Memories for a lifetime

Saturday morning we took the modern metro to from our hotel to a spot near the Colosseum, where we were to meet our personal tour guide Fausta Delpiano. She had been recommended by fellow bikers while we were in Puglia, and we were soon to find out we owed them a huge debt of gratitude! Fausta was outstanding.

First, she took us to a Rennaissance church near the Colosseum and explained how it had built upon Roman ruins and a residence, but incorporated bits of those layers into its structure. 'Recycling' of Roman materials was to become one of many themes for the day. We weren't able to take pictures in the church. Monks were chanting prayers as we walked and whispered questions to our guide.



Fausta explaining to Jody about the how the left side of the Colosseum had begun to collapse and was supported by modern brickwork on the left.

Next, we worked our way west to the massive Colosseum itself, working our way from the outside to the inside. To say the structure was massive doesn't completely capture the sense of the place. It was, for Kevin, David and I, so much like a modern football stadium, in many ways, that it was almost eerie. But everything was made of massive blocks of stone, not flimsy steel and concrete.



Here we are, ready to attend the game.



Inside the Colosseum

Of course the games were a bit different than modern football; violent entertainment, crowds cheering, wild public celebration and tailgating, yes, but on the field of battle, death, either for animals or gladiators, was the end result, rather than touchdowns or hard tackles. A clever wood floor with trap doors to dramatically raise the 'monsters' gladiators were to fight created a wild spectacle that thrilled crowds for a few hundred years and helped maintain the popularity of the emperors.



Dave and Jody in front of the most famous angle from the outside

Next we were led to the roman forum, the city center where business was conducted from government to markets to worshipping the gods. Not much left of it, and some parts seemed badly reconstructed, but still inspiring.



Remains of a temple; much of this area was raided for marble etc for other structures, including major basilicas nearby.



Fausta explains the Forum



David and Ann listening to explanations about the various structures we saw




An overview of the Forum

Next, it was off to the Pantheon. On the way, Fausta pointed out places where Roman ruins had been co-opted for other purposes.

I don't have the traditional front on view of the Pantheon, but here are a couple of shots showing a side view and upward view of the oculus from within










A final farewell picture with our favorite tour guide of the trip, and that's saying something! If she doesn't have a PhD in roman history, she deserves one!

After lunch and obligatory gelato, we separated to do our own thing. Laurie went for a run, Ann went shopping and the rest of us visited more major sites, ranging from Piazza Navona to the Fountains of Trevi to the Spanish steps, shown here with colorful umbrellas because it had begun to sprinkle.



The Spanish steps

Wonderful street scenes greeted us all the way









Our day ended with an amazing 4 course dinner at Ferrera, a highly recommended restaurant, just Ann and me, in the Travestere district. Others had dinner on their own too.




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Location:Rome