What a city! We arrived at our rental apartment after at three and a half hour drive. Our oldest three took a train from our last city of Lucca, to the city of Rome. The hardest challenge in Rome, was finding a parking place near our rental. Parking is even more difficult here, than in Greece. After three parking tickets, we thought our car was parked correctly and we really didn’t want to move it. However, there was a Lazio annual soccer team street party, outside our apartment, so the car had to be moved to make room for the party. It was a no win situation for parking.

Here is a short video of the noise from the Lazio Soccer party. The video doesn’t give it justice to the noise. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRgrj1eN/

Trevi Fountain

At the time we reached the Trevi Fountain, we couldn’t believe how many people were everywhere. Remember we have been living abroad and seeing all these great sites in the off season, so we have, for the most part been missing the crowds. However, at Trevi Fountain, it was shoulder to shoulder. Even with the crowd, we did enjoy the beauty of the the fountain, which was larger than we imagined. Eliza made sure we all had a coin to toss into the fountain after making a wish, this was our way to “guarantee” that one day we would return to Rome. So of course we all tried it out. London wished to ride a unicorn…silly six year old!

Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. It took 30 years to build and was built in the 17th century to provide drinking water to the city. It was built at the point where the three main streets of Rome intersected. Trevi Fountain gets its water from an underground aqueduct so it really is clean, fresh water (except for all the coins in the fountain).

Pantheon

This building was incredible. I think what I found so interesting, was that the large dome ceiling has a hole in the center which lets the weather and rain in. When I arrived at the Pantheon and looked up at the dome, one of the first things I asked my family was, “Is that glass over the hole of the dome or is that a hole to the sky?” I later found out this dome was made with a hole in the top, called an oculus, to allow natural light into the building.

Two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Spanish Steps

On the Spanish Steps

Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel

On January 5th Justin walked over to the Vatican to see about getting tickets to the Sistine Chapel. Much to his surprise, there were people everywhere! He soon discovered that he was just walking up to the Vatican when Pope Benedict the XVI’s, funeral had just ended. Patrons, priests, nuns, camera crews and an occasional tourist were everywhere for this event. It was outdoors in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. The rest of us soon walked over to join Justin and see the processions, flags, and people who were honoring their Pope. Below is a short video of what it looked like and hour and half after the funeral ended.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRb7CRdc/

The Sistine Chapel was the last place we visited before we left Rome. Because of the Pope’s funeral, the Sistine chapel had been closed to visitors for the last two days, so we were glad to get to go in. The Sistine chapel ceiling, with the paintings by Michelangelo were larger than I expected. They were very incredible! No cameras were allowed in the chapel, so the pictures that I have are pictures of pictures. The Sistine Chapel, with it’s famous Creation of Adam painting, was painted in 1508-1512. I enjoyed seeing the entire room with its many stories from the Bible told through art. We also had no problem getting tickets the day of. There was no line, we just walked in and bought the tickets (off season perks).

Mamertine prison

Rome Temple

I love the Rome temple! The architects did a fabulous job bringing parts of Rome into the building and style of the temple. I loved the Michelangelo Star design, which was from the Piazza del Campidoglio, and which is seen all throughout the temple. One of the temple volunteers, pointed out that this star design, by Michelangelo means eternity. Which is very fitting in a temple doing work for others for eternity. I also loved the statues of the twelve apostles and the Christus. There was also a beautiful stained-glass mural, that three sister missionaries explained to us, portrayed stories from the scriptures. Visiting this Temple was one of the highlights of our time in Rome, and this temple was something I had wanted to see in person, but really never dreamed I would. *My roommate Jjanna Valentiner’s father was the main architect for this temple.

Rome Colosseum

Justin was really looking forward to seeing the Colosseum. His excitement probably came from watching the movie Gladiator. He did take a moment when he was inside the colosseum, to reenact a bit saying, “Are you not entertained?” It was interesting being in this 2000 year old building. Such history and yet I was overcome with how many deaths occurred here, an estimated 400,000, in the name of entertainment. It was interesting to learn that the last time the colosseum was used in games was around 450 AD, then it was deserted for 300 years, and then for 800-1000 years, it was used as a cemetery, place of worship, a housing complex, workshops, a home for friers, and a fortified castle. All of these additions are now removed and it stands as it was built and after four earthquakes took their toll.

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