Monday, January 5, 2009

Rome

Several people have asked, "what was your favorite place?" I think my answer is ROME. There is just so, so, so much to see and experience. I figured that more than half of our pictures are from Rome. We spent 2 1/2 days in the city (we were supposed to be there 1 more day but we got stuck in Chicago, that's a whole other post) and walked around as much as we could. Here's a tour via our pics...
The Spanish Steps
Longest and widest staircase in Europe, linking the church and a piazza.


Trevi Fountain
Huge fountain that you can hear before you can see it. We threw our coins in hopes to return to Rome.

The Pantheon
Built in 126 AD and it basically the same as it was back then. This is all we got to see of it since it was closed every time we went by, bummer.




Basilica of St. Peter in Chains
It is most famous for housing Michelangelo's Moses and also houses the chains from Peter's 1st imprisonment in Rome.




Roman Colosseum
Built between 70-82 and once covered in marble (taken by the Pope's to build St. Peter's Basilica). It was amazing to see it in person. I can only imagine how grand it once was.





Roman Forum
Once the center of Rome in the 7th century BC, wow! I ended up with over 100 pictures from here. We had a tour guide who did a great job of helping us imagine what it would have been like back when Julius Caesar ruled.



St. Peter's Basilica and Square
We spent a lot of time here. The Basilica is AMAZING. It is huge and has so many great works of art and is the center of the Catholic church. The Vatican museum was also amazing. We got to visit and admire the Sistine Chapel.

This is one of the statue's inside St. Peter's. One thing that was so beautiful was the marble inside the church. It is so cool the way it looks like real material.





Papal Swiss Guards
They are "in charge" of keeping the Pope safe since 1506.

TV in the hotel on Christmas Eve

This is as close as we got to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. We watched some of it on our little tv.

Christmas Day Papal Blessing, St. Peter's

We got to visit St. Peter's square on Christmas day. The Pope gives a Christmas blessing from the balcony at the basilica. We didn't understand much (he did do a bit in English) but it was fun to be there for all the pomp and circumstance.

1st Nativity Scene, Presepe

We did a Christmas Eve tour of the Presepe throughout Rome. This is thought to be the first one. We saw large and small, simple and ornate. Italians are serious about their Presepe and collect special pieces over many years.

Rome Baptist Church, Christmas Eve

Yes, we found a Baptist Church in Rome. It was interesting to be in another country celebrating at a English speaking church. They were very welcoming and we went outside into the Piazza to sing carols by candlelight.

Gelato

Something you have to eat while in Italy. Steve and I had plenty of sweet treats.

3 comments:

Stephanie said...

I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip. It must have been amazing to see.

The Blake Family said...

Ok, so when we take our much desired trip to Italy, I'll remember your comment about Rome being your favorite. Glad you had a great time!

Helen Ruth said...

Looks like ya'll had a great time. Alan and I were wondering if you guys bumped into any of those riots, or saw the flooding?

24 hour trip huh? Alan dealt with that when he flew to the Phillipines. They made him stop in Japan and Korea first. It was brutal.

Your pictures are so small. Select the option for LARGE when you post again. So, where/when's your next trip? ;-)