Grazie Roma!

It was time to visit our last spot in Italy…Rome! Rome has so many amazing sights to see that the next 2 days were so busy! From looking at the ruins and churches Rome was truly special. I feel like I only brushed the surface of what Rome has to offer.

Our hotel in Rome was very similar to the one in Florence. Hotel Cicerone was very accomodating and was very close to the Vatican. We did not spend as much time at the hotel because there was so much to see in Rome, but this hotel was perfect for a large tour group.

Colosseum

The very first thing that we did in Rome was go visit the Colosseum. The shear size of this building was amazing to look at and it was crazy to think that there were gladiator fights going on in the building. Some of the building has fallen apart becasue of its age, but seeing the impact that this building has on modern day arenas was amazing. We had a guided tour that took us around the colosseum and explained to us the architecture structure and the culutre of this historical artifact.

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was very close to the Colosseum and covers a large mass of land. Our tour guide took us to see all of the ruins of churches and other government buildings. First you have to walk through the grounds where the King lived in Rome. There were spectatular gardens and some ruins of remaining buildings. From on top of this hill, you can see the whole Forum down below and all of the different buildings that once occupied that area. In the Forum, there is also the place where Julius Cesar was burned. While this was a little eerie to see, it was amazing to see all of the history that took place there.

“The Wedding Cake”

While you visit the Forum, you can see many large buildings on top of a hill. Once you walk up the hill, there is a spectatcular view of the city of Rome. With a cafe that serves snacks and drinks, this is the perfect spot to relax, unwind and take in the city of Rome. Right next door to this secret spot, there is a huge white palace where there are many statues surrounding it. It used to be where many kings were buried, but once Rome got rid of the monarchy system, they transformed this building into the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after World War 2. Many call it the “Wedding Cake” becasuse it is all white. This building is definetley impressive and continues to remind us of the history of Rome.

The Pantheon

Walking through the streets of Rome before dinner, we went to the Pantheon. This huge structure is home to many of the gods as well and the dome is a sight to see. When you stand in the Pantheon, you look up and see a gaping hole at the top of the dome. Right below the hole is a drainage system on the floor to allow the rain to pour out! This architecture was amazing and it was so cool to see all of the histroical figures that were represented in this place. The square in front of the Pantheon was busy with many people taking photos of this structure. This was definitely a great sight to see before more delicious pizza!

The Vatican

No matter if you are religious or not, the Vatican is such a magnificant place to visit. When you go visit the Vatican museums, you first walk through hall after hall of beautiful tapestry, paintings and sculptures. Each hall has its own style and the ceilings are breathtaking. This leads up to the Sistine Chapel which is just a spectacular room to be in. This is the room where they decide the Pope! The walls and ceilings are covered in beautiful paintings and the color is amazing. This is also home to the famous Creation of Adam painting created by Michelangelo. The most beautiful church, St. Peter’s Basilica, is jaw dropping. All of the paintings, stonework and detail that went into constructing this masterpiece is mind blowing. When you walk through the church we had music playing and a procession of the many priests and nuns. The Vatican was definitely an experience and was just amazing to see all of the artwork that went into making this sacred place.

Trevi Fountain

Our last stop in Rome, after a delicious dinner of penne bolognese and lemon chicken,  was  to the Trevi Fountain. It was so amazing to see this fountain at night as it was all lit up and there were still so many people surrounding the fountain. You are supposed to throw 3 lucky pennies into the fountain over your right shoulder in hopes of coming back to Italy, marrying an Italian and doing both! The fountain was so large and an incredible piece of art to look at! It was amazing that it was built on the side of a building. This was definitely a great last stop to end the Italain vacation!