Europe 2007 – 6/27/07 – Rome. Click here for pictures.
We woke up early this morning to beat the crowd to some much needed photo-ops. First the Trevi Fountain, but unfortunately the fountain was turned off and being cleaned. We still managed to get a few pictures while dodging the cleaning men. We could not use our tripod because the police stopped us. We walked on to the Spanish steps and they too were also being cleaned. Again, we managed to get a few pictures by avoiding the cleaners.
After our photos, we walked to our favorite supermarket to get breakfast and a snack for lunch. Then we got on the Metro to go to the National Museum of Rome. It takes awhile to get there and it was somewhat difficulty to find. Once located, we find that they are closed due to a water problem (this is not our lucky day). We quickly re-organized and walk to a nearby branch of the National museum to the Baths of Diocletian. Included in this is a church which is the actual location of the baths. We decide to visit the church first.
Inside, we first notice the different shape of this church’s layout. The cross seems to be in the opposite direction of what it should be. This is due to renovating the church to make room for the busy square outside. The other neat thing about this church is that it has a calendar built into the floor which tells time based on a small hole in the wall where sunlight can get in.
After the church, we walk over to a small room called the Octagonal Room. In the floor of this room are the only remains of the bath’s structure. There are also a few statues that decorated the baths. Most are now damaged because they were destroyed by Barbarians.
The last stop in the triad of Baths is the branch of the National museum called the Baths of Diocletian. This was not very interesting – it basically had more statues from the baths. I was a little disappointed because I thought we would get to see the actual bath houses.
Next we boarded the metro, followed by a bus, to go to the Appian Way. This is a very old road that led to the east. We stopped at a small church along this road called “Que Vadis.” Peter, while trying to flee Roman persecution, met Christ in this church, and Peter asked him, “Where are you going?” Jesus’ response was “back to Rome to be crucified again.” Peter took this as a sign that he should go back to Rome to face persecution.
Once we left the church we started walking toward the catacombs. It was about a 30 minute walk along a narrow street, by the end we wished we had waited for the bus. Once we arrived, we were very disappointed to see that they were closed for lunch and would not reopen for 2 hours. Again, we quickly developed an alternative plan.
We boarded the bus and drove all the way back to the Baths of Carcalla. These baths were huge and actually had some of the infra-structure remaining. We ate a quick snack under a tree and toured the ruins. Thee wasn’t a lot to see, but it was a quick activity while waiting of the catacombs to open.
Again we boarded a bus and headed back to the catacombs. This time we took the bus all the way instead of walking. We waited for the next English speaking tour and then proceeded down into the catacombs. It was very dark and cold. There are tons of rows and columns in these toms, but no bones are present. There are Christian symbols present (fish, doves) throughout the tombs. This area was meant for Christians, because Romans cremate their dead.
Our tour guide briefly tells us about St. Sebastian for whom this particular catacomb is named. There are over 100,000 tombs here. The church above the tombs was named for San Sebastian and there is now a memorial in is honor and his tomb is now upstairs in the church. It was originally buried with all the other bodies in the tombs.
One more trip on the bus to get back to the metro. We continue along on the metro to south Rome and board a smaller train on the Ostia Antica. This is the site of the original colony of Rome. It is located on the Tiber and was a huge port- Rome’s major port until it because to small. It is a short walk to this site. Once we arrive we start exploring the many ruins to be seen here. There are apartments, temples, trading areas, and government buildings. There are also catacombs here. It takes us a long time to get through this well-preserved city. We spend so much time amongst the ruins that we only have a few minutes to look inside the museum. Right before they close, Shawn runs back out to the ruins to take a picture of their bathroom. This was a neat place to spend the afternoon.
It takes about 45 minutes to get home. We walk to the same restaurant that we ate at last night. Shawn gets the veal with tomato sauce while I get the cheese ravioli. We also share a margarita pizza. Finally we walk over to the internet café to email the family, and then end our night with gelato. Shawn gets a lemon melody while I get chocolate, white chocolate, and caramel. Tomorrow will be our last day in Rome.