What can we tell you about Rome that you don’t already know? Rome may be the “Eternal City” but we would enjoy it much more if it was air conditioned. It is very hot (in the high 80’s with high humidity) and the group is slowing down after 28 days on the tour. But, this city is amazing.
Just a little history: As with the Moses fable, the infant brothers Romulus and Remus were placed in a basket and put into the Tiber River expected to disappear. They didn’t. Flood waters washed them in the marshy area that later became the Forum. After a she-wolf suckled them to keep them alive, a shepherd adopted and raised them on the Palatine Hill. Later, Romulus killed Remus and became the first “King” of the Romans. More likely, Rome began when the Etruscans from the north near Florence settled here on the Tiber River. Later, the locals (the Romans) rose and warred on the Etruscans driving them out. Rome rose up to be the world’s greatest empire connected by the first “highway” system, the Appian Way. So, which story do you like the best?
Rome enjoyed a Republic from 500 BC to 1 AD and was an imperial dictatorship thereafter ultimately ruling 54 million people peaking with the “Pax Romana” (“Roman Peace”) which lasted from 1 AD until 200 – 250 AD. Rome by then a city of one million people was the greatest on earth. In 300 AD, Rome had 46,000 apartment buildings, 2,000 large houses and 1,000 public buildings. However, Rome ultimately collapsed with decadent within and attacked by barbarians from without. Imperial Rome’s attempts to extend its rule further into Northern Europe were halted and the Barbarians (foreigners) attacked. Over time, they drove the Roman Legions back. The Visigoths attacked Rome in 410 AD. Attila the Hun attacked in 450 AD. The Vandals in 455 AD. By then, the Emperor had fled to Constantinople and the big Empire had contracted to nothing. By 476 AD, Rome was sacked for a final time by the Germanic Chief Theodoric. Rome was reduced to a village where just 10,000 people lived in mud huts amidst the remaining ruins that had resisted the considerable destructive talents of the Barbarians.
Late in the life of the Roman Empire (about 313 AD) a military commander named Constantine thought he saw a vision of a cross before a great battle in which he was trying to seize power. He also heard someone say “By this sign you will rile and conquer.” Well, he won the battle and became Emperor and credited Christianity for his victory nd Christianity was off to the races. Ending three centuries of Roman persecution, Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 AD. Before that date, you were killed for being a Christian. After that, you were killed for not being one. Religion and government is always confusing. The Church prospered and later rose to replace the Empire. Emperors became Popes and Pagan temples became Catholic churches.
In 800 AD on Christmas Day, the Pope crowned Charlemagne (Charles the Great) as the First Holy Roman Emperor, although as Voltaire quipped, his Empire was never holy and not Roman except in allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church and hardly a real empire. (I guess Voltaire could see through the “smoke and mirrors.”) That’s enough history for today. Now, on with the pictures.
The Tiber River which runs through Rome
City streets are very narrow and a filled with hundreds of scooters, tiny cars and tour buses.
The Trevi Fountain was completed in 1762 and here is some of our tour group already hoping to return to Rome. Yes, you can toss a coin in the fountain to assure that you will return to Rome.
Here is the Piazza Di Spagna and the famous Spanish Steps. The Steps were named for the Spanish Embassy which has been there for 300 years. The English poet Keats died in 1621 in the house at the foot of the Steps.
Jack and Nancy in front of our hotel. We have a lovely suite that is situated on one of the hills of Rome, The view at night is incredible.
We had one of the world’s most exclusive tours. Bill arranged a private tour called Behind Closed Doors Visit to the amazing Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. Usually there are hundreds of people in the Sistine Chapel during your visit but on this special night, it was just the 40 of us. What an experience! We were able to see many rooms that are not open to the general public such as where the new pope goes to change clothes after he is selected pope. We all laughed to see that there is a “fainting couch,” computer and fax machine and, well hidden, an antique toilet pot. We could go on and on about the experience but I think you would rather see the pictures.
Here is a picture of Jack and Nancy with their hosts Bill and Michelle Lerach all dressed up ready to go to the Vatican.
Here is the public entrance to the Vatican. Off to the side is the Private Gates where our group entered.
Our tour started in the Museo Pio Clementino which is the home to the Pope’s collection of magnificent Greek and Roman statues.
Here are a few views of the Vatican grounds.
The ceilings and floors throughout the Vatican are incredible. Here are a few examples:
I saw these keys laying on a table. Very tempted to see what other doors I could open since many of the guards were all leaving as we arrived for our tour.
Almost every room that we visited was decorated from floor to ceiling such as this room.
For Jean’s friends who are following this blog, here is a picture of Jean and Jack.
The Sistine Chapel is beyond description. There the Cardinals are sequestered to elect the Pope. Michelangelo frescoed the ceiling and the huge “Last Judgment Wall.” It is incredible.
Here is a picture of Jack, Nancy, Ken and Trish Sutton for their friends who are following this blog
We finished the tour with a candle light dinner on the terrace overlooking the papal gardens and St. Peter’s.
Three more days in Rome and lots more to tell you but it is too late and we need to get our sleep.
Jack and Nancy
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