that for architecture! The Roman Colosseum - a superb work of art!

Ancient Pillars of the Roman Forum

Closeup of one of the bronze Angels and Chariots guarding the Campidoglio, the headquarters of the Italian Government and dating from 1560 Part of the Roman Forum with a little taste of the 21st Century! One of many takeaway carts found at all the tourist sites of Rome.

Arch of Constantine built in 312, with the Colosseum on the left. The crowds were building even though this was the "off season". My advice - don't come in summer!

Rows of arches of the Colosseum - spectactor vantage points from the ancient days

The magnificence of the Colosseum - even ruins can be spectacular!

From the Colosseum across to the Roman Forum with a glimpse of the Angel and Chariot statue on the Campidoglio just to the left - no matter where you were in Rome you could always see history right before your eyes

Peeping through a looking glass into the past - Arches of the Colosseum

'Modern' Roman architecture - the colours of the buildings against the blue sky were a grand sight

Ancient stairs and the imposing entrance of a once grand building

Looking down to the Arch of Constantine with the Roman Forum on the left and the Colosseum on the right

Across the park area of Circus Maximus to the Roman Forum

Looking down the length of Circus Maximus, dating from 700BC with the Roman Forum on the right, 42BC. Just a field now, the Circus Maximus was the site of the ancient chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue. It could hold 250,000 people - over a quarter of the city's population - and measured 621 metres by 118 metres. Circus Maximum with the Roman Forum in the background Looking across Circus Maximum to The Roman Forum - two ancient sights in this amazing city. The Roman Forum is the central area around which ancient Rome developed. The oldest and most important structures of the ancient city are located in the Forum . It served as a city square and central hub where the people of Rome gathered.

The dramatic skyline of Rome - ancient buildings with the impressive Campidoglio and its magnificent angel and horse chariot statues standing guard on each corner highlighted against the blue skyline

Dramatic ocre steeple and roofline of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin against a beautiful blue sky

Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, built from 772-795AD The Temple of Vesta - the oldest marble building in Rome, built in 200BC Restoration work on the Temple of Portunus, 100BC, located in the Forum Boarium - site of an ancient cattle market. The Forum was also the site of the first gladiatorial contest held in 264BC.

Well preserved ancient building near The Roman Forum

Elegant facade of Roman sandstone building

A leafy leopard tree - a peaceful spot in this busy city

One of hundreds of pristine streets in Rome - they were immaculate, we didn't see any litter or graffiti - just lots of cars parked wherever there was an inch of space!

Gorgeous detail on a sandstone building

Madonna and Child fresco on the side of a building - similar frescos were on nearly every street corner

Now tell me how they're going to get out of there! They would squeeze into the tiniest spaces but must have been able to get out somehow...

Intricate facade of very old church Beautiful sandstone buildings, hundreds of years old, were down every street we looked There were enormous brass or marble statues overlooking the entrances to all the bridges crossing the Tiber

Marble sculpture of a Roman soldier and naked slaves on one of the bridges crossing The Tiber

Perfect mirror images in the Tiber River with the Mausoleum of Hadrian, now known as Castel Sant'Angelo dating from 135AD. It was built by the Roman Emporer Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family but was later converted to a fort in 401 when Rome was attacked, which continued throughout the centuries. In the 14th century it was converted to a castle by Pope Nicholas III. He ordered a covered fortified corridor connect it to St Peter's Basilica and it became a refuge for the popes whenever Rome was under seige. Decommissioned in 1901 it is now a museum.

Beautiful building near our B&B - it was pristine even though it was so old and the Madonna fresco was a highlight

Then it was back to our B&B to get ready for our night adventure touring the illuminated Roman streets and culminating in a private dinner while being serenaded - it's a hard life in Rome!