The tour began in earnest on Wednesday. After a decent continental breakfast, a group of 39 intrepid travellers boarded the bus, led by Sabina and driver Angelo. A relatively short jaunt later, we disembarked in downtown Rome andmet our local guide, Cinzia (Cynthia). She led us across the border and into the world's smallest country, the Vatican City. We started at the Vatican Museum, where many wonders and treasures lay, ending at the Sistine Chapel with its magnificent frescoes including Michaelangelo's Final Judgement.
After the museum, Cinzia led us quickly outside, for Wednesday mornings in the Vatican City include a papal mass - yes, along with a throng of thousands, the four of us were also blessed by Pope Benedict in St. Peter's Square as he conducted mass in front of the St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world.
We departed the Vatican City and boarded the bus "back" to Italy and across the Tiber River for the short journey to the Colisseum and Roman Forum. Cinzia again led us, through the mighty 2000-year old Colisseum and then the ruins of the Roman Forum, regaling us with many tales and facts over our whisper headsets as we walked.
Some of the group headed back to the hotel after the tour, but the four of us acquired a map of the city and hopped on the crowded Metro (subway), navigating our way northward to the closest stop to the Spanish Steps, a well-known public gathering place in Rome. From there, we wandered westward to the Trevi Fountain, where we stopped for pizza and beer at a cobblestone sidewalk eatery.
Our passeggiata (evening stroll) continued through streets, alleys and squares to the looming Pantheon, and then Piazza Navona, a square lined with cafes and filled with artisans. Rounding out the evening with some house wine at Miscellanea, beside the Pantheon, we arranged a taxi back to the hotel and enjoyed a late dinner (as is the Italian custom) at the same restaurant as the night before.
Pope Benedict blesses the audience
St. Peter's Square and Basilica
Roman Forum Ruins
The Colisseum
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Pantheon - Home of the Gods
Piazza Navona
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment