ROME Italy

Colosseum, Rome / G Sutton 2019

There's so much to see in Rome! On our first day we decided to see the Vatican, which we had not seen before so, today we decided to walk about the old city. We had seen many of the sites on a previous visit, but were glad to see them again.

We took a metro to the Colosseum station. And there it was--the Colosseum.
















Here's a look inside one of the archways of the Colosseum.






















Nearby there are arches celebrating military victories.














A considerable area of the old city has been excavated.




















Atop Capitoline Hill is the Piazza del Campidoglio--the seat of Roman government. The designer of the space was none other than Michelangelo. The Capitoline Museums are on the sides of the plaza. A statue of emperor Marcus Aurelius is on horseback in the centre.

Palazzo Senatorio

We roamed around and saw old churches everywhere. Sometimes you can find one that's not packed with selfie stick holders like this sixth century Church of San Giorgio near Palantine Hill.

Chiesa di San Giorgio al Velabro

And Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin

And across the avenue, was a nice place to take a break. On the left of the Boarium is a temple and to the right is the Fontana dei Tritoni built in 1715.

Fontana dei Tritoni

Nearby is the monument to King Victor Emmanuel II. He's the first king of modern Italy, which was unified in 1860.


















It seems obligatory to stop by the crowded Trevi Fountain (Trevi as in Tre Vias, three ways). The present fountain replaced an older fountain, which supplied fresh water. The designer was Nicola Salvi. Work began in 1732 and the fountain opened to the public in May 1762. The old god is Oceanus. In 2015, the fountain was restored after a cost of some 2 million euros.

Trevi Fountain 2019/ G Sutton

Here's the video version- can't believe I got so close given the crowds!

The Spanish Steps are another landmark--and another fountain. The steps rise from the Piazza di Spagna to the Piazza Trinita dei Monti and the Trinita dei Monti church. The "Spanish" name comes from the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. The lower fountain is Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Old Boat). Off to the right of the steps is a museum dedicated to the English poet, John Keats.




And a short video of the Spanish Steps and fountain ...

There is a Roman Castle, of sorts. The Mausoleum of Hadrian is also known as Castle of the Holy Angel (Castel Sant'Angelo). It was originally built in 123-139 CE and is on the bank of the Tiber River, which the Italians call Tevere.




The nearby Tiber River was a great place sit and rest on the wall.

Tiber (Tevere) River Rome

See the other cities we visited in ITALY

Connections

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ITALY A COUNTRY TOUR

My wife and I have visited Italy a few times in the past 20 years. Here's a list of some of the places we have seen. The posts listed below include some commentary, photos, and videos.

Click on the place names to see the photos and videos.

ASSISI   A beautiful city on a mountain side where St. Francis was born and buried. The basilica is known for its architecture and frescoes.

BURANO   A quiet island getaway with picturesque canals close to Venice.




CAPRI   Truly an island paradise with lots to do.




CINQUE TERRE   We visited two of the five villages along the magnificent Italian Riviera.




FLORENCE    "The Cradle of the Renaissance" Museums, art, medieval marvels, shops




GENOA   (aka Genova)   A seaside medieval city with an abundance of interesting art and architecture











MAGGIORE (LAKE)   A pleasant resort community










MILAN   Cathedral Square and Cathedral of Milan, Sforza Castle










PISA   The leaning tower and other buildings.





POMPEII   An incredible look at a Roman village preserved following the volcanic eruption of 79 CE.














RAVENNA    Known for its exquisite mosaics.








ROME   the heart of the ancient Roman Empire with so many things to see.





T

SORENTO   A beautiful resort community bustling with seaside loving tourists.




VATICAN   A small walled city-country with centuries of culture and religious art to appreciate






VENICE   Gondolas, canals, bridges, Murano glass, and so much more.




VERONA   A fascinating city with ancient roots and a famous Shakespeare connection.

GENOA Italy

We began our tour of Genoa (aka Genova) Italy with panoramic views of the city and coastline.

Next, we walked through an old city gate to view some of the World Heritage buildings. In addition to the artistic work in old buildings, we are taken back to an era when small shops served residents with fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and fish.  Here's a one-minute walking tour video.

Inside some of the old buildings are some amazing ceilings.

There's a replica of an old ship down the hill at the waterfront.

Our hotel was modern but, even though I like trains, the railway scene wasn't so attractive.

However, we were in a good location for restaurants, shops, and walking.

See the other cities we visited in ITALY

Connections

My Page    www.suttong.com

My Books   AMAZON     GOOGLE PLAY STORE

FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton

TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

PINTEREST  www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton

Publications (many free downloads)

     

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   (PhD)

     

  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton   (PhD)

Lake Maggiore Italy

Lake Maggiore is a resort village with luxury hotels and a variety of restaurants.

The hotel did indeed present very well with attractive common rooms, corridors, dining area, and grounds. The staff were friendly. Our beds were hard and the room too small and very noisy with a tiny TV and limited WiFi (which may not be a bad thing on holiday).

We did enjoy a fine meal at this restaurant.

If you aren't very hungry, a market serves well.

See the other cities we visited in ITALY

CINQUE TERRE Italy

Monterosso al Mare, Italy

Cinque Terre are a collection of five villages along the Italian Riveria. The seaside towns are marked by cliffs, beautiful waters, colourful buildings, and good food.

We began our tour by train from Spezia.

Spezia Railway Station

Cinque Terre Rail Service

Our first stop was Vernazza.

Vernazza Italy

The beach and seascape is at the end of the short hilly street lined with various shops and eateries.

The wave action was mesmerising until a pair of swimmers seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The caves along the shore add to the magical feel of the place.

I couldn't resist a video of the waves against the rocks.

Close to midday, we re-boarded the train for Monterosso

Cinque Terre Railway

Monterosso seems to have a wider vista as you look over the cliffs.

Monterosso al Mare Italy

Monterosso al Mare Seascape Italy

And another video of waves on the rocks.

We both agreed the lunch was one of the best meals we had in Italy.

Just sitting by the seaside was a perfect way to end the afternoon.

See the other cities we visited in ITALY

Connections

My Page    www.suttong.com

My Books   AMAZON     GOOGLE PLAY STORE

FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton

TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

PINTEREST  www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton

Publications (many free downloads)

     

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   (PhD)

     

  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton   (PhD)