Rome II - The redux
Apr. 11th, 2007 08:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mistletoeIs it just me or do I spend most of my time at the dentist? I was there again today to re-enact that scene from The Boys from Brazil and have my mouth seen to by the seriously sadistic hygienist. I have to drink carefully now.
Anyway, on with the show as we hit Wednesday of last week.
Up to question 88 on the quiz. Man U won the second leg 7 - 1 last night by the way. Only 24 arrests. They now have to play Milan. Oh dear. Italy again. Liverpool play Chelsea again in the other semi. Chelsea have not conceded a goal in the Premier league since they played Liverpool and the last time they played in Europe Chelsea were robbed. Should be a cracker!
Anyway, on with the show as we hit Wednesday of last week.
Up with the bells at 8.30. The nearby church rings them every morning. In the evening it played Ave Maria (Immaculate Mary). The hotel Nova Domus provides a full breakfast and I mean full although the scrambled egg is totally solid amd the bacon a kizzened lump that you have to pick at. However, we get filled up for the day and set off on a mixed programme of ancient Rome and churches.
On to the Metro with our three day ticket and out at Repubblica with its fountain disguised as a roundabout. My attempt to take a photo of the saucy nymphs is baulked by a white van so we struggle across three roads towards a church that turns out to be Santa Maria Delangeli, an unexpected delight. Sadly no photographs. It is built to a design by Michaelangelo over the remains of Diocletian's baths, now reduced to a floor and a bit of wall in the Sacristy, but the church is worth the sacrifice as it is a wonder of bright marble and absolutely huge. The unexpected treats include a modern glass cupola donated by the church in Baltimore which was absolutely beautiful and cunningly designed to not only symbolise the name of the church but also the ascent from earth to heaven. There was a gap before the brick of the tower as a mark of respect to the Roman brick.
In addition, much of the floor was taken up by an astrological calendar which was used to regulate the time in Rome until the 19th century. The constellations were marked as were key dates such as the solstice, equinoxes and Easter. The passage of the sun across the marble showed the time. Wonderful. Marble inlays showed the signs of the Zodiac down the side. I didn't look at Capricorn which is me.
Out and on down the street to Santa Maria Maggiore, which is one of the most important Papal churches having two tombs and a marble statue of one praying before the great relic of Christ's crib. But the church was gloomy and somehow disappointing even if Sixtus was there.
Moved on to St Peter in Vincoli which was shut for lunch. This was disappointing especially as I nearly fell down the steps after tripping over the disabled access ramp. Also, we had climbed up hundreds of steps to get there. Never mind. We decided to try again later on the way back. On down the steep hill on the other side, turn a corner and there it is: the Colosseum.
At this point things could have gone pear shaped.
a) Pat's camera stopped working
b) there were HUGE queues.
Feeling a little miffed we managed to get down to the outside where things took a turn for the better. A girl approached asking if there was just the two of us. Yes. Would you like to join a tour, have a guide who speaks English and miss out the queues?: Yours for 21 Euros each and you get to go up the Palatine hill and see the forum. Yes we replied. Money handed over. tickets given out. Can you fix my camera says Pat. I've got one the same the girl says. It'll be the batteries, which Pat had just changed. She put the original ones back in and it worked. On past all the queues, through the metal detectors and in, all in 5 minutes flat.
Inside, the place was getting titivated for Good Friday when the Pope does the stations of the cross there, so a good bit of what the guide said was drowned out by the strimmers. Anyway, lots of info about the 100 day long games; where the beasts and prisoners were kept and what the gladiator said to the emperor. Nothing like the film.
Rest for 40 minutes and then rendezvous with Lorenzo outside for a walk to the Palatine and the remains of the Imperial Palace. We had a trip round the Eros exhibition upstairs and to the loo before realising it was after 2 and we hadn't eaten. Fortunately there was a snack wagon outside and I really impressed the vendor by asking for two cheese sandwiches in Italian.
We sat on a wall to eat them. Three o'clock came round and there was Lorenzo. Our party had grown somewhat but undaunted we set off round the corner just as it started to rain. Being British Pat and I had our macs so we were ok. The entrance to the Palatine hill was a little confused because the newcomers didn't have tickets but it was soon sorted out and off we set up the steps.... and steps.... and steps..... and steps.... and steps. Finally we reached a small plateau where Lorenzo stopped so we could get our breath back and he could tell us the legend of Romulus and Remus which was obviously news to some people.
On to the ruined palace where he told us about the sumptuous mod cons of the Emperors which had all been destroyed when the city was sacked and the marble carried off to places like St Peter's. Recycling is nothing new. Finally to the Farnesi garden, a 16th century Papal addition so he could look out over Rome.
This was our view of the Forum.
Off again and the slope down was much better than the steps. We decided to call at St Peter in Vincoli on the way back to the Metro. Glad we did.
Moses by Michaelangel for tomb of Pius II. Also Leah and Rachel. Michaelangelo thought Moses looked so lifelike he is said to have struck it on the knee and say 'Now, walk!' The statue is also famous for having satyr horns thanks to a mistranslation of the Bible verse saying Moses had the light of the Lord around his head. The tomb is unfinished as he was called away to get on with the Sistine Chapel.
This is the reason for the church's name. These are the chains with which St Peter was bound in Jerusalem. This is just one of many stories of Peter associated with churches in Rome but this is the only one we saw. I nearly set my coat on fire with the candles while taking this picture.
Finally, a memorial I rather liked.
Long slog back to the Metro and then CHIPS at McDonalds before Roma v. Manchester Utd which we decided not to attend. Were we glad we didn't as it proved to be one of the most violent confrontations between fans and police in years which we watched on the telly. Man U lost 2 - 1 and Scholes predictably got sent off More on that tomorrow along with Keats, the American and me; Santa Maria in Trastevere and our first ice cream. Yawn.
On to the Metro with our three day ticket and out at Repubblica with its fountain disguised as a roundabout. My attempt to take a photo of the saucy nymphs is baulked by a white van so we struggle across three roads towards a church that turns out to be Santa Maria Delangeli, an unexpected delight. Sadly no photographs. It is built to a design by Michaelangelo over the remains of Diocletian's baths, now reduced to a floor and a bit of wall in the Sacristy, but the church is worth the sacrifice as it is a wonder of bright marble and absolutely huge. The unexpected treats include a modern glass cupola donated by the church in Baltimore which was absolutely beautiful and cunningly designed to not only symbolise the name of the church but also the ascent from earth to heaven. There was a gap before the brick of the tower as a mark of respect to the Roman brick.
In addition, much of the floor was taken up by an astrological calendar which was used to regulate the time in Rome until the 19th century. The constellations were marked as were key dates such as the solstice, equinoxes and Easter. The passage of the sun across the marble showed the time. Wonderful. Marble inlays showed the signs of the Zodiac down the side. I didn't look at Capricorn which is me.
Out and on down the street to Santa Maria Maggiore, which is one of the most important Papal churches having two tombs and a marble statue of one praying before the great relic of Christ's crib. But the church was gloomy and somehow disappointing even if Sixtus was there.
Moved on to St Peter in Vincoli which was shut for lunch. This was disappointing especially as I nearly fell down the steps after tripping over the disabled access ramp. Also, we had climbed up hundreds of steps to get there. Never mind. We decided to try again later on the way back. On down the steep hill on the other side, turn a corner and there it is: the Colosseum.
At this point things could have gone pear shaped.
a) Pat's camera stopped working
b) there were HUGE queues.
Feeling a little miffed we managed to get down to the outside where things took a turn for the better. A girl approached asking if there was just the two of us. Yes. Would you like to join a tour, have a guide who speaks English and miss out the queues?: Yours for 21 Euros each and you get to go up the Palatine hill and see the forum. Yes we replied. Money handed over. tickets given out. Can you fix my camera says Pat. I've got one the same the girl says. It'll be the batteries, which Pat had just changed. She put the original ones back in and it worked. On past all the queues, through the metal detectors and in, all in 5 minutes flat.
Inside, the place was getting titivated for Good Friday when the Pope does the stations of the cross there, so a good bit of what the guide said was drowned out by the strimmers. Anyway, lots of info about the 100 day long games; where the beasts and prisoners were kept and what the gladiator said to the emperor. Nothing like the film.
Rest for 40 minutes and then rendezvous with Lorenzo outside for a walk to the Palatine and the remains of the Imperial Palace. We had a trip round the Eros exhibition upstairs and to the loo before realising it was after 2 and we hadn't eaten. Fortunately there was a snack wagon outside and I really impressed the vendor by asking for two cheese sandwiches in Italian.
We sat on a wall to eat them. Three o'clock came round and there was Lorenzo. Our party had grown somewhat but undaunted we set off round the corner just as it started to rain. Being British Pat and I had our macs so we were ok. The entrance to the Palatine hill was a little confused because the newcomers didn't have tickets but it was soon sorted out and off we set up the steps.... and steps.... and steps..... and steps.... and steps. Finally we reached a small plateau where Lorenzo stopped so we could get our breath back and he could tell us the legend of Romulus and Remus which was obviously news to some people.
On to the ruined palace where he told us about the sumptuous mod cons of the Emperors which had all been destroyed when the city was sacked and the marble carried off to places like St Peter's. Recycling is nothing new. Finally to the Farnesi garden, a 16th century Papal addition so he could look out over Rome.
This was our view of the Forum.
Off again and the slope down was much better than the steps. We decided to call at St Peter in Vincoli on the way back to the Metro. Glad we did.
Moses by Michaelangel for tomb of Pius II. Also Leah and Rachel. Michaelangelo thought Moses looked so lifelike he is said to have struck it on the knee and say 'Now, walk!' The statue is also famous for having satyr horns thanks to a mistranslation of the Bible verse saying Moses had the light of the Lord around his head. The tomb is unfinished as he was called away to get on with the Sistine Chapel.
This is the reason for the church's name. These are the chains with which St Peter was bound in Jerusalem. This is just one of many stories of Peter associated with churches in Rome but this is the only one we saw. I nearly set my coat on fire with the candles while taking this picture.
Finally, a memorial I rather liked.
Long slog back to the Metro and then CHIPS at McDonalds before Roma v. Manchester Utd which we decided not to attend. Were we glad we didn't as it proved to be one of the most violent confrontations between fans and police in years which we watched on the telly. Man U lost 2 - 1 and Scholes predictably got sent off More on that tomorrow along with Keats, the American and me; Santa Maria in Trastevere and our first ice cream. Yawn.
Up to question 88 on the quiz. Man U won the second leg 7 - 1 last night by the way. Only 24 arrests. They now have to play Milan. Oh dear. Italy again. Liverpool play Chelsea again in the other semi. Chelsea have not conceded a goal in the Premier league since they played Liverpool and the last time they played in Europe Chelsea were robbed. Should be a cracker!
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Date: 2007-04-12 01:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-04-12 08:18 am (UTC)