When in Rome...

...take lots and lots and lots of pictures.

I tried to pick some of my favorites and still couldn't limit the pictures very well, so call this 'Part I' of the Roman Holiday Adventure.

We left Wednesday afternoon and stopped over in La Spezia, Italy, which is near the Cinque Terra, one of my most favorite European locations. My header picture is from there when we visited a year ago. Love it. Unfortunately, it was rainy Thursday morning, so all we did is drive by.

View of Riomaggiore, the Eastern most Cinque Terra town.

We arrived in Rome Thursday evening and took an evening walk down to the Colosseum, about 1/2 mile from our apartment.

The Colosseum at night. Amazing.


This is the Arch of Constantine, located next to the Colosseum. It is a triumphal arch commemorating Constantine's triumph in 312AD, making him the ruler of the western world. He attributed his success to a vision from God and made Christianity the official religion of the empire upon his return.

Friday we started our day by touring the inside of the Colosseum.

First view inside the Colosseum.

Under the floor of the Colosseum, where they kept animals and captives before bringing them up to fight.

They are rebuilding half of the floor of the Colosseum and also some seating in one section.

View from the upper level.

After the Colosseum, we headed over to the Roman Forum.

Palatine hill, the Emperor's Palace.

The Stadium on Palatine Hill.

Our oldest hiding in the Palatine buildings. They were getting pretty bored and tired at this point, so we played some hide and seek in the ruins.

'Sshhh Mom, don't tell.'

Arch of Titus, marking the defeat of Judaea in 70AD. The Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and returned to Rome with plunder from the temple and some 50,000 Jewish slaves who built this arch and the Colosseum.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. The pillars here are from 141AD, and the church behind was erected in 1601. Antoninus built this temple for his late wife, Faustina. It was rededicated to them both on his death.

We finished the Forum and walked up to Capitol Hill.

Such a jokester, that Kevin.

This is a fountain in front of the Capitol Hill.

From there we walked over to the Trevi Fountain.

Standing 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide, the Trevi Fountains is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome.

From the Trevi Fountain, we walked to our final site of the evening, the Pantheon.

Originally built as a 'temple of all the gods', in 27BC, rebuilt circa 125AD, the Pantheon is the oldest dome building still standing in Rome. The dome is 142 feet in diameter and from floor to the ocolus, the hole and sole source of light in the top of the dome.

The Pantheon has been used as a Catholic church since 609AD.

View of interior and original bronze door. We didn't have a chance to go in as they were having mass and the boys were expiring.

See? Expired.

I must admit this is a giant yawn, but it could be Piping.

Part II forthcoming...