Rome

After 3 days at home, and a couple of classes, I was off again to Rome this time for 5 days. After another early morning regionale train, we arrived in Rome 3 and a half hours later. After checking into our hostel, which is best described as something close to an American Fraternity house with people coming and going all the time, we set off to see the Colosseum and Roman Forum. After a half and hour wait to get our tickets, I discovered again the benefits of my German Passport, as I was able to get in for almost half price.

The Colosseum was amazing with its sheer size and architecture. We were able to listen in on a couple of the tours going through which was really interesting, hearing some of its history. The Roman Forum was equally amazing with dramatic ruins in the middle of the city with many other monuments and landmarks in the background, as well as numerous more modern buildings.

We spent the next day in the Vatican, and had lunch on the roof of St Peter's Basilica, which was another amazing church... although the masses of people there didn't let you enjoy it nearly as much as it deserved. It was the first cathedral (or basilica) I’ve actually been in where it is warmer on the inside than outside simply because of the masses of people. After being crushed by a number of tour groups pushing past us to see a number of the significant artworks in the basilica, we climbed up to the roof for an amazing view over Rome. After our picnic lunch on the roof, we headed into the Vatican Museum where we had about 2 hours to see everything including the Sistine Chapel… After speeding though a number of exhibits, and pausing briefly in the Rapahel rooms, we spend a considerable amount of time (along with all the other tourists) admiring (and in awe of) Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, trying to work out which paintings depicted which bible story.

The next day we wondered around the streets of Rome, getting soaked by yet another big rainstorm (the third that week...) and headed out to the Catacombs in the afternoon. The Catacombs represented an interesting part of Rome's history during the time of the oppression of the Christians, and the catacomb we visited, San Callisto originally contained the bones of Saint Cecilia and also apparently one of the early pope's was also murdered in the chapel in the upper level of the catacombs. Unfortunately we managed to get into the biggest tour group ever and couldn’t really spend much time looking around.

Our last day in Rome contained the obligatory visit to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon as well as the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione, a church which houses a graveyard of a particular order of monks who used the remains of 4000 of their brethren as wall ordinates to prove that we are mortal. Both the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain were beautiful, however completely overrun by tourists (and the african’s selling “cheap” toys, watches and of course roses…) which was a shame, as it was difficult to enjoy the beauty of these “artworks”. The Pantheon, was absolutely amazing!!! I am still awe-struck at the sheer size of the dome, and much of its artwork. Unlike many other churches I have seen in Italy (especially from the Renaissance period) it is fairly simply decorated and allows the architecture to be its main attraction, which is simply amazing…