A day in Rome, Italy

The ship arrived in Civitavecchia, Italy, a little before 6am.  I left for a day-long tour (about 11 hours) in Rome soon after our arrival.  This is my second visit to Rome, but it was about 11 or 12 years ago, and I wanted to refresh my memory of the major sites of the city.  The weather was perfect!

Here are a few of my photos from the tour today.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers represent major rivers of the four continents through which papal authority had spread at the time of construction (1651): the Nile representing Africa, the Danube representing Europe, the Ganges representing Asia, and the Río de la Plata representing America.

I always think about the “Umbrella Pines” in Rome.  Stone pines have been used for their edible pine nuts.



Here's a photo of the Roman Colosseum.  It could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.

The Arch ofConstantine is situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. It was erected by the Roman Senate in 312.

Here I am inside the Roman Colosseum.  I'm glad I didn't have to act as a gladiator.

Artists are displaying their work on the square of the Fountain of the Four Rivers.

  Here are the guards (Italian soldiers) outside the Italian Senate.

Some group is always protesting in Italy.  This is a police group protesting across the street from the Italian Senate.

Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Some of the sculptures within the Pantheon.

One of the alters within the Pantheon. 

Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.  Here's the tomb of the painter Raphael.

Two kings of Italy are buried in the Pantheon: Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I, as well as Umberto's Queen, Margherita.  This is Margherita's grave that is being guarded today.

Here's the Trevi Fountain that is being restored.  I'm glad I saw it in the past in it's glory.

The view from St. Peter's Square.

A view of St. Peter's Basilica from the square at the Vatican.

The upper floor of this building hold the papal apartments.  Pope Francis says it's too fancy and has chosen not to live here.

Here I am at the Vatican.  I'm standing in St. Peter's Square outside the basilica.

The marble in the church is beautiful and covers floors and walls.

St. Peter's Basilica was designed principally by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini,

The Pietà by Michelangelo is in the north aisle.  It is protected by a clear barrier.

The artwork is not a painting, but a mosaic of marble in various colors.

Several popes who have been named saints are on display in the church.

A statue of St. Peter is here and you can follow the tradition of rubbing his feet to let him know you'll see him one day.

The Swiss Guard, with their colorful uniforms  are responsible for securing the Vatican.