Enjoying The Eternal City Of Rome
The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum.
Rome, Lazio, Italy Wednesday April 15, 2015
One of the most visited and beloved cities in the world for history buffs, culture mavens, food lovers, and romantics of all ages, Rome’s charms are many and splendid as you will discover whether you choose to walk or tour in a motor coach, be your own guide or take an expert-guided tour.
Our ship is docked at Civitavecchia, the port of Rome. It is about 50 miles from Rome. We scheduled a Rome shore excursions that shuttled us to the city for a day of world-class sightseeing, including special viewings of celebrated artworks at the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Though we have been to Rome before, and narrowing down what to do while in the port of Rome can be a tough decision, I elected to see the top sights once again.
TOP SIGHTS TO SEE
THE COLOSSEUM
The Colosseum is considered by many to be Rome’s greatest attraction, and if you haven’t been to Rome before, you’d be remiss not to see it. Even if you find the blood and gore of its gladiator past unsettling, it’s still hard not to be wowed by the grandeur of its construction and the fact that this ancient amphitheater is still standing 2,000 years later. The Colosseum is also one of the new Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
ROMAN FORUM
If the Colosseum impresses you, then the Roman Forum will also excite you with its structures and history. The Roman Forum was the center of religious and public life during the Roman Empire. You can still see a number of the buildings, arches, and temples that were built in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Walk down the road where past emperors and philosophers strolled and marvel at the city center they created. You can even see the burial place of Rome’s first emperor, Julius Caesar, located within the stately looking Temple of Caesar.
TREVI FOUNTAIN
Trevi Fountain is the largest fountain in Rome and is also often considered to be the most beautiful. It gets its name from Tre Vie, which stand for “three ways,” since it was built at the meeting point of three streets. The fountain is constructed in the Baroque style and features Oceanus riding a chariot pulled by two seahorses being led by Tritons.
If you want to increase your chances of visiting Rome again, legend has it that if you throw a coin in the water with your right hand over your left shoulder you’ll return to Rome someday.
PIAZZA NAVONA
Piazza Navona is another place with Baroque flair in Rome. The lovely square has many aspects dating back to the 15th century and is built on the site where the ancient Stadium of Domitian once stood.
Piazza Navona is known for its lively atmosphere that it gets from street performers as well as the many restaurants bordering the square. It makes for a fun place to get a glass of wine, appetizer, or cup of gelato, before continuing on your tour of Rome.
VATICAN CITY
The State of Vatican City is the smallest state in Europe in terms of both population and expanse. It is completely surrounded by the city of Rome on all sides, but has been independent of Italy since 1929 after the signing of Lateran Treaty by Pope Pius XI and Mussolini. Vatican City is ruled by the Pope and serves as the center of authority for the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican’s best-known sites are St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
St. Peter’s Basilica is located in the beautiful St. Peter’s Square and is one of the largest churches in the world. St. Peter’s Basilica can fit 20,000 people inside and is also home to famous works of art. One such piece of art is Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is the only artwork to carry his signature. You also don’t want to miss seeing the statue of St. Peter, the bronze baldachin designed by Bernini, and looking up to take in the majestic splendor of the large dome. You can also go up to the edge of the dome for a view overlooking St.Peter’s Square and the skyline of Rome.
PIAZZA DE ESPAGNA and the SPANISH STEPS
A short walk away from the Trevi Fountain is Piazza di Spagna, a lovely square most famous for its one side that extends up into the Spanish Steps that lead to the Church of Trinità dei Monti. This square is an excellent example of the Italian Baroque style, and the steps are usually full of tourists sitting and soaking up the ambiance – and hopefully some sunshine. Piazza di Spagna and its steps were named after Palazzo di Spagna, which is the seat of the Spanish Embassy for the Vatican that has been located on the square since the 17th century.
THE PANTHEON
The Pantheon is an ancient monument that Michelangelo once defined as the work of angels and not of humans -- and when you consider that the Pantheon was built around 25 BC and is the world’s oldest unreinforced concrete dome, it may not be hard to see why. The name Pantheon comes from the Greek words pan (all) and theon (god) and it is believed the structure was used as a temple devoted to the gods.
