| Castel
Sant'Angelo National Museum: Built, as was the Elian bridge in front, by
the Emperor Hadrian (117-138) as a Mausoleum for himself and his
successors, it was completed by Antoninus Pius in 139. In 271, the Emperor
Aurelian incorporated the pile into the defence system he designed: it
lost its function as a tomb to become a fortress. In 1277 it was occupied
by Nicholas II who connected it to the Vatican by the famous corridor, a
safety passage which runs along the top of the encircling wall of the
Vatican. Hencefort, it remained under the control of the Popes who used it
as a fortress, to impress, but also as a prison and a place for torture. |
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Apparently the guy who made a living for decades
from emptying the ''Fontana di Trevi'' fountain of it's coins, in the middle of the night, has been
put in prison recently
The fountain was built by the architect Salvi
(1735) in the time of Clement XII, and decorated by several artists of
Bernini's school. It is the front of a large palace (Palazzo Poli)
decorated with statues and bas-reliefs on heaps of rocks.
The fountain is not only celebrated for its excellent water but for the
legend that whoever drinks it or throws a coin in the fountain, will
assure his return to Rome.
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Whilst doing the
tourist stroll, we turned a corner and were confronted by Peace Protestors
and Riot Police. The Peace Rallies took place across all of
Europe, protesting against the invasion of Iraq.
The Vittoriano, built for Vittorio Emanuele II of
Savoia, first king of Italy. The project started with G. Sacconi in 1885
and was completed in 1935. The "Altare della Patria" (the
central part of the monument) opened in 1925. There was buried the Unknown
Warrior, symbol of all people dead during First World War. The style of
Vittoriano follows Greeks and Latin criteria.
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No protestors here - just a nice bridge to some
gardens |
The constant reminder of death throughout the
city was presumably to remind you to pay to stay out of hell whilst still
alive.
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The Vatican had an interesting Jolly Roger theme
throughout.
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...There be Pirates...
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Death, again!
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The
Pantheon: The inscription on the architrave of the portico "M.
Agrippa L. F. Cos tertium fecit" refers to a temple erected by
Agrippa in 27 B.C. to the tutelary divinities of the Julia family. In
reality Agrippa's building was destroyed by a great fire in A.D. 80.
Recent studies have proven that the present Pantheon is a reconstruction
of the temple from the time of Hadrian.
The interior measures 43,40 metres in diametre, and the same in height.
Light and air still enter through the opening at the top (a circle of 8m.
92cms in diameter). |
Early Pet Shows often resulted in the loss of
human life. Get here after 10.a.m and you will be queuing for hours
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| The
Roman Forum was the centre of the civic and economic life of Rome in the
Republican era and kept its prominent role even in the Imperial age. The
monumental complex lies between the Capitol, the Imperial Forums, the
Colosseum and the Palatine. |
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The Colosseum: The original name for
the Colosseo is the Anfiteatrum Flavium. It was built by emperor
Vespasiano and inaugurated in 80 A.D. In ancient times it was the site of
the "Naumachie" or navy-battles, the "Munera" or
gladiator-fights,and the "Venationes" or wild animal-hunts. It
could hold up to 87.000 people. |
This is a reference to
Pope Alexander VII's reign and is supposed to illustrate the fact that
strength should support wisdom. |
Exclusive carp fishing spot for kings and bishops
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There is one of these
in every European city - first time I've seen one with a crucifix on top
though
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Santa Maria Degli Angeli: This fine
basilica was built among the ruins of the baths of Diocletian. In 1561,
Antonio del Duca obtained from Pope Pius IV a consecration of the grounds
to the angels. Michelangelo was given the task (according to the legend)
of designing this church dedicated to the many thousands of Christian
martyrs who built the baths. |
This was in the Vatican. This was spooky.
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Checking to see if his
towel needs to go in the wash...
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Crypt in St Peters Basilica
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Touch the toe
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The Swiss in their jolly pirate outfits
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St Peters Square
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This is the view of Rome from the Hilton Hotel.
The Vatican can be seen on the right.
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Pirate 2nd class (no cross bones)
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| The CIA
website tells us: Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the
Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th
century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united
Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed
when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of
"prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three
Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City
and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a
concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier
treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the
Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious
freedom, international development, the Middle East, terrorism, the
failing health of Pope JOHN PAUL II, inter-religious dialogue and
reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid
change and globalisation. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the
Catholic faith. |
