Rome: An Ancient Roman Holiday

It's the New Year 2012, here I am back to my travelling blog post again. This time in January, we are travelling to Rome, The Vatican, Florence and Venice! I would like to start our tour of Ancient Rome.  When my family and I were touring Rome, our Guide explained to us that Rome's history is divided into three: Ancient Rome, Imperial Rome and the Present Rome. Rome is the only City in the World known as the Eternal City as it has a History of over 2,000 years.   As William Shakespeare wrote in one of his famous plays, Julius Caesar: "Not that I loved Caesar less but that I loved Rome more." (Julius Caesar,Act III,Scene II, ).

Colosseo

An elliptical Amphitheatre in the centre of Rome  which started building in 79 AD and completed in 80 AD. This building is the largest in the Roman Empire as it can seat 50,000 spectators. It was the site of the famous Gladiator fights during that time of the Roman Empire. The Entrance Tickets above to the Amphitheatre.

The Colosseo is so huge that it is difficult to photograph the whole thing.  So we just settled to photograph sections of it.

Inside the Colosseo where the famous Gladiator fights occurred. Imagine this whole place filled with excited and cheering spectators to view the great fight of Man against Animals, usually a lion.  Presently, the Colosseo is the place where the Pope, on Good Friday has the "Way of the Cross" and on Black Saturday religious ceremonies that is leading to Easter Sunday.

Arco di Costantino

Arco di Costantino (The Arch of Constantine) is a triumphal arch in Rome situated between the Colosseo and the Palatine Hill. It signified Constantine's triumph over Maxentius in the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28,312 AD. It is said that this is the inspiration of Napoleon in building the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.

Fori Imperiali

Roman Forum is the Centre of the Roman Empire. Julius Caesar was the first to build a series of buildings in this area. It is the Centre of Government, Religion and normal life during the Roman times. It was built starting in 46 BC and until 113 AD. This whole sight was excavated as Rome was built in several layers. These are the buildings that are still intact in the 21st Century.

The Fori Imperiali. It is a huge Ancient Roman City that visitors can walk inside to see the Ruins. Imagine Julius Caesar governing from one of the Buildings surrounded by his Roman Senators and Romans watching them.  As you can see there were Churches as place of Religious worship, some Government buildings and some Monuments like another Arch in the distance.

"Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears;  I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." (Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene II).

The Fori Imperiali overlooking the Via Dei  Fori Imperiali, one of the Grand Boulevards in Rome leading to this site and the Colosseo.

Ancient Roman Buildings in the Palatino (Palatine Hill) which is connected to the Fori Imperiali.

Ancient Roman Wall

Rome during the Ancient times was surrounded by this Ancient Roman Walls to protect the City from invaders.

Pantheon

The Pantheon was built in 126 AD as a temple for Roman Gods. It was a Pagan temple before the whole of Rome converted to Christianity. Then became a burial site. It is now  a Consecrated Roman Catholic Church.

Here is a description of this Beautiful Building which is the World's largest unreinforced concrete dome: 
"The building is circular with a Portico of three ranks of huge granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered, concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 metres (142 ft). 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"  (Wikipedia)

Castel Sant Angelo

Castel Sant Angelo is located near The Vatican and beside the Tiber River. Built by Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD and 139 AD as a Mausoleum for himself and his family. Legend stated that St Michael Archangel appeared on top of the Mausoleum bearing a sword which symbolized the end of the Plague of 590. The Building is now a Museum. It was also depicted in the Dan Brown's movie "Angels and Demons" where he wrote that there is a secret passage for the Popes from the Vatican leading to the Castel Sant Angelo in case they will need to escape.

My friend and I visited the Castle all the way to the rooftop for a closer view of the St Michael the Archangel statue.

Ponte Sant'Angelo

This beautiful Walkway - Ponte Sant' Angelo. Also known as the Bridge of Angels crossing the Tiber River, connecting the other side of Rome to the Castel Sant Angelo.

My Photos of the Bridge of Angels taken from the Castel Sant Angelo.

Views  of the Vatican photographed from the rooftop of Castel Sant Angelo.


Bocca Della Verita

Place your hand inside the mouth while telling a lie and it will be bitten off! This sculpture is known as the  "Mouth of Truth."

 "La Bocca della Verità ( "the Mouth of Truth") is an image, carved from Pavonazzetto marble, of a man-like face, located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, Italy. The sculpture is thought to be part of a 1st century ancient Roman Fountain, or perhaps a manhole cover, portraying one of several possible pagan Gods, probably Oceanus. Most Romans believe that the 'Bocca' represents the ancient god of the river Tiber." (Wikipedia)


"When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome,
That her wide walls encompassed but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man." (Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene II)

The Eternal  City of Rome. Ancient and yet beautiful. Full of history, preserved over the centuries not only for the Romans but for the rest of mankind. I have visited Rome many times and it always fascinates me. It is  a beautiful and historical city. There are so many places to visit and capture in this beautiful city of Rome.

Historical Sources: Wikipedia