Grabbed a cab over to the Vatican. By the time we got there at 9:45 the queues were supposedly 2 – 3 hours long to get into church and hence the dome climb. So decided to leave that to the faithful for the day. Looks like a 6 a.m. alarm Thursday morning to be there when the church opens at 7 and the dome climb at 8.
Walked around to the Castel Sant’ Angelo which was quite amazing and much than we expected. Spent the rest of the morning there having a good explore. Managed to miss a couple of bits due the interesting signage and lack of a map. Some cool frescoes in the later papal chambers and along with the bathroom facilities clearly the pope wasn’t too badly off when trapped there by Charles V.
From there we wandered along the Tiber to the Museo Ara Pacis. Opened in 2006 to house the huge altar Augustus had constructed (not for sacrificing virgins as my wife says) to honour the gods and to boost the profile of the Julian Dynasty. Quite a cool building and the first new build in central Rome since 19469. Also a display of the entries for a contest to design a new logo for Rome. We have yet to see any evidence of the winning entry in use. The mausoleum of Augustus is next door. Massive but desperately in need of some tender love and care!
From there walked to the Spanish steps and then through smaller streets towards the Trevi fountain. Passed some nice menswear shops along the way. Now have a rather nice cashmere coat for next winter!! Trevi foundation rather busy.
After a standard late lunch caught a cab up to Termini. Tried to work out train tickets to Herculaneum. Thought about driving but the car places looked at us as if we were loco and basically said no cars til next week some time. So decided to flag the idea. The list of things to do here is still extensive and we can be a little less rushed. Next time we come to Italy (??!!) we’ll spend less time in Rome and more time south!
Oh my goodness – sitting in the hotel lobby writing this and a couple checking in have just informed the clerk and all around that they got married yesterday. Love is in the air. Then there was the couple at the table behind us at lunch today – she much older than him but definitely not his mother!!
But back to yesterday. So from the station we walked down to Santa Maria Maggiore which has the most amazing frescoes and decoration. Even Ju was into it!! Massive statue of Pius IX in praying position in a chapel below floor level in front of a most amazing silver requiliary. Apparently I got the evils from a couple when I popped Frodo up for a photo. Oh well.
From St M M we ambled our way through various streets back to the hotel. My combination of caffe, latte and tiramisu gelato was to die for. Ju’s strawberry was real strawberry!
Bit of a rest before we headed out for dinner. Walked down the Corso and found a quaint place in the Via della Croce. The stall on the corner sold good fruit and great liquorice.
To Come in Rome #4:
- Trajan’s Forum and market
- The Palatine Hill
- The Forum
- The Mamertine Prison (oops no – sorry closed!)
- 10 euro lunch
- Villa Borghese
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