Rome Day 1 - 3 October 2022

Well, it was good and bad news. Yes we could stay, but had to leave by 6pm on Wednesday at the Agricamper.

Decided we’d whizz in, and try to see some of Rome this afternoon…

Tintin wanted to drive - about 90 minutes in the end, some on autostrada (€4.60).  We tried to service Dave on route on the motorway, but sadly missed the turn off to the right - and once passed - that’s it! Never mind, it was just because we were going to stay longer at the Agricamper, but can’t. We do have a spare toilet cassette, just never used it yet!

Paolo, whose place it is had given us advance information for getting into Rome. We headed off, covered in sunscreen for our arms and faces, but in jeans and trainers because of strict (!) rules of clothing for churches…

The tobacconist shop is just down the road, we bought our return tickets for only €6, and walked about ten minutes to the train station.

Went upstairs on the train, only took 30 minutes, then we switched over to the metro for 3 stops until Colesseo. We were at the Colosseum by 12.30!

There were signs pointing for tickets to see it. Walked up to the Tourist Information - not very pleasant staff - no maps, and said you could only book tickets online. We scanned the barcode, blown it for today, booked tickets for tomorrow morning instead.

Walked back to the Colosseum to find the Arch of Constantine, so we know where to join our guided tour tomorrow (€79.80 for both for 3 hours). It’s a bit of a leap of faith really, just pay your money, not knowing whether it’s a genuine site or not!

To be honest, was totally overwhelmed - both by the sheer size of the Colosseum, and the hoards of people everywhere. Was about 26° today, and full sun - so hot.

Walked back to the Tourist Information, and tried to book for the Vatican, in order to see The Sistine Chapel - not a chance for today, tomorrow or Wednesday. Blew that one! Naively thought it might be like Florence, and we could wing it! Anyway, maps had arrived - only place you have to pay for them! €1.50.

Plan B it was! Yesterday had scribbled down what I wanted to see, and in what order.

Walked past lots of ruins, and huge buildings - which I don’t know what they are! - on our way to Trevi Fountain. Stopped off for an ice-cream as I saw them churning them in the window. €3.30 each, but not that fantastic - Tintin had pistachio and I had strawberry.

I’m too tired to give you much history about what we’ve seen today (that’s Gary signing with relief!).

Scandalous! Trevi Fountain didn’t have any water in it - so not a fountain! Obviously being cleaned. Tintin has just confirmed it’s cleaned on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - got to collect all that dosh! It has stood here since 1762. Neptune rides a shell shaped chariot drawn by seahorses steered by giant tritons. In 19BC, General Agrippa built a19km aqueduct to bring the water to the baths near the Pantheon. May try to get back there tomorrow if time allows! Mum and Rod had a hotel room which looked over the Trevi Fountain when they stayed! Think it must be the only way to avoid queues - stay in Rome, get up at dawn, see what you need to before the masses arrive.

We then walked onto the Spanish Steps. Don’t those police have great fun, blowing their whistles and stopping anyone from sitting down, or eating! Very pretty. Walked to top, and went into the church at the top, more for a sit down than anything. We were both hot, sweaty heaps by then!

Next stop, the Pantheon. The queue snaked all the way back the piazza, but probably only took about 15 minutes to get in. Was free. Used our Rick Steves free audio guides today - been brilliant. Would have used them for the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, but heyho, that ship has sailed!

It was built by Roman general Agrippa, erected in 27BC. Destroyed by fire in AD80, and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in the early second century. By the sixth century it turned into a Christian church. Was covered in bronze and lead, and despite being pillaged over the years, the covering helped to preserve the dome and other surfaces.  The bronze doors survive from Ancient Rome. Was packed, but just wow! The audio guides really bring everything to life - and gets you looking at the important stuff!

It is the largest dome ever built before the introduction of reinforced concrete. Height is equal to diameter - 43.3m. The walls supporting the dome are 7 feet across, the thickness of the dome diminishes from base to apex. The unglazed oculus (circular hole in the middle) is 9m across, and the only source of natural light.

On the way towards the Vatican City, we went into the Basilica dei Santi Ambrogio. On any other day it would be the focal point, today we were a bit blasé as there was so much else to see!

We crossed the road and saw the Ponte and Castel Sant’Angelo - and a random statue on the ground!

Entry to St Peter’s Basilica is free, but we queued for about 30 minutes to get through security.

Again - just wow! The pictures won’t give you the scale of the buildings. It’s the ultimate physical expression of the power and the riches of the Catholic Church.

Michelangelo is the most famous of architects, appointed by Pope Paul III in 1547, he visualized a design based on the Greek cross and topped by a huge dome. The interior is 218m long, with the roof soaring to 137m. 60,000 people can fit inside - nearly the whole population of Guernsey! There are 778 columns! 44 altars! 135 mosaics and 395 statues!

The obelisk in the square was brought here from Alexander in Egypt.

Most famous statue in there is Michelangelo’s Pietà. Now protected by bullet proof glass. Begun in 1498 when Michelangelo was only 24 - it is his only signed work.

Directly under his dome is Bernini’s ‘baldacchino’, an amazing bronze canopy 29m high. It’s twisted columns are decorated with golden olive and laurel branches and bees, the emblem of the Barberini, the family from which Pope Urban VIII came. It stands over the Altar of the Confession, where only the Pope may celebrate Mass.

Then we trudged to the train station, and found our way home.

At 7pm, our 3 course meal with wine, water and bread was delivered to Dave! Pasta with pesto to start, then lasagna, meatballs in tomato sauce, pork in a lemon sauce, plus vegetables au gratin, and potatoes and chicory, all finished off with tiramisu for €48! Much appreciated after not much to eat, and having walked 22,500 steps in the heat. Oh, and we’re both irritated by so many itchy bites. How annoying that something so small can cause misery for so long!

Well, it’s a late night - to be followed by an early morning - when we do it all again!