Rome, Italy

 Rome or Roma by locals is a very special city in Italy.It is also the capital of Italy as well as the region of Lazio. Rome is the only city in the world to contain in its interior a whole state(or country); the enclave of Vatican City. Rome's history spans more than two and a half thousand years, since the founding in 753 BC. Rome is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. It is sometimes referred to as "The Eternal City" and  in ancient world it was successively the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of Western civilization.

According to the founding myth of Rome, the city was founded on 21 April 753 BC by twin brothers Romulus and Remus, who descended from the Trojan prince Aeneas and who were grandsons of the Latin King, Numitor of Alba Longa. King Numitor was deposed from his throne by his brother, Amulius, while Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, gave birth to the twins. Because Rhea Silvia was raped and impregnated by Mars, the Roman god of war, the twins were considered half-divine.The new king feared Romulus and Remus would take back the throne, so he ordered them to be drowned.A she-wolf (or a shepherd's wife in some accounts) saved and raised them, and when they were old enough, they returned the throne of Alba Longa to Numitor. The twins then founded their own city, but Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel over the location of the Roman Kingdom, though some sources state the quarrel was about who was going to rule or give his name to the city. Romulus became the source of the city's name

I took a short flight from Athens, Greece to Rome Italy.In order to stick to my budget, i took a public bus from  the airport to the main city town center called Termini station I was very impressed as the Bus had wifi which was shared with passengers and it cost just 5 euros.

I stayed in a wonderful Bed and Breakfast located in a nice neighborhood and managed by Damiano Mele. The host -Damiano was very nice, pleasant and respectful of my privacy. the location was very close to the city center with only 3 train stops to attractions like the Coliseum, Roman forums etc

I recommend buying the Roma Pass in order to fully enjoy the treasures of Rome and skip the long lines at the Vatican,  Sistine Chapel and the  Vatican museums, Coliseum, Roman Forum and other main attractions.  The Roma  card cost 90 Euros (or $122).It is worth spending the money to get the Roma card because you get alot for the value and the most value is skipping the long lines at the Vatican and Coliseum!!!!!!!!  Without the  Roma pass, you need to be at either of the mentioned locations by 8 am or 9am to get in the venue within a decent time frame.


Adventures
There are tons of places to visit in Rome, however here are a few places  visited on my trip

Coliseum
The Roman Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, was commissioned in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian. It was the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheater in the world. In the year 2007, the Colosseum was ranked among the new seven wonders of the world. It represents a great work of architecture and engineering and it is the symbol of Rome and the city’s magnificent history. In ancient times, Gladiators fought battles with both beast and man at this theater with the winner often killing his opponent and cheered by the spectators.

Today the Coliseum is of  Rome's most popular tourist attractions and has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.

The Coliseum

Inside the Coliseum

Panoramic View of  inside the Coliseum

Some items found and kept at the Coliseum

Arch of Constantine

Also known as Arco di Costantino a 25m high monument built in AD315 to mark the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at Pons Milvius. it is located in front of the Coliseum

Roman Forums
The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) was the central area of the city around which ancient Rome developed. This was where commerce, business, prostitution, cult and the administration of justice took place. Space where religious activities were conducted and the communal hearth of the city. The Roman Forum became the spectacular showcase of the Roman Empire filled with beautiful statues and architecture.

The main sight of the Forum include the Arch of Titus (Arco di Tito), the Temple of Saturn, Temple of Vesta, and the church of San Luca e Martina. These are all linked by the Sacra Via, the main road through the Forum.

Ruins of the Roman Forum

The Pantheon
It is one of the best-preserved of all Roman buildings. It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" but informally known as "Santa Maria Rotonda. The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest reinforced  concrete dome

The Pantheon

Inside the Pantheon

 Trevi Fountain
The Fontana di Trevi - or Trevi Fountain in English -is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and the most beautiful in the world.A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured to return to Rome

The Trevi Fountain

The Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps (Italian: Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) are a set of steep 137 steps connecting  the Piazza di Spagna(square) at the base and the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. The Scalinata (steps) is the widest staircase in Europe. At the foot of the Spanish Steps lies the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square). The long, triangular square is named after the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. In the 17th century, the area around the embassy was even considered Spanish territory. In front of the Spanish Steps stands  the Early Baroque fountain called Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the ugly Boat"), built in 1627-29

The Spanish Steps

The Capitoline Museums
Dating back to 1471, the Capitoline Museums (Musei Capitolini), the world's oldest national museums, houses one of Italy's finest collections of classical sculpture. The museums consist of 3 buildings located opposite each other in the same complex. The museums' collection has grown to include a large number of ancient Roman statues, inscriptions, and other artifacts; a collection of medieval and Renaissance art; and collections of jewels, coins, and other items. The museums are owned and operated by the municipality of Rome. The museums are built on the Capitol Hill.

Entrance to the Capitoline Museums

Some items inside the  Capitoline Museums

Castel Sant'Angelo
This Fortress was built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian (AD130-139), but it has also been a prison and a papal residence. It was used by former Popes who absconded there for protection in times of danger. There has been a covered passageway which still connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican.  Today the fortress is currently a national museum and houses the The National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo
At the top of the fortress, overlooking the panoramic terrace, stands a statue of an angel, built by the 18th century Flemish sculptor Pieter Verschaffelt. The statue depicts the archangel Michael who, according to legend, appeared on top of the fortress in the year 590 and miraculously ended the severe plague that had infested the city of Rome. After the event, the building was renamed Castel Sant'Angelo - literally translated 'Saint Angel Castle' - in honor of the archangel.

Castel Sant'Angelo

Inside Castel Sant'Angelo

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is covered in Renaissance art. The Sistine Chapel is built within the Vatican between 1477 and 1480 by Pope Sixtus IV after whom it is named, and was painted at the commission of Pope Julius II. The chapel is the location for Papal Conclaves and many important services.The ceiling paintings depicts stories from the bible and most famous painting on the wall called the Last judgement located on the sanctuary wall was completed by Michelangelo.
Unfortunately, no one is allowed to take pictures at the Sistine chapel and this policy is heavily enforced by the several guards located inside the Sistine chapel to fend off tourist taking pictures.  Below is the image in front of the door of the Sistine chapel as well as the long hallway to get to the Sistine chapel. There is always tons of folks looking to see the Sistine chapel and I advise to go early to beat the crowds form the tourist companies

Entrance and hallway in to the Sistine Chapel

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums is one of the most important Museum complexes in the world housing very important masterpieces from the Egyptian Age to late Renaissance located in the Vatican City. The museums were visited by 4,310,083 people in the year 2007. The Vatican Museums broke attendance records in 2011 with just over 5 million people in attendance.

Entrance of the Vatican Museums

Some items located inside the Vatican Museums

Vatican Museum Square/Park

The Vatican Church( St Peter's Basilica)

The Vatican church also known as St Peter's  Basilica is located in the Vatican City. The  Vatican Church is also  located in the same vicinity of St Peter's square. The Vatican  church also houses the bodies of the late Pope's and St Peter basilica is situated inside the church ( it is also the burial site for  St  Peter).

St. Peter's is famous as a place of pilgrimage, for its liturgical functions. Because of its location in the Vatican, the Pope presides at a number of services throughout the year, drawing audiences of 15,000 to over 80,000 people, either within the Vatican Basilica, or in St. Peter's Square

Vatican Church/ St Peter's Basilica

Panoramic View of the St Peter's Basilica

St Peter's Square

Inside the Vatican Church

Entrance into the Museum of St Peter located inside the Vatican Church

Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland)

The Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II) or "Il Vittoriano" is a controversial monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy, located in Rome, Italy. It occupies a site between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill.The base of the structure houses the museum of Italian Unification.In 2007, a panoramic elevator was added to the structure, allowing visitors to ride up to the roof for 360 degree views of Rome.

Altare della Patria