Touring The Vatican

An estimated 6 million people (16,000/day) will visit the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican this year.  The Two LeClerc's have happily checked it off their list.  We booked an early morning semi-private tour and spent 4 hours absorbing some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures.  It was an overwhelmingly, beautiful and educational morning and so happy we were out by the time the masses were allowed in.
Vatican City is an Ecclesiastical State and ruled by the Bishop of Rome - the Pope.  It is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population.

                                                    The Swiss Guard that protects the Pope

                                                              A Hallway Inside Vatican

                     One of many tapestries that hang on the walls for beauty as well as warmth.

                                                                    Statues and Tombs

                                                                         Rare Red Marble

                                                                        A Beautiful Ceiling

                                                           A Courtyard Inside the Vatican

                                Bronze Sculpture by artist Pomodoro  "Sphere within a Sphere"

                                                       Fountain in the Pinecone Courtyard

                              Courtyard where the Pope gives a speech every Wednesday morning.

                                           A painting of most of the great Renaissance Men

                                                     The Alter inside St. Peter's Basilica

                                                          So happy we are not in that line!

                                                                   Lovely Turquoise Fiat

                                  Super thin Roman Style Pizza, shredded zucchini and blossoms

                       Piazza Navona, a significant example of Baroque Roman Architecture

                                                   Fontana dei Quattro in Piazza Navona

                                                            Piazza Navona Fountain del Moro


We ended our day dining at the lovely restaurant just downstairs from our apartment Ba Gigetto.  It is known in Rome for serving some of the best of Roman Classic Cuisine since 1923.  Since they are located in Rome's Jewish Ghetto, they naturally specialize in Roman Jewish dishes like the carciofi all giudea (fried artichoke).

                                                Walked downtairs to have dinner here!

                           They are famous for the fried artichoke. We had to try it. Delicious!

                                      Finished off the evening with a little Limoncello!

                                         

               

Beautiful Day In Ancient Rome

Our first day in Rome was a doozy.  We set out early and crazily visited six of the major must-see sites of the Old City.  The day started out beautiful with a short walk up to the large outdoor market Campo de Fiori (meaning in English: Field of Flowers). The market square was given its name during the Middle Ages when the area was actually a meadow.  We picked up some fresh fruit and snacks and headed to the Roman Forum.

                                                                 Campo de Fiori Market

                                      Michael trying to remember his "Italian" to buy us fresh fruit!

                                                          The Market is open Everyday

                                                             Cafe in the Market Square


The Roman Forum is where many of the oldest and most important structures of the ancient city are located.  It was for centuries the center of the Roman public life.  It is such a fascinating place to see with ruins all around you where some are still standing and the ones that have fallen have been left where they fell.
After admiring the Forum we started the trek over to the Victor Emmanuel Monument and Statue.  It is an enormous white marble monument that was built as a tribute to the First King of a United Italy, Vittorio Emmanuel II.  The sun is high in the sky now and really starting to beat down.  Actually,  it is not only beating down on us but coming from all directions as it is reflecting from all the stone and marble all over Rome.  It is time to buy a hat!

                       Remains of the Porticus Octaviae, around the corner from our apartment.

                                                         Theatre of Marcus Marcellus

                                   

                                                                   Roman Forum

                                                                     Roman Forum

                                                                    Roman Forum

                                                               

                                                         2000 yr old Roman Antiquity

                                                            Victor Emmanuel Monument

                                            Colosseum view from the V. E. Monument

                                                                Walking to the Colosseum

                                                           Roman Style Flatbread Snack

                                                          Busy Hot Day at the Colosseum

                                                            Beautiful Fresh Fruit Stand

                                              Passing a busy Piazza on our way to the Pantheon

                                                                   Roman Pantheon

We made it up to the Piazza della Rotonda to marvel at the ancient Roman Pantheon.  It is the best-preserved building of all ancient Rome and has been in continuous use since the 7th Century.  The Pantheons dome, after 2,000 years, is still the worlds largest unreinforced concrete dome.  Amazing.

             We passed by the Trevi Fountain but it is closed and under reinforcement construction.

                                                        The Top of the Spanish Steps!

                                                                           Spanish Steps

                                                          Time for an Aperol Spritz!

                         Crossing the bridge from Trastevere back to our apartment and dinner.

                                                            Our sad attempt at a selfie!

                                                                        My Own Pizza!

                                                                  Aperitif in our apartment

                                        Our Beautiful Dawn to Dusk Day in Ancient Rome.