Many have said that "Rome wasn't built in a day". But as you know, on this blog we like to be more specific than this, and can now reveal that Rome was built in 1,009,225 days. Amazingly, it is still being built.
We began our visit to the city of seven hills on Aventine Hill. The hill is full of churches, many of which are closed to the public. However, at the Knights of Malta Temple, you can get a pretty unique view by peeking through their keyhole.
We were overwhelmed from the very first moment in Rome by the amount of old things just lying around. So to convey this feeling, we have decided to overwhelm you with pictures, names and dates.
The river Tiber, with the Pons Aemilius on the left (2nd Century BC), Tiber Island in the centre and the Great Synagogue of Rome (1904 AD) visible on the right.
Ruins of the Theatre of Marcellus (13 BC)
The Pantheon (126 AD), originally a temple to all Roman Gods, converted into a christian church in 609 AD).
Some of the many fountains of Rome.
The Spanish Steps (1725 AD), the widest steps in Europe.
The view from the middle of said steps.
Trajan's Market (110 AD), possibly the world's oldest shopping mall.
Campo de' Fiori, built between the 15th and 21st centuries AD. Possibly one of the world's most current shopping areas.
Piazza Navona, built in the 1st century AD as a stadium, remodelled in Baroque style in the 17th century AD.
Rome is scattered with columns of columns and 11 Egyptian obelisks. Left to right: Column of the Immaculate Conception (1857 AD), Obelisk of Rameses II (Very Old BC) in Piazza del Popolo, Trajan's Column (113 AD), the Pulcino della Minerva (1667 AD / Very Old BC) designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Piazza de Popolo (1822 AD)
The Cloister of Michelangelo (16th Century AD) built within the Baths of Diocletian (306 AD).
Temple of Aesculapius (19th Century AD) within the Villa Borghese Gardens.
The gigantic Baths of Caracalla, completed in 217 AD. Incompleted over the following centuries.
The National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, first king of unified Italy, built in 1935.
Castel Sant'Angelo, originally the Mausoleum of Hadrian (139 AD), rebuilt as a fortress in the 14th century AD.
The most beautiful cities, towns and villages across Europe have been those where all the buildings conform to one style, colour or theme. The city of Rome completely defies this idea, triumphantly melding thousands of years of building and ruin, to sustain awe and beauty.
While all of the places mentioned above would surely be a highlight anywhere else in the world, in Rome they are eclipsed by the vastness of the ruins on Palatine Hill.
Beneath the hill, are the ruins of the Roman Forum, a place of public gathering, commerce, politics and worship
And of course, the Colosseum.
Known in antiquity as the Flavian Amphitheatre, construction began under Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD. He began the work with funds received from the looting of the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem two years earlier.
Holding up to 50,000 people it was used for hunting spectacles in the morning and gladiatorial battles in the afternoon.
As seen from Palatine Hill.
We hope you feel completely Romed out, as we did after four days. But in fact, we saw only a fraction of what Rome has to offer.
lovely photos guys :)
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