Beautiful places of Barcelona and Catalonia: ITALY: ROME (II)

For five days we enjoyed the fantastic sightseeings of Rome and we walked for hours through the streets of this wonderful city.

After visiting La Fontana di Trevi in our first afternoon and night in Rome, the main attraction of our second day in Rome was the visit to the Colosseo. I have an special feeling for this impressive roman monument since I was a child. But that day had a surprise in store for me: the old quarter with the Pantheon, Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Navona and its narrow and cobbled streets.

I have felt like visiting the Colosseo since I was a child

Day 2 - 20th september 2010

Visits of the day

- Foro Traiano *
- Colosseo *
- Arco di Costantino *
- Foro Romano and Palatino *
- Campidoglio *
- Pantheon *
- Piazza della Minerva *
- Santa Maria Sopraminerva- San Luigi dei Francesi (Two fantastic Caravaggios) *
- Piazza Navona *
- Santa Maria Maggiore *
- Piazza Barberini - Fontana del Tritone *
- Piazza di Spagna *

* Strongly recommended

Il Passetto

The Passetto di Borgo, or simply Passetto, is an elevated passage that links the Vatican City with the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome. It is an approximately 800 m long corridor, which served, on several occasions, as an escape route for Popes in danger

Foro Traiano

Next to the base of the Colonna Traiana in Rome

Overview of the Foro Traiano in Rome, with the Colonna Traiana as main reference

From the Foro Traiano we went to the Mercati di Traiano

Colosseo

The Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome led us from the Foro Traiano to the Colosseo

There is always a long queue to enter the Colosseo. We didn't have to line up thanks to our Roma Pass :)

Arco di Constantion from the Colosseo. Behind this well preserved arch, the Palatino hill appears

Impressive overview of the stands of the Colosseo and its elliptical arena

Reading about the Colosseo we learnt that the elliptical arena was 83 meters by 48 meters

The Colosseo still looks magnificent 20 centuries after its construction

Capable of seating 50.000 spectators, the Colosseo was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions or dramas based on classical mythology

Arco di Costantino

The Arco di Constantino is a triumphal arch erected to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian bridge. Dedicated in 315, it's the latest of the existing triumphal arches in Rome

Foro Romano

Overview of the Foro Romano from the Palatino viewpoint where The arch of Titus and the Colosseo can be easily seen

Remains of the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine. The building's northern aisle is all that remains. It was the largest building in the Forum and it's almost 40 meters high are quite imposing

From the Campidoglio there is another great overview of the Foro Romano where the Temple of Saturn and the Arch of Septimius Severus appear in the foreground

The three white columns which appears in the middle are the remains of The temple of Castor and Pollux

Finally, a last overview of the Foro Romano from the Campidoglio where the imposing the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine can be seen on the left

Campidoglio

Piazza Campidoglio in Rome, on the top of Capitoline Hill, was designed by Michelangelo. In the middle of this square stands a replica of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius and, in the background, the Palazzo Senatorio (City Hall of Rome)

Pantheon

Detail of the Bernini's obelisk of Piazza della Rotonda, where the coat of arms of the State of Vatican City can be seen. This square of Rome is always lively and charming

Inside the Pantheon, one of the Roman buildings better preserved in Rome

This holes drain the rain which enters the Pantheon through the oculus of the dome

Piazza della Minerva

Another Bernini's obelisk, now in Piazza della Minerva

The young elephant under this obelisk is really nice. It's another Bernini's brilliant idea

Santa Maria Sopraminerva

Colourful transept of Santa Maria Sopraminerva, is considered the only gothic church in Rome

An sculpture of Jesus near the altar

San Luigi dei Francesi

The Inspiration of St. Matthew on the left and The Martyrdom of St. Matthew, on the right painted by Caravaggio, can be admired in this church

The Calling of St. Matthew, another masterpiece of Caravaggio

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is one of the most interesting places in Rome and one of the places I liked the most. It's always lively and an open-air museum where you can admire two Bernini's fountains: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi with its obelisk and Fontana del Moro

Santa Maria Maggiore

Inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, what surprises me the most was the gold ceiling. It seems curved because of the gold weight

Apse of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the Papal Basilicas you can visit in Rome

Piazza Barberini - Fontana del Tritone

Fontana del Tritone in Rome is another Bernini's masterpiece. I really liked this fountain

Piazza di Spagna

Sitting on one step of the well-known staircase of Piazza Spagna we enjoyed a view of this always lively square of Rome

Clicking on the nex link, you will find more pictures of our third day in Rome. Besides, clicking on the next link, you will find more links to the other interesting places in Rome we visited during this trip.

You can see more pictures of the days I spent in Rome last year clicking on the next links: