I'm writing about my earlier 2 week trip in Italy during September before I arrived in Dublin. My Italy stretch actually started in Rome.
Day 1 : Rome
We arrived at our hostel located near the Vatican City and not knowing where to start, we randomly took the train and came out via Piazza Della Repubblica ..
We struck gold and found Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri just opposite the road. The church was actually built around an even older monument called Baths of Diocletian. When the church was being built, Michelangelo designed the ceiling which I snapped a photo of.
The Famous Trevi Fountain ~ When we got there, it was CRAWLING with people. I almost couldn't get a photo of the fountain without someone's head/hand/leg/hair/misc body parts in it.
The Pantheon - Built around AD125, its architecture is unique with a hole in the middle of the dome. Still a church today, walking inside is a solemn, awe inspiring experience. Given the fact that there's a deliberately designed hole in the middle of the ceiling, there are little holes in the ground to drain rain water seeping in.
Plaza Nanova - It has the famous fountain called Fountain of the Four Rivers by Berlini. Unfortunately, maybe I'm in Europe at the off-peak season, but like a common trend throughout my journey, it was closed for renovation. There was artists, cafes and restaurants in this square and I was told by one of my hostel-mates that at night, Nanova was one of the few areas in Rome for clubbing. Afterall, we were in the holy city, I wasn't sure where i could get a drink at all !
Ended the day on the Spanish Steps, where Audrey Hepburn came during Roman Holiday. Lots and LOTS of people trying to relieve that moment when i was there. -l- We got lost while walking here and it was only our first day. I felt like killing my friend. MURDEROUS RAGE. I was so tired by the time i got here, I couldn't comprehend crawling up those stairs much less walking back to my hostel at all. While all roads lead to Rome, the roads in Rome were uneven, unpaved, cobbled stones which make long stretches of walking really painful.
Day 2:
My spirits perked up dramatically as we start on visiting the Vatican City. From this point onwards, it became real to me that i was really in ITALY. OMG !
Started early to St Peter's Basilica.
My first Michelangelo - Pieta, behind this plastic sheet, standing at least 2 metres from it, did not distract me from its life-like, fluid movements. But like the Mona-Lisa, I really do wish that it was nearer.
Paid extra to go to the St Peter's treasury, that was interesting too, as it shown the tomb of the Pope that ordered St Peter to be built. Also, during the visit, I never realized that relics such as a saint's finger, hair, pieces of wood from the cross were framed, stored and worshiped as a holy relic. This might offend some people, but I kept thinking about how similar it was to how people worshiped the remains of holy Buddhist Monks (舍利子)
The Vatican Museum ! Sistine Chapel ! The freaking queue..........................................
When i was younger and pouring through my cousin's Europe photos, I have always felt a sense of envy when I saw his Vatican photos. Now I was here, going to see the Sistine Chapel ! But actually, the Sistine Chapel was fabulous (ironic that a Japanese TV Channel paid for its restoration but that's another thing). What was more fabulous was the incredible artwork, statues, the Raphael Rooms inside. The Sistine Chapel was just the icing on the cake.
After spending a good 3-4 hours in the Vatican Museum, the next great Italian experience. GELATO !
Day 3 :-
The Colosseum ! Or should I say the great Colosseum rip-off... The building in itself was pretty impressive but there's really nothing there. Just head in, snap photos and get out. My Lonely Planet description explained more than the audio guide that I picked out.
The Roman Forum. Or should i say, the Roman Ruins. It is a giant park with the remnants of the Roman houses and buildings of the great Emperors.
Sideview of Michelangelo's famous staircase to Piazza Campidoglio. It is a sideview, because when I was there, half of the stairs were blocked for renovation.
It was still summer when I was in Rome, and for a good part of the day, we were outdoors. It was hot, warm, stuffy and we were tired. Headed to one of the oldest cafes in Rome called Caffe Grecco around the Spanish Steps. I am a tourist. I KNOW that TIRAMISU was something invented by the Italians for tourists. Despite all of that, I ordered a tiramisu. It was divine, I tell you !
Ended the night with Trevi Fountain .. Goodbye Rome, I know I will be back one day..
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