Italia: Day 6
All roads lead to Rome, they say, and that's where we found ourselves this day.
The day actually began with a visit to Vatican City, the independent city-state of the Roman Catholic Church inside modern-day Rome and all that remains of the Holy Roman Empire.
Here's St. Peter's Square with one of the 14 obelisks stolen by the church from Egypt.
And, here's a view inside St. Peter's Basilica, finished with marble stolen by the church from Pompeii and other Roman remains throughout Italy. If ever you wonder what drove Martin Luther, folks, just visit the Vatican City. It is easy to imagine the suffering and sacrifice of the common people necessary for the Roman Catholic Church to construct a place of such opulence. I found it sickening.
We did visit the Sistine Chapel and wish we had not. The place underwhelms. Far better to enjoy the ceiling paintings in an art book. No photography was allowed.
Rome, itself, is an ancient city. There are, however, surprisingly few ruins remaining.
Here's Circus Maximus temporarily filled with thousands of things that looked like giant eyeballs and glowed pastel colors at night.
And, here's what remains of the Coliseum, outside ...
and inside. It reminded me of the now-demolished Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Roman Catholic Church, of course, stole all the marble veneer for use in St. Peter's Basilica.
Only two of the original bridges over the Tiber River remain.
All the others were reconstructed by Mussolini.
Here's the famous window from which he made his speeches, by the way.
Modern Rome isn't much different than any other major European city.
The pavement on the streets is unmarked! But, somehow, the traffic avoids gridlocks and few accidents occur.
The famous Tivoli Fountain was my favorite part of Rome.
Yet, all in all, Rome is my least favorite of all the major cities I have visited in Europe. Take away the Vatican and the Romans ruins and there's not much left to distinguish it.
The day actually began with a visit to Vatican City, the independent city-state of the Roman Catholic Church inside modern-day Rome and all that remains of the Holy Roman Empire.
Here's St. Peter's Square with one of the 14 obelisks stolen by the church from Egypt.
And, here's a view inside St. Peter's Basilica, finished with marble stolen by the church from Pompeii and other Roman remains throughout Italy. If ever you wonder what drove Martin Luther, folks, just visit the Vatican City. It is easy to imagine the suffering and sacrifice of the common people necessary for the Roman Catholic Church to construct a place of such opulence. I found it sickening.
We did visit the Sistine Chapel and wish we had not. The place underwhelms. Far better to enjoy the ceiling paintings in an art book. No photography was allowed.
Rome, itself, is an ancient city. There are, however, surprisingly few ruins remaining.
Here's Circus Maximus temporarily filled with thousands of things that looked like giant eyeballs and glowed pastel colors at night.
And, here's what remains of the Coliseum, outside ...
and inside. It reminded me of the now-demolished Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Roman Catholic Church, of course, stole all the marble veneer for use in St. Peter's Basilica.
Only two of the original bridges over the Tiber River remain.
All the others were reconstructed by Mussolini.
Here's the famous window from which he made his speeches, by the way.
Modern Rome isn't much different than any other major European city.
The pavement on the streets is unmarked! But, somehow, the traffic avoids gridlocks and few accidents occur.
The famous Tivoli Fountain was my favorite part of Rome.
Yet, all in all, Rome is my least favorite of all the major cities I have visited in Europe. Take away the Vatican and the Romans ruins and there's not much left to distinguish it.
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