Soleil & Michael’s Trip to Italy

Our Segway Tour of Rome

Yes, we look like dorks, but after a 9 hour flight you couldn’t ask for a better way to see the city

Circo MassimoWhen we heard we would see Circus Maximus we expected clowns and elephants, but all we got was a big hole in the ground. One of the oldest Roman arenas, Circus Maximus was built in 6th century BC , hosting chariot races for crowds of over 300,000.

A Keyhole View of Basilica di San Pietro

High on the Aventine Hill, via di Santa Sabina opens onto the quiet Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Bordered by a high wall, decorated with neoclassical obelisks and military trophies, it leads to a famous and fascinating broad wooden door.

Known affectionately by Romans as the “hole of Rome" its abiding attraction draws queues of visitors to this peaceable "out of the way" spot. No key is required: it is sufficient to put an open eye to the keyhole, and focus. With kaleidoscope charm, a vision of St Peter's dome perfectly in perspective, framed by the tops of trees in the foreground, opens up. Often wrapped in a thin mysterious mist, seems to stand at the end of the garden path, just beyond the door.

Castor and Pollux , also known as The Twin Gods, can be found at the Campidoglio , or Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. In the myth the twins shared the same mother but had different fathers which meant that Pollux was immortal and Castor was mortal. When Castor died, Pollux asked Zeus to let him share his own immortality with his twin to keep them together and they were transformed into the Gemini consstellation. The pair were regarded as the patrons of sailors, to whom they appeared as St. Elmo’s fire.

Castor Pollux

Soleil and I in Piazza del CampidoglioA few years after he arrived in Rome, Pope Paul III (Farnese) decided to reshape the Capitoline Hill into a monumental civic piazza; Michelangelo designed the project and his Piazza del Campidoglio is one of the most significant contributions ever made in the history of urban planning. The hill's importance as a sacred site in antiquity had been largely forgotten due to its medieval transformation into the seat of the secular government and headquarters for the Roman guilds, and it was in forlorn condition when Michelangelo took charge of reorganizing it as a dynamic new center of Roman political life. The project went forward in slow stages with many interruptions; little was built before his death in 1564. It was begun in 1538 and was not completed until the seventeenth century, but Michelangelo's original design is preserved in engravings from the 1560s by étienne Duprac.�

Bocca della Verità

“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 . 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.The most famous characteristic of the Mouth, however, is its role as a lie detector. Starting from the Middle Ages, it was believed that if one told a lie with one's hand in the mouth of the sculpture, it would be bitten off. The piece was placed in the portico of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin in the 17th century.

The Segway tour of the Foro Romano “The Roman Forum”

Soleil and I in front of The Tempio di Saturno (Temple of Saturn)

View of the Colosseum and the Forum from Monte Capitolino

The end of our Segway tour

The Colosseum or, The Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus with further modifications being made during Domitian’s reign (81–96).Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executionse, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

The Appian Way and the Claudius Aqueduct

The Appian

WayThe Via Appia, originally built in 312 BC, was the brainchild of Appius Claudius Caecus, the then-censor of Rome, who was known for organizing bold public works that helped make life easier for the people of Rome.

Appius Claudius’ most famous project was this road, which would eventually run all the way from Rome to the port city of Brindisi.

The Appian WayVery little of the original Appian Way still exists. The original large cobblestones have since been replaced with smaller cobblestones.

the Tomb of Ceclia Metella was erected in 50 B.C. The best of the Via Appia tombs is the resting place to the daughter-in-law of Crassus, a 1st-century BC land mogul and Julius Caesar's financier.

The Catacombe di San

CastillistoSited along the Appian way, these catacombs were built after A.D. 150. It takes its name from the deacon Saint Callixtus, proposed by Pope Zephyrinus in the administration of the same cemetery - on his accession as pope, he enlarged the complex, that quite soon became the official one for the Roman Church. The arcades, where more than fifty martyrs and sixteen pontiffs are buried, form part of a complex graveyard that occupies fifteen hectares and is almost 20 kilometers long. There are seven levels that go as deep at 40 meters below the surface. Some 500,000 people were buried in the catacombs.

The Catacombs of San Castillisto

The Aqueducts of Claudius

The Roman Aqueducts-

Aqua Claudia

Aqua Claudia was begun by emperor Caligula in 38 AD and completed by Claudius in 52. Its main springs, the Caeruleus and Curtius, were situated 300 paces to the left of the thirty-eighth milestone of the Via Sublacenis. After being in use for ten years, the supply failed, and was interrupted for nine years, until Vespasian restored it in 71, and ten years later Titus once more. The picture to the right was taken at the Parco degli Acquedotti.

The Aqueducts of ClaudiusYes, that is Soleil standing there.

This aqueduct was 69 kilometers long and moved almost 200,000 cubic meters of water a day

The Colosseo

Looking at the remains of the exterior portion of the Colosseum from the

inside. The exterior wall rose 158 feet. It measures 615 feet by 510 feet.

The ruins underneath the floor of the arena. The arena floor was made of wood, covered

with canvas, then topped with sand.

The Colosseum as seen from the Palatino (Palatine Hill)

The Colosseum at night

Arco di Constantin

o The Arch of Constantine (Arco di Costantino) is situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. It was erected to commemorate Constantine I’s victory over Maxentius at Ponte Milvio on October 28, 312.

Palatine HillPalatine Hill as seen from the

ColosseumPalatine Hill as seen from

Circus Maximus

The Stadium Of Domitian at Palatine Hill

Rome first became a city on the Palatine Hill on 753 B.C. It later became a place where palaces were built by the many emperors and the rich lived. On the Palatine hill, you will find mostly ruins of palaces and homes of the rich.

Foro Romano

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is located in a valley that is between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill. It originally was a marsh, but the Romans drained the area and turned it into a center of political and social activity. The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic center. It was expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts.

The previous slide is the Temple of Saturn, erected to honor the agricultural deity Saturn.

To the right is Temple of Vespasian (left), the Arch of Septimius Severus (right), and the Church of Saints Luca and Martina (center)

The Roman ForumTemple of Antoninius and Faustina. The ground was even with the green door before excavation

Temple of Castor and Pollux

The Roman ForumThe altar of Divus Julius where Julius Caesar was cremated Ruins of the Basilica Aemilia

The Churches of Rome

Basilica di Santa Maria

MaggioreSanta Maria Maggiore is a patriarchal basilica dedicated to the Blessed Vvrgin Mary. The basilica is also known as Basilica Liberiana after the founder, as Santa Maria della Neve (Our Lady of the Snow) after a miracle associated with it; and as Santa Maria ad Praesepem from the relic of the crib (presepio).

The first church here was founded in the 350's by Pope Liberius, and financed by a Roman patrician and his wife. They were childless, and had decided to leave their fortune to the Blessed Virgin. She appeared to them in a dream and told them to build a church in her honour. It lies on the summit of the Esquiline Hill, which was mainly laid out as gardens in ancient times. Legend claims that the plan of the church was outlined by a miraculous snowfall in August (possibly in 358).

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

Statue of Ave Regina PacisBeneath the altar is the confessio

with a kneeling statue of Pope Pius IX

Basilica di Santa Maria MaggioreThe Renaissance ceiling of Santa Maria Maggiore

Church is gilded with gold from Columbus' new world journey

The high altar of this Patriarchal basilica is a papal altar, used only by the pope himself, or a priest given

specific permission by him

Basilica di Santa Maria MaggioreAn Obelisk of Augustus behind the

basilicaThe 14th century campanile, or bell

tower, is the highest in Rome, at 240 feet

San Giovanni

in Laterano

Dedicated to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the Basilica of St. John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the first among the four major basilicas of ROme It is also the cathedral of the bishop of Rome, the Pope, and is thus known as Omnium urbis et orbis Ecclesiarum Mater et Caput: "Cathedral of Rome and of the World." Built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century, San Giovanni in Laterano was the first church to be built in Rome.

San Giovanni in LateranoLooking at the altar from the

entrance of the basilicaThe Pope's cathedra, or

Episcopal throne

San Giovanni in LateranoScala Santa. The steps that led up to the praetorium of Pontius

Pilate in Jerusalem, which Jesus Christ stood on during his Passion on his way to trial.

The 13th century Benedictine Cloister in the monastery

San Giovanni in LateranoA view of one of the chapels in the

basilica Statue of Constantine outside the basilica

Santa Maria Sopra

MinervaThe only Gothic church in Rome, the Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Basilica of St. Mary over Minerva) is so named because it was built directly on the foundations of a temple to Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.

Just behind the Pantheon is the Piazza della Minerva, whose focal point is an endearing sculpture of a cheery baby elephant carrying a small Egyptian obelisk on his back. It was sculpted by Bernini in 1667. It is said to represent Pope Alexander VII's reign and illustrate the moral that strength should support wisdom.

Santa Maria Sopra Minerva

The starry blue vault of the naveThe façade of the church with Bernini’s

obelisk

Santa Maria Sopra MinervaShrine to the Virgin Mary The candles of the high altar

Santa Maria della Concezione Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII, whose brother, Antonio Barberini, was a Capuchin friar. In 1631, the Capuchin friars - so-called because of the "capuche" or hood attached to their religious habit - left the friary of St. Bonaventure near the Trevi Fountain and came to live at the Santa Maria della Concezione, of which only the church and crypt remain. They were ordered by the Pope's brother to bring the remains of the deceased friars along with them to their new home, so that all the Capuchin friars might be in one place.Rather than simply burying the remains of their dead brethren, the monks decorated the walls of the crypts with their bones as a way of reminding themselves that death could come at anytime; one must always be ready to meet God. A plaque in the crypt reads: "What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be."In 1775, the Marquis de Sade wrote of it, “I have never seen anything more striking.” Granted, the crypt was to his tastes. Mark Twain wrote about it in his 1869 book Innocents Abroad. When Twain asked one of the monks what would happen when he died, the monk responded, "We must all lie here at last." And lie there they do.

Santa Maria della Concezione While disturbing, it was a fascinating

sight to beholdThe altar of Santa Maria della

Concezione

The Panthe

onThe Pantheon is a magnificent ancient temple in Rome that was later converted into the church of Santa Maria ad Martyres. Dating from 125 AD, this is the most complete ancient building in Rome and one of the city's most spectacular sights. Until the 20th century, the Pantheon was the largest concrete structure in the world. Michelangelo studied its great dome before starting work on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. The Pantheon was dedicated to pan theos, "all the gods." When it became a church, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs. The Pantheon is the burial place of several important Italians (including the artist Raphael), and it remains an active church.

The PantheonThe Macuteo Obelisk built by Rameses II. Moved to the front of the Pantheon by Pope Clement XI in 1711 over a fountain by Filippo Barigioni.

One of the many beautiful statues in The Pantheon

The PantheonThe tomb of Rafael The tomb of Umberto I

Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is a large landscape garden in the naturalistic English manner in Rome, containing a number of buildings, museums (see Galleria Borghese) and attractions. It is the second largest public park in Rome (80 hectares or 148 acres) after that of the Villa Doria Pamphili. The gardens were developed for the Villa Borghese Pinciana ("Borghese villa on the Pincian Hill"), built by the architect Flaminio Ponzio, developing sketches by Scipione Borghese, who used it as a villa suburbana, a party villa, at the edge of Rome, and to house his art collection. The gardens as they are now were remade in the early nineteenth century

Temple of Diana

Villa BorgheseThe Temple of Aesculapius Statue of Umberto I

Villa BorgheseSoleil in our rented Risciòs, a great way

to see Villa Borghese Fontana dei Cavalli Marini

Ostia Antica

Ostia Antica

Ostia Antica is a large archeological site that was the harbor city of ancient Rome, which is approximately 30 kilometers (19 mi) northeast of the site and close to the modern town of Ostia. "Ostia" in Latin means "mouth". At the mouth of the River Tiber, Ostia was Rome's seaport, but, due to silting and a drop in sea level, the site now lies 3 kilometers (2 mi) from the sea. The site is noted for the excellent preservation of its ancient buildings, magnificent frescoes and impressive mosaics.

A view of the Barracks of the Vilgiles from the top of the theater

Ostia AnticaThe inscription originally placed at the

main gate The Mill of Silvanus

Ostia AnticaThe Baths of Neptune The mosaic floor in the baths

Ostia AnticaThe Cardo Massimo The Capitolium

Ostia AnticaSoleil and I decided to become a part of history

Ostia AnticaTempio di Cerere at the Plaza of the

GuildsEven ancient roads made of stone can have

ruts. A result of many a chariot riding by

Ostia AnticaThe Domus of Amor and Psyche

A statue of Amor and Psyche

Ostia AnticaTabernae of the Fishmongers

A mosaic fish on the floor of the fishmonger

Ostia AnticaA fresco painting of a charioteer in the

House of Charioteers The Baths of the Seven Sages

Ostia AnticaThe Baths of Porta Marina The mosaic floor in the baths

Ponte Milvio

The bridge was built by consul Gaius Claudius Nero in 206 BC, after he had defeated the Carthaginan army in the Battle of the Metaurus. In 115 BC, consul Marcus Aemilius Scaurus built a new bridge made of stone in the same position, demolishing the old one. In AD 312, Constantine I defeated his stronger rival Maxentius between this bridge and Saxa Rubra, in the famous Battle of Milvian Bridge.

In late 2006, the bridge began attracting couples, who use a lamppost on the bridge to hang padlocks as a sign of their love. The ritual involves the couple locking the padlock to the lamppost, then throwing the key behind them into the Tiber. The ritual was invented by author Federico Moccia for his popular book and movie "I Want You".[

After April 13, 2007, couples had to stop this habit because that day the lamppost, owing to the weight of all padlocks, partially collapsed. As a replacement, a web site has been created allowing couples to use virtual padlocks. From July 2007, for people in love, it's possible to hang padlocks again thanks to steel columns put by the mayor.

Ponte MilvioNighttime along the Tiber River

The chains and columns holding the padlocks. These line the bridge, with thousands upon

thousands of padlocks

Ponte MilvioTossing two of the three keys into the Tiber

River. The third hangs on Soleil’s purse. Our padlock

Ponte MilvioSomeday we will go back and see if we

can find our padlock Soleil and I on the Ponte Milvio

Florence & Bomarzo

Florence, or Firenze in Italian, lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the richest and wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.Bomarzo is a town and comune of the province of Viterbo in the lower valley of the Tiber. Bomarzo's main attraction is a garden, usually referred to as the Bosco Sacro (Sacred grove) or, locally, Bosco dei Mostri ("Monsters' Grove"), named after the many larger-than-life sculptures, some sculpted in the bedrock, which populate this predominantly barren landscape.

il Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo

When Giulia Farnese died, her husband Prince Pier Francesco Orsini called upon architect Pirro Ligorio to create a "Villa of Wonders" in homage to her. He completed the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Rome after the death of Michelangelo and built Villa d'Este in Tivoli. The gardens were created during the 16th century.[1] They are composed of a wooded park, located at the bottom of a valley where the castle of Orsini was erected, and populated by sculptures and small buildings divided among of the natural vegetation. The park's name stems from the many larger-than-life sculptures, some sculpted in the bedrock.

Some call it the Ogre or the Door of Hell

il Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo

Soleil being attacked. Oh the horror! The early sea god Proteus

il Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo

Dragon Mermaid Echina

il Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo

Hannibal's elephantLions

Florence

The Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore (also known simply as the Duomo) is the cathedral of Florence known for its distinctive Renaissance dome. Its name ("Saint Mary of the Flower") refers to the lily, the symbol of Florence. The impressive Gothic cathedral complex includes the Duomo, the famous baptistery and a campanile.

The cathedral, the third to be built in Florence, was built on the site of the previous one, Santa Reparata, prompted by the magnificence of the new cathedrals in Pisa and Siena. It was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1294 to be the largest Roman Catholic church in the world (although the design was later reduced in size), with the first stone being laid on September 8, 1296.

The Duomo Shadow of the Battistero di San Giovanni

(Baptistery of St. John) on the basilica Giotto's Campanile

The Duomo The dome of the Duomo, as seen from

the streets of FlorenceThe neo-gothic façade in white, green and

red marble

The Duomo A view of Florence from the top of the

Duomo

The Duomo Soleil and I at the top of the Duomo. If you don’t like heights, hate enclosed spaces, or have a

hard time climbing stairs, I would advise against making this climb. If you can, it’s a beautiful view.

The Duomo Vasari's fresco of “The Last Judgment” on the inside of the dome. It was begun in 1572, and

completed by Federico Zuccari“Hell”

This fresco is considered one of Zuccari's greatest work.

The “Incident” in Florence

Our first day trip with a car was to Bomarzo and Florence. For those who have the time, we will give you the entire story of how nothing went right, from getting the rental car to getting back to the hotel. This photo represents the spot where we were stopped in the car by the Carabinieri. We were trying to get to the Duomo and in fact, were Soleil is standing is the start of the Piazza del Duomo. Little did we know that we were driving on a pedestrian walk. That explained all the people walking in the street that wouldn’t move for us. Soleil did a great job of driving BACKWARDS to get us to a street were we could actually drive. We apologized profusely , luckily avoiding a ticket. This was our “Dumb American Tourist” moment.

Statues in the Piazza del Repubblica

Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii

Mount VesuviusMount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano on the Bay of Naples. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years, although it is not currently erupting. Mount Vesuvius is best known for its eruption in AD 79 that led to the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The towns' locations were eventually forgotten until their accidental rediscovery in the 18th century.The eruption also changed the course of the Sarno River and raised the sea beach, so that Pompeii was now neither on the river nor adjacent to the coast. Vesuvius has erupted many times since and is today regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the population of 3,000,000 people living nearby and its tendency towards explosive (Plinian) eruptions. It is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world

Mount VesuviusLooking down into the volcano

Standing on top of the lower rim of the volcano, looking across to the other side

Mount VesuviusAnother great view, but be ready to do a

lengthy hike to the topOne of many lizards scurrying across our

path

Pompeii Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried town-city near Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD. The eruption buried Pompeii under 4 to 6 meters of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1,600 years before its accidental rediscovery around 1592. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire.

PompeiiOne of the many stray dogs living in the

ruined city Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus- an

ancient snack bar

PompeiiTerme Suburbane- Suburban baths Columns in the Foro

Pompeii’s Garden of the Fugitives

The Garden of the Fugitives is one of the most moving areas in Pompeii. Here, thirteen hollow spaces were found in the hardened layers of ash and volcanic debris. These spaces were filled with plaster and quickly became the statues of thirteen people--the largest number of victims found in one site.

SorrentoSorrento is a small town in Campania, on the southern coast. The town is a popular with some 16,500 inhabitants. It is a popular tourist destination which can be reached easily from Naples and Pompeii. It sits among the cliffs, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Sorrento is famous for the production of limoncello, a digestif made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar.

SorrentoOne of many lemon trees throughout the

town A hot hazy day on the Tyrrhenian Sea

Tivoli

TivoliTivoli is situated on the Aniene river to the east of Rome, in the Monti Tiburtini hills where the climate is fresher than Rome's. For this reason, the area was popular from ancient times onwards with Rome's moneyed classes, who built summer retreats in the area. As the town was on a major trading route from Rome to the Abruzzi, Tivoli has always been an important settlement.

Villa D’EsteThe Villa d'Este in Tivoli, with its palace and garden, is one of the most remarkable and comprehensive illustrations of Renaissance culture at its most refined. Its innovative design along with the architectural components in the garden (fountains, ornamental basins, etc.) make this a unique example of an Italian 16th-century garden. The Villa d'Este, one of the first giardini delle meraviglie, was an early model for the development of European gardens.

Villa D’EsteThe Rometta Fountain The Fountain of Neptune

Villa D’EsteThe Fountain of Diana of Ephesus, or Goddess of Fertility

Villa D’EsteThe Hundred Fountains

One of the faces within the Hundred Fountains

Villa D’EsteStatues located near the Rometta Fountain

Villa D’EsteThe Fountain of Neptune with the Organ Fountain in the background

Parco Villa

Gregoriana

The villa is located in Tivoli (Italy). The park was commissioned by Pope Gregory XVI in 1835 to rebuild the bed of the Aniene river, which had been damaged by the terrible flood of 1826. It had fallen into rack and ruin by the end of the 20th Century, but has been reopened to the public in 2005, thanks to a major landscape recovery project orchestrated by the FAI, the Italian National Trust. The Parco Villa Gregoriana are mainly thick woodlands with paths that lead to the caves of Neptune and the Sirens, which form part of a series of gorges and cascades, and to the Great Waterfall. The whole is overseen by the acropolis with Vesta and Tiburno's temples

Parco Villa GregorianaThe Great Waterfall The Bernini Waterfall

Parco Villa GregorianaOne of the many villas in the hills across

from Gregoriana Gregoriana is in a gorge, so there were

many ups and downs

Parco Villa GregorianaThe Temple of Vesta, which sits atop the Acropolis in Tivoli, overlooks the Parco

Villa Gregoriana

Parco Villa GregorianaDoing the standard poses in front of the Great Waterfall

The Vatican

The VaticanThe history of the Vatican as a papal residence dates from the 5th cent., when, after Emperor Constantine I had built the basilica of St. Peter's, Pope Symmachus built a palace nearby. The pope usually resided in the Lateran Palace until the “Babylonian captivity” (14th cent.) in Avignon, France. After the return of the papacy to Rome (1377) the Vatican became the usual residence. The Renaissance popes, principally Sixtus IV, Innocent VIII, Alexander VI, Julius II, Leo X, and Clement VII, were great patrons of the arts, and it was they who began to assemble the great collections and to construct the wonderful galleries. Gregory XIII and Sixtus V spent huge sums on the Vatican and also began the Quirinal, a palace that served as the papal residence from the 17th to the 19th cent., was the Italian royal palace from 1870 to 1946, and is now the home of the president of Italy.

Cortile della PignaThe bronze pine cone in the Cortile della

PignaSphere Within Sphere by Pomodoro in the

Cortile della Pigna

The Vatican Museum

The Vatican Museums, which occupy much of the Vatican Palace, contain some of the world’s greatest art collections. The history of the museums goes back to 1506, when Pope Julius II, pursuing the ideals of the Renaissance, began to collect ancient works of art. The collections were increased over the centuries from the territories of the Papal States. Works of art presented to the Popes, and items related to the work of the Roman Catholic Church . In addition there are works of art created specifically for the Vatican Palace., including the paintings in the Sistine Chapel and Stanze di Raffaello.

The Vatican MuseumOne of the few statues in the world still

left with the glass eyes Diana of Ephesus

The Vatican MuseumAlthough it appears to be raised, this is

actually just a painting on the ceilingOne of hundreds of statues in the

museum

The Vatican MuseumOne of many ornate ceilings in the

museum Part of a painting in the Gallery of Maps

Gallery of TapestriesThe tapestries in the Vatican Museum were designed by Raphael and are hung in the Sistine Chapel during conclave. These two depict the birth and resurrection of Jesus

Christ.

The Rafael Rooms

The four Stanze di Raffaello ("Raphael's rooms") in the Palace of the Vatican form a suite of reception rooms, the public part of the papal apartments. They are famous for their frescoes, painted by Raphael and his workshop. Together with Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, they are the grand fresco sequences that mark the High Renaissance in Rome.The Stanze, as they are invariably called, were originally intended as a suite of apartments for Pope Julius II. He commissioned Raphael, then a relatively young artist from Urbino, and his studio in 1508 or 1509 to redecorate the existing interiors of the rooms entirely.

Right: Plato & Aristotle from the School of Athens

“The School of Athens “ in the Room of Segnatura

The School of Athens in the Room of Segnatura

Heraclitus (Rafael painted the face of Michelangelo in the fresco as a tribute, saying his talent put him in the same class as the other great minds in the painting.

Diogenes, a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic philosophy

“The Fire of Borgo “ in the Room of The

Fire in Borgo

“Cardinal and Theological Virtues and the Law “ in the Room of Segnatura

Sylvester Stallone in the early years

Cappella Sistina“The Sistine Chapel”

“The Last Judgment” “The Creation of Adam”

Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Chapel. The work was completed between 1508 and 1512. He painted the Last Judgment between 1535 and 1541, on commission from Pope Paul III Farnese

Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano

Basilica Papale di San

Pietro in Vaticano

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter officially known in Italian as the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St. Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world"[and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".In Catholic tradition, the basilica is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession.

Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano

The Holy Door, or Porta Sancta. It is one of four doors opened during Jubilee years, when pilgrims enter through

those doors to gain the plenary indulgence connected with the Jubilee.

Maderno's nave

Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano

The altar with Bernini's baldacchinoThe dome was brought to completion by

Giacomo della Porta and Fontana

Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano

La Pietà, sculpted by Michelangelo Unknown statue

Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano

A statue of JesusPope Pius XII

Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano

Bernini's "Cathedra Petri" Porphyry Baptismal Font

Piazza San PietroA view of St. Peter’s Square. By standing at this point in the square, the columns line up perfectly. Each column has three more behind it.

Soleil standing in front of one of the matching Bernini fountains and the Egyptian obelisk from the Circus of Nero.

Piazza San PietroThe Papal Swiss Guard, bodyguards to the

Pope since 1506 The Egyptian obelisk

Piazzas e Fontane di Roma

Piazza BarberiniThe Fontana del Tritone or Triton Fountain

(1642-3) sculpted by BerniniUntil the 18th century, unknown human corpses

were displayed here for public identification

Piazza di SpagnaThe Spanish Steps are a set of steps in Rome, Italy, climbing a steep slope between the

Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the church of Trinità dei Monti. The Scalinata is the longest and widest staircase in Europe

Piazza di SpagnaThe Spanish Steps from the Via dei Condotti. Via

Condotti is a center of fashion shopping in Rome Column of the Immaculate Conception, erected in 1857. The Virgin Mary sits atop the column

Piazza del

Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is close to Piazza di Spagna and is remarkable because of the twin churches that stand on the either side of the Porta del Popolo. Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli churches were designed by Carlo Rainaldi and commissioned by Pope Alexander VII in 1658. They were built in the Neo classical style.

The obelisk at the center of the square commemorates the conquest of Egypt by Augustus in 10 BC. The Egyptian obelisk was moved from its original place at Circus Maximus by Pope Sixtus V in 1589.

The Egyptian obelisk of Ramesses II from Heliopolis

Piazza del Popolo

The "twin" churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto (left, built 1662-75) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (right, built 1675-79)

Piazza del PopoloFontana del Nettuno

“The Fountain of Neptune”At a local café on the edge of

the piazza

Piazza NavonaThe Piazza Navone is one of the most famous and arguably the most beautiful of Rome's many squares. The large and lively square features three magnificent fountains and the baroque church of Sant'Agnese in Agone.

The square is built on the former Domitian's stadium, built by emperor Domitian in 86 AD.

The square can been seen in Angels and Demos, Catch-22, and the 1990 adaptation of Coins in the Fountain.

Piazza NavonaNeptune Fountain The Piazza looking north

Piazza NavonaLa Fontana del Moro“The Moor Fountain”

One of four tritons in the fountain

Piazza NavonaChurch of Sant'Agnese in Agone

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi “Fountain of the Four Rivers”

Piazza Campo

dei FioriCampo de' Fiori is located in the heart of the historic center of Rome and close to the Jewish Ghetto and Piazza Navona.

This piazza itself holds a daily fresh food and flower market daily and is lined with cafes and trattorie where you can sit and watch the Romans at work and enjoy buying the delicious local produce to create wonderful meals in your own kitchen.Piazza Campo de' Fiori is a popular spot for people to hang out to admire wonderful Renaissance and Baroque buildings, street artists, musicians and poets.

Piazza Campo dei Fiori

Nothing special about this photo, but I thought it was unique Herbs and spices for sale in the Piazza

Piazza Campo dei FioriFontana dellaTerrina

“The Soupbowl”A view of the piazza and the statue of

Giordano Bruno

Piazza Colonn

aPiazza Colonna is a piazza at the center of the Rione of Colonna in the historic heart of Rome. It is named for the marble Column of Marcus Aurelius which has stood there since 193 CE. The bronze statue of Saint Paul that crowns the column was placed in 1589, by order of Pope Sixtus V.

The fountain in the Piazza (1577) was commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII from Giacomo Della Porta who was assisted by Rocco De Rossi. In 1830 it was restored, and had two sets of dolphins, with tails entwined, sculpted by Achille Stocchi.

Piazza Colonna

Fontana di Trevi

Fontana di Trevi

The Fontana di Trevi or Trevi Fountain is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome.

In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by Bernini was halted a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban VIII. Salvi based his theatrical masterpiece on this design. Construction of the monumental baroque fountain was finally completed in 1762.

The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows Agrippa, the general who built the aqueduct that carries water to the fountain.

The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain.

Fontana di Trevi

The seahorses of Trevi Fountain, representing the restive and the obedient seas

The Sites of ItaliaThe Wall of Rome near Villa

BorgheseThe Monument of Victor Emmanuel II, with

remains of the Forum in the foreground

The Sites of ItaliaArea Sacra di Largo Argentina is the site of

the assassination of Julius Caesar

Cats of the Area Sacra di Largo Argentina. The site is a cat sanctuary, with about 250 felines

roaming the site.

The Sites of ItaliaHairpin turns at Vesuvius and we have to

come upon this messOne of the many many tiny cars that roam

the streets of Rome

The Sites of ItaliaIf it wasn’t shoes it was purses. Soleil looked

at thousands before finding the right one The evening sky over Rome

Our Italian Diet: Gelatto and Pizza

The end of our journey

We hope you enjoyed seeing our photos. We tried to pick pictures that best represented all the sites that we saw while on our honeymoon. We took about 1700 photos during our trip, so you can imagine how hard it was to pick the right ones. Italy is a beautiful place and should be experienced by all.

Michael & Soleil