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Civitavecchia (easy for you to say!) is the gateway to the ancient city of
Rome. Rome is home to a lifetime's worth of historical, architectural and
spiritual sites. Depending on traffic, the drive from Civitavecchia to Rome
takes approximately an hour and a half. |
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Rome began as a small
village around 753 BC when Latin tribes moved into Italy and settled along
the Tiber River. Now it is a bustling metropolis of 3 million people that
still retains aspects of its ancient, medieval, and Renaissance histories.
The city's 2,700 years of history are on display everywhere you look. Rome
is Italy's treasure trove, packed with masterpieces from more than two
millennia of artistic achievement. |
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Rome has
horrible traffic and meager public transportation. They can’t install
(subterranean) mass transit because the city is riddled with ancient ruins
that they don’t care to destroy with subways.
First we went to
the
Vatican Museums
and
Sistine Chapel,
then to the
Colosseum
and lunch, driving
through part of the city, and then returning to
St. Peter's
in the afternoon. |
Click on the map to see the sights |
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Typical ruins in the city |
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Castle San
Angelo |
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Hadrian had what is now
known as Castle San Angelo built as a mausoleum for himself and his family.
In order to have an easy access to this sepulchre from the area of Campo
Marzio a bridge was built crossing the Tiber river, the Elio Bridge, which
was inaugurated in 134 A.D. |
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| Santa Maria dei Miracoli &
Santa Maria in Montesanto |
Driving around town |
Il Vittoriano
(Victor Emmanuel II Monument) |
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(Flavian Amphitheatre) |
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Although amphitheaters were built throughout the Roman Empire, none were as
large and grand as the Colosseum. The name, however, derives not from its
great size, but from the Colossus, a large bronze statue of Nero, standing
near it. It provided good visibility for the more than 50,000 spectators who
viewed animal games, spectacles, and gladiatorial combats there.
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Begun in the 1st century AD by Emperor Vespasian, a member of the Flavian
family, it remained in use until the early 6th century.
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Interesting website on the Colosseum |
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| I'll vote for Lunch ... |
I'll drink to that |
Mom in front of the hotel
where we ate lunch |
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| What a bunch
of boozers ... |
| The Vatican (The Holy See)
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world.
Area:
0.44 square km - about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Population: 923
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy); the three treaties
signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the
full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent;
however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied
considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century.
Official website |
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Map of the Vatican Museums, with the
Sistine Chapel highlighted (bottom) |
The
Vatican Museums originated as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius
II (1503-1513). The popes were among the first sovereigns who opened the
art collections of their palaces to the public thus promoting knowledge of
art history and culture. As seen today, the Vatican Museums are a complex
of different pontifical museums and galleries with over one thousand rooms
and galleries that contain various sculptures, paintings, tapestries,
ceramics, ancient artifacts, mosaics, maps, and include carriages,
apartments, and chapels. This is reputed to be the largest art collection
in the world. The buildings themselves are a magnificent work of art with
elaborate floors and ceilings. The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican
Museums.
Official museum website |
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| Waiting in line |
Vatican Museums |
The Pontifical Swiss Guard |
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| The eyes follow you around
the room ... |
Floor Mosaic |
Frescoes (i.e., just
colored plaster!) |
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Chapel |
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| Ceiling |
Ceiling |
St. Peter's (from inside the Museums) |
| The
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a
masterpiece of Renaissance art. It is highlighted by by Michelangelo's
masterpieces, the impressive frescoes, including the "Last Judgment."
Official website, including photos and virtual tour. |
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St. Peter's
Basilica - the largest church in the world |
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great building is the center of Christianity (and you see many pilgrims here
from around the world). The opulence of the building's interior bears
testimony to the wealth of the catholic church in the 16th century.
Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, ordered to build a
basilica on Vatican Hill. The location was symbolic: this was the place
where Saint Peter was buried in 64 A.D. A small shrine already existed on
the site but it was now replaced by a new church that was completed around
349 A.D. 1200 years later the church was again replaced by a new
basilica which was to become the largest in the world. The Vatican
observed the 500th
anniversary of the current Basilica in April, 2006. |
Fabulous website
(highly recommended!)
GREAT interactive floorplan, with photos |
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The
building itself is truly impressive. The largest church in the world, it has
a 218 meter long nave (more than twice the size of a football field). The
basilica's dome, designed by Michelangelo is the largest dome in the world
measuring nearly 140 feet in diameter and reaching 454 feet high. The
interior, which includes 45 altars, is decorated by many famous artists.
Some of the most important works in the church are the Pietà by
Michelangelo, the papal altar by Bernini, the Throne of St. Peter - also by
Bernini - and the Monument to the Stuarts by Canova. |
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