Adventures of Tin Can Lulu

Roma

We arrived in Rome, said goodbye to Dino, our bus driver, and hit the ground running on a whirlwind tour of Caesar’s Rome. Nicknamed the Eternal City, Rome is considered one of the world’s oldest cities, and definitely a candidate for oldest city in Europe. Everywhere you go on the city’s seven hills, you find proof of this enduring history. As the legend goes, Rome was founded on April 21, 753 B.C., by twin brothers Romulus and Remus.

The Colosseum was built in ancient Rome as a gift to the Roman People by Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus, serving as a symbol of the empire’s power and a venue for public entertainment. Commissioned around 70-72 AD, it hosted gladiator contests, animal hunts, and mock naval battles to entertain up to 80,000 spectators. It is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built, and is the largest standing amphitheater in the world.  Our tour of the Colosseum was the exterior only. It is a huge structure that is still standing after over 1945 years! Standing on the outside you could imagine the events and roar of the crowds that attended … just like all of the movies have portrayed!

The Roman Forum, for centuries, was the center of day-to-day life in Rome The site of triumphal processions and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial and legal affairs. There are statues and monuments commemorating the city’s historic leaders. The heart of ancient Rome, it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history. Located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations.

The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings, in large part because it has been in continuous use throughout its history. Since the 7th century, it has been a church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs known as “Santa Maria Rotonda”. The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda. The Pantheon is a state property, managed by Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism through the Polo Museale del Lazio. The Pantheon’s large circular domed cella, with a conventional temple portico front, was unique in Roman architecture. 

All three of these iconic sites did not disappoint. They are exactly as the pictures and photos have depicted over the years. One can let your imagination wander and you could place yourself in the past at each of these sites.

Our last day of the Rick Steves tour we walked through neighborhoods in Rome away from the main tourist attractions with a local guide. We saw beautiful piazzas, churches, shops and government buildings. We ended up by the Vatican City (a country within a county) and had made plans to tour the following day.

The last dinner together with our group was at Ristorante Strega Pizzeria Forno a Legna. It was another amazing meal and we were outside on the patio which added to the romance of the evening! We made numerous toasts, celebrated a birthday and recounted our adventures from the past 16 days of travel. A marvelous celebration with new memories and friends.

Next a few more days in Roma on our own!