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Rome - the eternal city |
You have just landed in Rome, the eternal city of Italy, where you will find more lakes, castles, monuments, museums, churches and history than you can comfortably fit on a timeline. What will you do now? Perhaps you'd like to consider the following suggestions and look at some photos to help you decide. |
| Let's start with ... Castel Sant'Angelo which was once used as a prison, for defence purposes and as a sanctuary for various popes. It has a bridge in front with statues of angels spaced along either side of it looking like its guardians. |
Castel Sant'Angelo |
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St Peter's Square |
Feel like climbing some
stairs? Let's go to St. Peter's Square and even better - right into St.
Peter's Basilica (it's rather stunning in here) and take the lift that rises halfway up into the dome.
Now we see the stairs. The steep, spiral stairs that wind round and round
and round the inside shell of the dome and we keep on going until
breathless.
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St Peter's Square from lookout |
But look what we can see from the lookout at the top. On one side is a wonderful view over Rome and St. Peter's Square in the Vatican and on the other are the Vatican gardens and home of the Pope, with beautifully manicured lawns and greenery. It was worth it, wasn't it? Please try to steady yourself as you consider that one. Incidently, Michelangelo was one of the designers of the dome. |
The Vatican |
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Monument to Victor Emanuel |
The Monument to Victor Emanuel II (the first king of united Italy) in Venice Square contains Italy's tomb of the unknown warrior from the First World War. This monument, built from 1885-1911, is now home to an historical institute and museum. If you walk around to the side of the building and look along the Via dei Fori Imperiali, it's impossible to miss the Coliseum. |
| A ten minute walk or much longer if you want to look
at the Imperial Forums along the way and you're there. Nearby, a visit to
the Pantheon with its granite columns will reveal the tomb of the artist,
Raphael and other notable Italians. This temple was built for the gods
from 118 - 126 AD. The Roman Forum and various arches are also here e.g.
Constantine, Septimus Severus and Titus Arches.
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The Pantheon |
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Lake Bracciano |
There are so many other sights to
see in Rome and when you're finished a trip to the north west of Rome and the
Lake Bracciano region is a good choice. Look at how captivating the view
is of the lake and it's surrounding areas. Anguillara is a pretty spot and
well known town of this area.
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Orsini Odescalchi Castle |
The Orsini Odescalchi Castle is also somewhere interesting to visit in this part of the world. It has six towers, many halls, a secret garden and was built in the 15th century. Another castle, the Gandolfo Castle with its brightly clad guards in their striped regalia, is the summer residence of the Pope and the place he likes to take his breaks at. There are different educational functions held here too.
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Gandolfo Castle |
| Cerveteri has a museum with many ancient artefacts but is possibly better known for the Etruscan Tombs that were built here prior to 500 BC. They look the shape of igloos but have big domes of earth on bases carved from stone. I'm sure Charlton Heston would be grateful to the Etruscans as it was they who introduced the chariot to Italy. |
Etruscan Tombs |
