Explore and Discover Rome - Day 01

City of Rome, Italy
09 May 2015

Explore and Discover CASTEL SANT'ANGELO | PIAZZA NAVONA | PANTHEON | TREVI FOUNTAIN | MONUMENTO VITTORIO EMANUELE II | COLOSSEO | PALATINE HILL.

On my first day in Rome, I started my journey on foot from near the Vatican City and move south-west to explore and discover seven spots that are very known to tourists, the amazing Colosseo included.

CASTEL SANT'ANGELO

Castel Sant'Angelo

I started navigating my direction towards the Pantheon from near Vatican City at 1336H. Before crossing the river on a scenic bridge full of tourists, I passed by Castel Sant'Angelo. It is a cylindrical structure surrounded with thick brick walls that appeared to be a fortress. It has similarity with the walls of Intramuros in Manila.

According to Wikipedia, The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant'Angelo (English: Castle of the Holy Angel), is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. The Castel was once the tallest building in Rome. Read more.

PIAZZA NAVONA

Piazza Navona

I had nice few shots of the Castle before crossing the bridge and continued my journey south-east of the Vatican City. I took Via dei Coronari and move east straight until I reached Piazza Navona at 1406H. Literally, Piazza Navona looked like Plaza Miranda in Quiapo. It is an elegant square dating from the 1st centruy AD with a classical fountain called Fountain of the Four Rivers, street artists, bars and the St. Agnes in Agony church.

According to Wikipedia, Piazza Navona is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones ("games"), and hence it was known as "Circus Agonalis" ("competition arena"). It is believed that over time the name changed to in avone to navone and eventually to navona. Read more

PANTHEON

Pantheon

I left Piazza Navonna and headed east onto Largo Costifuente towards the Pantheon. It is located along Piazza della Rotonda. At 1433H, I was standing right infront of the Pantheon, admiring its grandeur and architectural beauty. A pylon with a cross on top and a classical roman fountain is at the center of the square facing the facade of the Pantheon.

Oculus

As I entered the door, my attention was immediately captured by the beam of light coming from the oculus, a circular opening  9 meters wide at the top of the dome, illuminating the entire interior of the building.

The Pantheon is actually a church consecrated in 609AD with name of Santa Maria to the Martyrs.

According to Wikipedia, The Pantheon is a building in Rome, Italy, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) and rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian about 126 AD.

The building is circular with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 metres (142 ft).

It is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings. It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" (Latin: Santa Maria ad Martyres) but informally known as "Santa Maria Rotonda".

Altar

The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda. Read more

TREVI FOUNTAIN

Trevi Fountain

I headed north-east from Piazza della Rotonda towards Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain). I took Via del Semenario and straight onto Via dell' Umilta and then reached Piazza di Trevi where the famous fountain is located. I was at the Fountain of Trevi at 1526H.

When I reached the place, I didn't recognize that it was the Trevi Fountain as there are scaffoldings all around the place and there was no fountain. I learned from another tourist that the Trevi Fountain was undergoing a restoration process at that time. Nevertheless, I was facinated at the main facade. I could only imagine the beauty of the place when the restoration works are finally completed.

According to Wikipedia, The Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci. Standing 26.3 metres (86 ft) high and 49.15 metres (161.3 ft) wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. The fountain has appeared in several notable films, including Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, and is a popular tourist attraction. Read more

MONUMENTO VITTORIO EMANUELE II

Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II

I headed south onto Via della Pilotta and straight onto Via IV Novembre towards the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II. I reached the place at 1557H from the Trevi Fountain.

According to Wikipedia, The Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II) or "Il Vittoriano" is a monument built in honour of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy, located in Rome, Italy. It occupies a site between the Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill.

The eclectic structure was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi in 1885; sculpture for it was parceled out to established sculptors all over Italy, such as Leonardo Bistolfi and Angelo Zanelli. It was inaugurated in 1911 and completed in 1925.

The Vittoriano features stairways, Corinthian columns, fountains, an equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel and two statues of the goddess Victoria riding on quadrigas. The structure is 135 m (443 ft) wide and 70 m (230 ft) high. If the quadrigae and winged victories are included, the height is to 81 m (266 ft).It has a total area of 17,000 square meters. Read more.

COLOSSEO

Colosseo

From the Monumento, I moved south-east towards the Colosseo through Via dei Fori Imperialli. On my way to Colosseo, I noticed the Foro Traliano, Foro di Augusto and Foro di Nerva on the left side of the road and Foro di Cesare and the Palatine Hill at the right. I reached the Colosseum at 1628H.

I was completely amazed at the grandeur of the Colosseo as I approached the building. For a while, I stood at the shade of a nearby tree marvelling at the great roman structure before my very eyes. I attempted to get a ticket to get inside the Colosseo however, the queue was too long so I decided to come back the following day. Instead, I explored the Palatine Hill.

Colosseo Interior

According to Wikipedia, The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium; Italian: Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and stone, it is the largest amphitheatre in the world, and is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering.

The Colosseum is situated just east of the Roman Forum. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD, and was completed in 80 AD under his successor and heir Titus. Further modifications were made during the reign of Domitian (81–96). These three emperors are known as the Flavian dynasty, and the amphitheatre was named in Latin for its association with their family name (Flavius).

The Colosseum could hold, it is estimated, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.

In 2007 the complex was included among the New7Wonders of the World, following a competition organized by New Open World Corporation (NOWC). Read more.

PALATINE HILL

I bought a ticket for 12Eur to visit the Palatine Hill. I started exploring the place at 1653H.

The Ruins

According to Wikipedia, The Palatine Hill (Latin: Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus; Italian: Palatino) is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. It stands 40 metres above the Forum Romanum, looking down upon it on one side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other. It is the etymological origin of the word "palace" and its cognates in other languages (Italian "Palazzo", French "Palais", German "Palast", etc.). Read more.

Finally, I got exhausted because of the intense heat and I decided to get back to Vatican City for a dinner at 1713H. I took a Bus #64 just infront of the Monumento. This bus travels direct to Vatican City.

Palatine Hill

After having a nice Pasta breakfast at a nearby cozy Italian restaurant, I decided to walk and took a night shots at the Basilica di San Pietro.

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Majestic Rome
Explore and Discover Rome - Day 02
Explore and Discover Vatican - Day 03