Roman Lightning

I took this from our hotel balcony. This was the payoff for 90+ degree heat and 90+ degree humidity. Note the star in the upper-right quadrant.


Click image to embiggen

Us in Rome

Pictures of us in Rome.

Are you looking at me? No, are you looking at me?

Click image to embiggen

Evening on our hotel balcony.

Click image to embiggen

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica is huge. Unfortunately it's very low light and they don't allow flashes or tripods. I did try to get a picture of Michelangelo's Pietà because of its greatness (see below). We paid to climb to the top of the basilica, that's where the rest of the pictures come from.

Michelangelo's Pietà

Click image to embiggen

St. Peter's square from the top of the Dome.

Click image to embiggen

The Pope's garden.

Click image to embiggen

On top the Dome (pseudo-HDR)

Click image to embiggen

Vatican Museum - The long halls

The Vatican Museum is amazing. One could spend an entire day there. Most of the photo opportunities are in very low light, so I didn't even try to take a picture. For example, we spent a long time in the Sistine Chapel, but I didn't even take the lens cap off the camera. If you want to see pictures of the Sistine Chapel, googlie it!

Pseudo-HDR of one of the long, crowded hallways.

Click image to embiggen

Another very long hallway.

Click image to embiggen

The Spanish Steps

Our first day in Rome we arrived late in the afternoon. We decided to take in a couple of the big tourist traps, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. We had seen these previously, so I only took my point-n-click camera to do some people watching. Even in low tourist season, they were crowded.

The crowd on the Spanish Steps. There for no other reason than being on the Spanish Steps.

Click image to embiggen

Spanish Cracks.


These guys were selling bubble dispensers. Some other guys were selling free roses. Yet others were selling other toys.

The bubble guys.

Click image to embiggen

Bubble guy demonstrates his wares.

Click image to embiggen

Trevi Fountain

Our first day in Rome we arrived late in the afternoon. We decided to take in a couple of the big tourist traps, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. We had seen these previously, so I only took my point-n-click camera to do some people watching. Even in low tourist season, they were crowded.

Getting the right angle is everything. That's Carol behind him.

Click image to embiggen

Legend is that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. Everyone gets their picture taken doing it, by their friends and by me!

The couple on the left is getting ready to toss their coins; love their contrasting pant/shirt outfits. The guy in the middle is in mid-toss.

Click image to embiggen

This couple was good looking. They have old-school European class. I guessing they're Nordic. That was the story I concocted in my head, anyway. I wonder if they realized I was taking their picture.

Click image to embiggen

Oceanus from below.

Click image to embiggen

The girls eating gelato in the crowd at the Trevi Fountain. As you might imagine, Carol and I also ate gelato sitting at the Trevi Fountain.

Click image to embiggen

The crowds at the Trevi Fountain.

Click image to embiggen

More crowds at the Trevi Fountain.

Click image to embiggen

More detail of the Fountain. If you look at the people in the background, that's where Carol and I ate gelato.

Click image to embiggen

Roman Forum - Wrapup

Here are some other pictures from the area of the Roman Forum.

The Temple of Vesta (number 9 on the interactive map.

Click image to embiggen

In the foreground, the Column of Phocas. In the background, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Vesta, way in the back ground the Coliseum, and a bunch of other old stuff.

Click image to embiggen

From the top of the Palatine Hill.

Click image to embiggen

These are at the base of the Palatine Hill. We both seem to recall that they were housing for gladiators.

Click image to embiggen

Roman Forum - Temple of Saturn

The Temple of Saturn is a monument to the agricultural deity Saturn . It represents the oldest surviving structure in that area, having been established between 501 and 498 BC.

The back-lighted temple.

Click image to embiggen

Pseudo-HDR of the temple

Click image to embiggen

Roman Forum - Flora and Fauna

Here are some pictures of the flora and fauna seen in and around the Roman Forum.

Italian Stone Pine tree in the ruins of the Palatine.

Click image to embiggen

Looking up at the Italian Stone Pine trees.

Click image to embiggen

Roman lizard

Click image to embiggen

Roman Tourists. I think she was supposed to be leaning on a large column.

Click image to embiggen

Roman Forum - More views of the Coliseum

Two more looks at the Coliseum.

This one is from the top of Palatine Hill. That's the Arch of Titus (81 AD - number 1 on the interactive map) in the center.

Click image to embiggen

This one is from the Roman Forum.

Click image to embiggen

Roman Forum - Palatine Hill

Rome began on the Palatine Hill. The Palatine Hill 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 Roman Forum, looking down upon it on one side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other. You can see it's relationship to the Coliseum and the Forum on this interactive map.

According to Roman mythology, the Palatine Hill was the location of the cave, known as the Lupercal, where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf that kept them alive.

Roman Ruins on Palatine Hill. Carol is hiding somewhere in this picture; can you find her?

Click image to embiggen

Roman Forum - Temple of Castor and Pollux

The temple of Castor and Pollux was originally built in gratitude for victory at the battle of Lake Regillus (495 BC). Castor and Pollux (Greek Polydeuces) were the Dioscuri, the "twins" of Gemini, the twin sons of Zeus (Jupiter) and Leda. The facade faced toward the Forum piazza with 19 columns (only 3 remain) surmounted on a trabeation.

It is in the Roman Forum - number 10 on this interactive map.

The Temple of Castor and Pollux.

Click image to embiggen

Backlit Temple of Castor and Pollux.

Click image to embiggen

Temple of Castor and Pollux and the Arch of Septimius Severus (number 16 on the interactive map) as seen from the Palatine Hill (PALATINO on the interactive map).

Click image to embiggen

Roman Forum - Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina was built by the emperor Antoninus Pius shortly after the death of his beloved wife Faustina in 141AD. The remains of the temple was converted into a church, San Lorenzo in Miranda, in the 7th or 8th century. It is is the Roman Forum - number 6 in this interactive map.


Click image to embiggen

Pantheon

These three pictures are of the Pantheon. It was originally built in 27 BC as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome. In Medieval times Pope Boniface IV converted it into a Christian church. Since the Renaissance it has been used as a tomb.

The people in the pictures will give some scale to the immensity of it.

The portico of the Pantheon.

Click image to embiggen

The altar in the Pantheon.

Click image to embiggen

The interior and the dome.

Click image to embiggen

View from the Coliseum

This is the Temple of Venus as seen from the Coliseum. It's number 3 on this interactive map.

The Temple of Venus

Click image to embiggen

Inside the Coliseum

4 Scenes in the Roman Coliseum.

A view of the hypogeum.

Click image to embiggen

Carol on the upper level.

Click image to embiggen

Seating, arena and hypogeum.

Click image to embiggen

Entry to the Coliseum.

Click image to embiggen

Outside the Coliseum

Today's pictures are of the exterior of the Roman Coliseum. Tomorrow; the interior.

The Coliseum. Carol has been carefully hidden in this picture. Can you find her?

Click image to embiggen

The Coliseum in its modern context.

Click image to embiggen