I love this weeks Edtopic of favourite city, as set by @mypathtofire ! For me it was quite difficult to choose from two cities that I really love - Edinburgh, where I live, and then Rome, in Italy. But I plumped for Rome !
[View looking down the Tiber to Castel Sant Angelo]
I've only been twice - once in 2006 during my honeymoon, and then again last year in October. All the pics in the post today are from our trip in October.
For me its all about the history of this incredible city. Its so old, that it seems to stretch back to the beginning of time (or atleast very memorable human time), and has fantastic wonders all over it, that are so old, thats its mind boggling to think they were built so long ago. Take the Portico d'Ottavia, in the pic above as an example. In any other city it would be major attraction. In Rome, its just another item, of thousands like it - but 2200 years old in the second century BC - and still looking fantastic !
The Pantheon, above, is my fav building ever (and I'm very much into architecture). Weighing in at 1900 years old, its still a functioning church and has the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world - how the heck did they build that 1900 years ago ???
And thats the view from the inside - just look at it ! I absolutely love the fact that the centre of the dome is open to the air. If it rains, then it rains inside ! And you can see pigeons flaying in and out when you are there !
Its impossible not to visit the Colosseum when in Rome (construction completed in 80 AD - 1940 years old). It could hold 50000+ spectators !
And inside its an absolute wonder of engineering - especially the arena basement, with its various rooms, lifts, cages, etc for all the fighters and animals, etc. Absolutely amazing !
Wherever you go there is just stunning things to see - like in the pic above, which is just one of the many statues lining the Ponte (bridge) Sant Angelo (built in 134 AD ??? and still in use today !!!).
And if that bridge wasnt old enough, how about this one, the Ponte Fabricio, built in 62 BC (2080 years old) and still in everyday use ! Yes, I'm sure its had the odd repair - but bloomin heck ! Thats getting your monies worth !
The Vatican is also an incredible building complex, with St Peter's Basilica, the colonnades around it and the lovely fountains. Although we are not very religious, we even managed to go there on sunday morning and catch the Pope giving a service. It was an incredible thing to witness, with thousands of people assembled to see him.
Rome is truly a city of fountains ! There are hundreds - just everywhere. The one above is on the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II (Italy's first King).
The monument (above) is in the centre of the city, and also gets called the Wedding Cake ! You can see why ! Construction of this finished in 1935 - so fairly new for Rome !
And now that we have mentioned fountains - how about the Trevi fountain. It has to be the most awesome fountain on the planet ! Its just gorgeous !
It attracts a crowd at any time of day. So many people chuck coins into it for luck, that they have to turn it off and drain it very regularly just to get it all out.
Heres another fine fountain. The Fontana dei Fiumi (17th century) in the centre of the Piazza Navonna ! Incredible workmanship !
Another fav of mine from the last visit, is the Theatre of Marcellus (above) or mini-colloseum as some call it. Built around 12BC, so 2030 years old. Then additional apartments were built on top of it in the 16th century (the residence of Orsini) - and people still live in it today ! Imagine that - "Where do you live", "Oh, just in a 2000 year old Roman theatre" - absolutely nuts !
Above is the Castel Sant Angelo, and a cheeky seagull ! We never visited it the first time, but made our way inside this time.
What I was shocked to find out about it, is that the castel is actually built on top of the Mausoleum of Hadrian (which you can see above) - built 139 AD. You enter the castle via the Mausoleum and then climb your way up to the castel above. In the mausoleum, it just felt old - like you were at the dawn of time (or atleast it did to me). They then kept on building on top of it over the next 1500 years or so, until you see what we have today !
The Palatine Hill is an amazing place, with its vast amount of palaces, temples and ruins - like the Stadium above.
Above is the Temple of Vesta (left) and one of the many palaces (right) also up on the Palatine Hill. There is so much to see across this site, that its just mind boggling - too much to take in, in one day.
Thats the Arch of Titus (81 AD), above, also on the Hill, and one of a number of arches in the city.
I could simply keep going - there is just so much to see, and I'm sure I havent even seen remotely half of it !
[Statue of an Elephant carrying an Obelisk in the Piazza della Minerva, with the Pantheon in the background]
Even as I was leaving Rome, I was already thinking about when I would return - and I will, I have to !
[Grand statues on the Capitoline Hill, at the Campidoglio - a square designed by Michelangelo !]
Looking back through these pics now, is really lifting my mood and bringing back all the wonderful memories of the time we had there. And again, getting me thinking about when we can go again !
Another Egyption Obelisk, the Flamino Obelisk - this time in the Piazza del Popolo - brought to Rome by Augustus in around 10BC, and it must have already been old then !
And yet another obelisk, in the Piazza della Rotonda, in front of the Pantheon.
[Piazza del Popolo in the early evening]
Its just an awesome city, as said, its my fav - and I must make it back at some point ! Thanks for such a great topic @mypathtofire - I've loved making this post !!!
[Symbol of the holy roman empire - on a mosaic on the floor of the Chiesa Valdese di Roma, in Piazza Cavour]
[Column of the Immaculate Conception - lit up beautifully at night]
[Basilica of SS. Ambrose and Charles on the Corso]
(View to the Captoline Hill - with typical Stone Pines, beautiful trees which can be seen all over Rome]
