May 24, 2009 - Rome the Ancient Center

Of all the places I have been to, there is nowhere like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum where I feel totally immersed in history. I just feel completely transported when I visit these two sites. They are truly amazing! Vespasian's Flavian Amphitheatre was completed in 80 AD and is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture... and something that even today's stadiums are modeled after. The Colosseum held 50,000 spectators. It is said that over 500,000 people, and over a million animals died in colosseum games. The stories of the gladiators are very interesting.


This is the floor level of the Colosseum. This had a hard floor over the top and the wild animals were kept in the cages below. There were elevator systems that would bring the animals up to the floor where the gladiator waited for his fight.


It is hard to display just how big the Colosseum is. You must go if you haven't been. It is so fascinating.

Here is a shot of the Roman Forum. The history behind this area in Rome is incredible. Julius Caesar ruled here before he was assassinated in 44 BC and we were able to see the site where he was cremated. Excavations were ongoing but imagine just a few feet of those columns being visible in the 18 century!


I had set up a private tour guide for our day in ancient Rome with someone I met through the Trip Advisor. He was an American living in Rome and his level of knowledge in the history of ancient Rome was staggering. I set up everything we wanted to see before hand and he met us all inside our hotel lobby and we walked to most of the sites. It was one of the best days in Rome. Also one of the hottest!

Another ruin inside the Roman Forum.

San Giovanni in Laterano - The Pope's home church and the first Christian basilica allowed to be built within the walls of Rome. St. Peter's Basilica is the main church for Catholics, but this is the Pope's church. It is truly incredible. Across the street from this grand entrance is the Scala Santa (sacred stairs). The 28 stairs are said to be those that Christ ascended during his trial, and are supposed to have been brought from Jerusalem by the mother of Emporer Constantine. They were moved here and the devote Christians climb the stairs on their knees. The marble stairs are covered in wood to protect the marble, but there is plexiglass over the places so you can see, what is said to be, Christ's blood. Whether you believe it or not, it is very interesting.

This is the church, Saint Peter in Chains - San Pietro in Vincoli. This church is famous for two reasons. First because there is a case that displays the chains that supposedly held St. Peter in Jerusalem and also for the tomb that Michelangelo carved.

Michelangelo's Moses dates from 1515 and was supposed to be part of a 40 statue funeral monument for Pope Julius II. Michelangelo was pulled from this project to paint the Sistine Chapel.

The final end to our day was a dinner that I had arranged with all our cruise buddies that I had met online over the past several months. There were many of us staying in Rome pre-cruise and I arranged a dinner for 42 of us. I talked with several restaurant owners before I found the perfect place. I wanted someplace that was easy for everyone to meet. We had dinner at Tre Scalini in the Piazza Navona and it was such a great spot. It was so much fun to meet people that I had been talking with for months and months. It was a late late night. We partied at our hotel rooftop bar long into the night.... and tomorrow was going to be a BIG day! I couldn't wait!