A full day on the scooter. The roads of Rome were not designed for tiny scooter tires, you could feel each and every bump.
We started at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. This huge basilica is a blend of Baroque, Renaissance, and Romanesque architecture. The church was built in 356 when Pope Liberius had a dream in which the Virgin told him to build a church on the spot where he found snow. When it fell in August, in the middle of a baking summer, he naturally obeyed.
We started at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. This huge basilica is a blend of Baroque, Renaissance, and Romanesque architecture. The church was built in 356 when Pope Liberius had a dream in which the Virgin told him to build a church on the spot where he found snow. When it fell in August, in the middle of a baking summer, he naturally obeyed.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr
The Church of San Prassede was beautiful- filled with Byzantine mosaics. It was build by Pope Paschal II in the 9th century. In the Chapel of St Zeno, there is part of a column brought back from Jerusalem. It is supposedly the one to which Christ was bound and flogged.
The Church of San Prassede was beautiful- filled with Byzantine mosaics. It was build by Pope Paschal II in the 9th century. In the Chapel of St Zeno, there is part of a column brought back from Jerusalem. It is supposedly the one to which Christ was bound and flogged.
Photo Courtesy of Flickr
The Museo Nazionale Romano was closed – a meeting of the local Rome officials. So, we headed off to the two places everyone must visit when in Rome (although, it’s hard to understand why!) – the Trevi Fountain
The Museo Nazionale Romano was closed – a meeting of the local Rome officials. So, we headed off to the two places everyone must visit when in Rome (although, it’s hard to understand why!) – the Trevi Fountain
and the Spanish Steps.
We fortunately found a quiet little restaurant on a side street to have a quick bite of lunch.
From there, we headed to the Etruscan Museum in the Villa Giulia. The villa was built as a country retreat for Pope Julius III. Since 1889, is has housed the Museo Nazionale Etrusco, with pre-Roman antiquities from central Italy. The Etruscans built a center of civilization in the area roughly between present-day Bologna and Rome along the Tyrrhenian Sea from the 9th to 4th century BC. They were among the first inhabitants of Rome. The most famous of the collection is the Husband and Wife sarcophagus. It’s a touching piece from the 6th century BC showing a dead couple embracing each other in an eternal banquet.
We ended the evening at the Campo de Fiore, watching the people parading around the square.
From there, we headed to the Etruscan Museum in the Villa Giulia. The villa was built as a country retreat for Pope Julius III. Since 1889, is has housed the Museo Nazionale Etrusco, with pre-Roman antiquities from central Italy. The Etruscans built a center of civilization in the area roughly between present-day Bologna and Rome along the Tyrrhenian Sea from the 9th to 4th century BC. They were among the first inhabitants of Rome. The most famous of the collection is the Husband and Wife sarcophagus. It’s a touching piece from the 6th century BC showing a dead couple embracing each other in an eternal banquet.
We ended the evening at the Campo de Fiore, watching the people parading around the square.
Photo courtesy of Flickr
Scala Reale had recommended a typical Roman dinner experience at Antica Taverna, so we made reservations and grabbed a wine at the café across the square. The owner had a huge dog- named Caesare ( a great name for a dog!)
Dinner was a 4 course extravaganza. We had antipasta, olives and pasta and meat courses with free flowing carafes of wine.
Scala Reale had recommended a typical Roman dinner experience at Antica Taverna, so we made reservations and grabbed a wine at the café across the square. The owner had a huge dog- named Caesare ( a great name for a dog!)
Dinner was a 4 course extravaganza. We had antipasta, olives and pasta and meat courses with free flowing carafes of wine.
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