We booked four nights in a quaint 3rd and 4th floor apartment on Campo di Fiori which hosts a daily market that we used to walk to at least once a week back in the fall/winter of 2018 when we lived for three months in Rome..
We got to the train station Santa Maria Novella early and then had to stand and watch the board until our track is announced for the train to Rome.It is a fast train, only an hour and a half.Final destination is Roma Termini.Our very quirky apartment has this flight of stairs to the front door and then more stairs up to the living room level. Philip and Phyllis then had a narrow spiral staircase to their bedroom with a terrace.Living Room with the spiral staircase in the left corner.Top floor bedroom with an outdoor terrace.Spiral staircase of 18 stairs to Phylis and Philip’s bedroom.Our outdoor patio.Campo de Fiori Market outside our front door.We unpacked and immediately walked to the Vatican as Sandy was interested in getting free tickets for an audience with the Pope the next day. This is crossing the Tiber river.This is Castel Sant’Angel on the opposite side of the bridge shown above. It has a secret underground 800 meter tunnel (Passetto di Borgo) that was connected to the Vatican which was intended as an escape route for the Pope if the Vatican was ever attacked. Public access is only through booking a guided tour.We made it to the Vatican but the line for the free tickets was so long that we scrapped that idea much to Sandy’s disappointment as she wanted to see the newly elected American Pope Leo. We were also hangry so we did not visit Castel Sant’Angel but had a small meal and took a taxi home.We made up for our laziness on day one by visiting Piazza Navona, The Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon by 10:30am. Jim remembered the fastest routes to do all of these four Rome attractions because we did it many times with guests who visited us in Rome.Piazza Navona, almost deserted at 8am.One of two Fountains of Piazza NavonaPhilip’s first view of the Spanish Steps. It is really beautiful as they have added a lot of azaleas to the stairs which apparently are not there in the fall.The Spanish Steps with the poet’s Keats and Shelley house on the right in the foreground and the Hotel Hassler behind it. The half sunken boat fountain at the base of the steps was created by Pietro Bernini and his famous son Giani Lorenzo Bernini.Spanish steps adorned with hundreds of beautiful potted flowers each spring (mid April to mid May). To protect the marble , sitting, eating or drinking on the steps are strictly prohibited. You can walk up and down them freely but local police enforce fines for loitering.Built between 1723-1726 the 135 Baroque step staircase connects the Piazza di Spagna at the base to the celebrated Trinita del Monti church at the top. Trinita del Monte church.Beautiful views of Rome from the top of the steps.We tried getting into the church but it doesn’t open until 11am. One disadvantage of getting out early.On to the Trevi Fountain. They now sell tickets to allow people a front row view. Only 2€ online before you go.The mandatory Trevi Fountain picture.2018 no charge to get this close.The crowds weren’t too bad early morning.Next was the Pantheon. It was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD as a temple to the gods and is the best preserved monument of Ancient Rome.It features the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. At the center of the dome is the iconic oculus, a 9 meter diameter hole allowing the only light to enter streaming down like a river but also allowing rain water to enter. The floor is slightly convex so the water flows to drains in the center of the floor. Michelangelo felt it was the work of angels, not men. Philip and Phylis (not a posed picture).Everything you see here has not changed in 2,000 years. The columns, the marble, the inner decorations have not changed even the floor where emperors like Hadrian and Charles V have walked is the same.The Pantheon is the resting place of the Italian Royal family and some great Renaissance artists including Raphael. Pictured above is the tomb of the first King of Rome.Next stop was the Jewish Quarter as we had lunch reservations. These are ruins in the Jewish Ghetto.More ruins.Giggetto restaurant where we have eaten before years ago and we will eat here our last night in Rome with Philip & Phyllis.This little hole in the wall no frills restaurant in the Jewish Quarter has been our favorite since 2018. We have eaten here many times. In fact we decided to live in Melbourne Australia because a man we talked to at this restaurant convinced us we would like it there.You can see half of the restaurant in this picture although they now have additional outdoor seating. Our favorite dishes of deep fried artichokes and homemade meatballs were still on the hand printed menu.Deep fried artichokesDelicious juicy meatballs. We highly recommend Sora Margherita.Passing the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II on our way to a tour of the Colliseum. This building is home of the tomb to the unknown soldier. It was originally built for the tomb of the first king of Rome but he ended up being buried in the Pantheon.We pre-booked a tour of the Coliseum before they arrived. It was led by an English speaking guide who was very informative. We used these headphones to hear her speak through her microphone.The main road built in 1932 by Benito Mussolini leading straight to the Colosseum is Via dei Fori Imperiali, it offers stunning views of the Roman Forum and ancient ruins along the way.Via dei Fori Imperiali on the left and the imperial forums in the foreground.This is the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, an ancient Roman Temple which was later transformed into a church.This is the Roman Triumphal Arch of Titus. It features elaborate carvings and inscriptions commemorating the victories of Emperor Titus, particularly the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE.Some of the elaborate carvings.Another triumphal arch celebrating more victories.Via Sacra (Sacred Way) is the most famous road in ancient Rome. These are the original stones. The family on the road were from Tennessee, just across the border from where Philip and Phyllis live.The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome.It was capable of holding 50,000-80,000 spectators at its peak. Built in 72 AD it was primarily used for gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, animal hunts and mythological dramas.Venice Palace (Palazzo Venezia) was the headquarters of the Fascist government in Rome where Mussolini had his personal office.Our next stop the following day was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located at the grand Vittoriano monument in Piazza Venezia. Inauguarated in 1921 it features two contnuously guarded eternal flames by a 24/7 rotating Italian military personnel. In 1921, the remains of 11 unidentified Italian soldiers from WW I battlefields were gathered. A grieving mother who had lost her only son and whose body was never recovered was chosen to select one casket at random where it was then laid to rest here becoming a national symbol of sacrifice, unity and remembrance.We paid 72 Euros to go to the top of the building in a glass elevator which in our opinion is the best view overlooking the city and surroundings. That fee also gets one into the museum which we did not take advantage of.
Click on this video for the viewWe did not climb the 124 steep marble steps to the Basilica di Santa Maria in Araceli which was commemorated at the end of the Black Death Epidemic in 1548. Some pilgrims climb it on their knees as an act of Contrition and penance.The same steps from the bottom.We did this much more gradual climb up to Piazza dei Campidogli which was designed by Michelangelo.Happy faces nearing the top. No pictures from the Piazza itself.Poppies are in season, a reminder of Memorial Day to come.Our next stop was the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore or the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. This is one of the four major churches in Rome. Construction started in 432 AD. It is the burial site of the late Pope Francis who opted to be buried in a small niche in the church that he visited over 100 times. His choice to be buried here instead of the Vatican reaffirmed his deep bond with the Virgin Mary and the common people that he served. Unassuming Tomb of Pope Francis with only the simple inscription FRANCISCUS.Magnificent ceiling of the basilica.Holy Cradle.One of the beautiful side chapels.This is the much more imposing backside of The Papal Basilica. After this tour we found a nice Indian Restaurant as we all get tired of Italian food.Our last full day in Rome we had booked a tour of the Vatican and the Vatican Museum. The primary reason for us booking this tour is that it allowed us access to the dome and the cupola on top which you can see in this picture.This is the balcony that the Pope addresses the people from.This was a self guided tour which allowed us to take an elevator to this level which is a walkway around the base of the dome. You can see the walkway with people on it at the very top of this picture. We were able to look down from it into St Peter’s Basilica.The walkway was lined with these Vatican Mosaics.They seemed to be repetitive with only the two images seen here.You can see the walkway around the base of the dome better in this picture. From this level we had the option to climb into the cupola visible at the top of the dome.During the climb to the very top we were between the inner dome, lower half of the picture and outer dome seen at the top. One had to lean with the curve to walk the stairs.View of The Vatican plaza from the very top of the dome made the climb very worthwhile..Looking down into the Vatican Gardens. The yellow building is probably the administrative offices of the Vatican City State.The Vatican Museum outlined in red. Our next stop after viewing the main floor of St. Peter’s Basilica.Back on the ground and looking back up to where we were.It is a spectacular Basilica.Michelangelo’s Pieta, now behind glass.After our self guided tour of the Basilica were scheduled for a guided tour of the Vatican Museum which was a mistake as we had already suffered through this tour in the past.Passing the Swiss guards on the way to the museum.Throngs of tourists.Old entrance to the Vatican Museum.Nice view of the dome from The Pine Cone Courtyard.Imagine an hour of being herded through endless hallways of ancient treasures. What were we thinking.There is a lot of beauty.BUT, way too many people. This was true brotherly love to do this for Philip and Phylis.We were herded into the Sistine Chapel and told not to take pictures. After standing in the Chapel gazing up we then had to walk back to the entrance/exit which was a long way back. This is the second time that we have regretted taking this tour and we have learned our lesson.This was the closest bar that we could find outside of the museum.Waiting for our train home from Roma to Firenze.
Our last nights meal at Giggetto pictured previously was very fun as we had a waiter who would make suggestions and brought us a few things we didn’t know that we had ordered. The food was all very good but too much with all of the extras. The price was very reasonable and he did not even charge us for some of the food that he brought. We would recommend this place as we have been there a few times with good reviews each time.
Now back to Florence for another four days of exploring.
3 responses to “A Side Trip to Roma with Philip & Phyllis”
Philip & Phyllis
Yes true brotherly love, you two are beyond all definitions of love and unselfishness giving us another expanded view of the world and sharing you heart and home, needless to say we are great full and can’t wait for the next visit!
Hope you both all the best! Philip and Phyllis
Leave a Reply