Lasting Memories of Rome

So what is my lasting memory of Rome?

I honestly don't know!

Could it be ....

Michaelangelo The Monuments

The statues The ancient passages
The Spanish Steps
(so disappointing on the first night and so atmospheric on the last)
The Vatican City

The Roof Gardens

The Colosseum

The Art

The piles of Roman Marble

(probably museums have been started with less)

The Market where we bought fresh apricots

The Scooters

The queues

The Street Vendors selling Panini and Bibete

The Spiral Staircase in the Vatican Museum

The Traffic

The Fountains

The Ceilings

The Cobbles

The Birds

The Domes

Walking beside the River under the trees

The Forum

The Plants

Or the Ice Cream - il gelato - the best I have ever tasted :-)

Before I left I was worried about pickpockets. It was important to keep our belongings safe but we did not experience any problems.

We always asked how much things were before agreeing to buy

'quanto costa' - how much is it?

I am very pleased that I had the chance to visit Rome and I hope to go again one day.

L'Italia e molto bella

Castel Sant' Angelo

Although we had walked passed this castle on the way to our hotel on several occasions we saved visiting it until the last day. We flew home on an afternoon flight and this was a good place to spend a couple of hours, leaving our luggage close by at the hotel.

The Castle was originally built as a mausoleum to Hadrien and no one in the UK cannot have heard of Hadrien :-) Ponte Sant Angelo
Views of and from Castel Sant Angelo

This castle is very close to the Vatican and well worth a visit. Entrance - you pay but it was free when we went due to the Festival of Culture. The castle had loos, a cafe and a bookshop. We entered via a spiral corridor that lead us round inside the main castle wall but there were many steps to the top. There was an exhibition of art while we were there.

Website - Castel Sant' Angelo

Monument to Vittorio Emmanuele II

This monument is spectacular and its sheer size is awesome. It contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You can climb to the top and the views are fantastic.
Entrance free but take notice of the signs at the gates. Definitely no sitting on the steps, eating or drinking, shouting etc. They ask you to be respectful and this is enforced, it is not just a suggestion! Definitely worth a visit.

Website - Vittorio Emmanuele II

Pantheon

As a child I had learnt about the Pantheon at schoolI knew it had been a Roman temple
I did not know that it is now a Christian Church

Website - Pantheon

Fontana di Trevi - Trevi's Fountain

No visit to Rome would be complete without seeing Fontana Trevi. We visited twice - once in the daytime and again the next evening.

The fountain is a magnet for tourists of all nationalities :-)

Completely free :-) You are welcome to sit on the steps and the seats (if you can find a vacant one :-) but don't climb or put your feet in the water! Some did and they were quickly spotted by the guards :-)
There were many traders selling roses and children's toys and they can be persistent. If you have no intention of buying be clear that you are not interested. They are, after all, trying to make a living!

We found a brilliant pizzeria just down the street. They made huge rectangular pizzas and sold them by the slice, all you had to do was indicate whether you preferred small (piccolo(a)) or large (grande). Welcoming, very reasonably priced and the best pizza we found in Rome.


Website Remeguide - Treiv Fountain

St Peter's Rome

After spending most of the day at the Museums we felt we shouldn't leave the Vatican City without visiting St Peter's Basilica. We had seen St Peter's Square on the TV, filled with people. It seemed a little smaller in real life and we realised how tightly packed it must be sometimes.
The colonnades are very impressive with drinking fountains at intervals
A view of the obelisk in the square from the cool of the colonnade

Looking down from the steps of St Peters

One of the fountains in the square (the square is really a circle! I wonder if this is a blip in translation or maybe the popes did not like the connection with the word circus)

The entrance to St Peters

The first view inside, the light is natural sunshine!

It did look spectacular.

Petre

In the 20th century, builders discovered the bones of St Peter

There is no doubt that St Peters is truly spectacular. It was after all designed by some of the greatest artists who ever lived and is described as one of the holiest site in Christendom.

Clothing was regulated so no bare shoulders, no shorts, etc and our bags were scanned. I was surprised that cameras were allowed and so many people were wondering about takings photos. It was quieter by the time we arrived and many people, of course, were they to pray.

Entrance was free but you pay to visit the dome and treasury.

Definitely worth a visit!

Website - St Peter's Rome

Vatican Museums

We couldn't visit Rome and not see the Sistine Chapel. I had read it is one of the wonders of the world. I hadn't realised though that there are so many museums and so much to see.

We were warned that we would need to give a day for this visit. And they were right!

We queued for two and a half hours :-)

And still the queue grew behind us

One long stream of people of every nationality waited patiently.

There was no trouble, no arguments.

One beggar sat under a tree so that the queue divided around her.

But we made it :-)

Inside we found the elusive azaleas :-)

And felt for the people still queuing outside

There are too many treasures for me even to begin to describe.

We were impressed that cameras were allowed in most of the galleries.

But not the Sistine Chapel :-)

(this is a pic of a print we purchased!)

It was a shame that despite guards asking people not to take photos in the chapel so many continued to do so! I would have liked to sit silently and just look. It wasn't possible. The chapel was packed with limited seating around the edge and there was a continuous buzz of conversation and requests from the guards.

It was a wonder to see though and if at all possible you should try to visit!

It really is incredible! I am very glad I had the chance :-)

It did feel strange to be so close to so many treasures and so much art when old women are begging on the streets. I wondered if it was right for the church to own so much but as HG said, who should own it? At least it is available for public viewing and not in some private collection.

For more pics and info on the Vatican Museums click here for the official website.

From a practical point of view there are loos and snack bars inside!

Check opening/closing times carefully as they vary throughout the year.

We paid 13 euros each and it was worth every one!

No credit cards were taken!