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Rome
A day tour to Rome

We docked in Civitavecchia (meaning Ancient Town).
Unfortunately we were not able to spend any time there because we had a day tour set up to visit Rome. Our tour was very special in that we were only nine people.

The person who facilitated the tour happened to be one of the owners of the tour company; he was excellent.

The first part of the day we had a long drive to Rome from the port, followed by a quick tour of some highlights of the city before going to the Vatican.

Here are some pictures from the first part of the day:

 

Fountain of Trevi

 

Trevi		 Trevi

The Trevi fountain is an imposing monument that served as a display of an ancient Roman aqueduct termination.
A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw coins into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.
This was the theme of 1954's Three Coins in the Fountain and the Academy Award-winning song by that name which introduced the picture.

 
Street

In this picture you can see the cobble stones - the city has attempted to create authenticity by putting cobble stones on some streets.

 Home

Tradition had it that rich families, who built elaborate homes in the city, would mark the outside with a family symbol.
This is one example.
Aqueduct Aqueduct

The fellow in this picture was our guide.

  

The aqueducts are a system that delivered fresh water to the city as early as 300 BC. The picture to the left shows part of that system as it looks today.

The plaque above is a marker for the system and dates back to very early Roman time. Our guide told us that it is still there only because the criminal element has no idea that this piece is very valuable.
   
Column Steps

The Spanish Steps (AKA - The Scalinata) is the widest staircase in Europe.

To the left:

There are many columns like this throughout the city, each commemorating a particular person or event. The filigreed metal band, just above the pedestal, was a recent addition because there was a fear that the structure was so compromised that it may fall over.

The Pantheon
Pantheon

The hole in the dome is the only window to the outside and it is not covered.

 Pantheon

This is the best preserved of all the ancient Roman Temples.

 

 

The Roman Pantheon is the most influential building of ancient Rome. It is a temple dedicated to all the gods of pagan Rome. It was built and dedicated between 118 and 125 AD. 

The Piazza Navona

 

P_Navona		 P_Navona

For Dan Brown fans this fountain is familiar. In 'Angels and Demons' this is where the last Cardinal was rescued.
Hanging

We are now on the way to the Vatican.
As we were passing this point our guide told us that it is believed that the tree in the foreground marks the spot where St. Peter was hanged. Kind of cool to see that.

 

 

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