After getting to bed about half-past midnight, we got up at 2:30 am to catch a 6:20 flight from Frankfurt to Rome. Entering Italy there were no customs officials or forms; just walk off the plane and through the door. We scoped out the transportation situation and chose a shuttle bus to downtown for 3.90 euros. Our room was about a half-mile walk, so we met our host, Matteo, got settled, and set out to see the city by about 11 am.
Rome has remarkable ruins or buildings everywhere, it seems. Our apartment maybe dates from the Napoleon era; it is one of the newer buildings. We walked first to the Galleria Doria Pamphilj museum, gazing in wonder all along the way.
 |
| Obelisks are Everywhere |
The Galleria was a noble family's residence and is lavishly decorated with hundreds of Renaissance paintings and other art work. 11 euros each to tour it.
Next was the Pantheon. I expected it to be big, but it is something that you just have to see. Built in 27 BC it was incredible feat of engineering and has been in use continually after it was converted to a Christian chapel about 500 AD, I think. The enormous size of the pillars and the dome boggle the mind, as do the beautiful styling and decor.
 |
| The Front of the Pantheon |
Next we visited the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, a beautiful cathedral with paintings by Caravaggio and others.
Then we swung by the Trevi Fountain to see why it is so famous. It looked nothing like what I expected. First, it is really big. It is also one-sided with a building on the other side. Third, it was a mob scene, trying to get a spot for a photo.
 |
| The Trevi Fountain |
 |
| Spectators at the Trevi Fountain |
In between sights we had pannini, gelato, and pizza. Then we headed home for an early bedtime.
The traffic is crazy, even worse than normal because the metro workers were on strike until 7 pm.
No comments:
Post a Comment