Roma!

Due to the fact that Ken and I took nearly 300 photos just in Rome, I've attempted to narrow down the photo pool.  There are still lots of photos, though, I apologize.  Rome has way too many incredible sights to skimp on the photos!

Our first jet lagged day was spent touring the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.  It was probably the hottest day we experienced in Italy and we were cranky and tired.  But still we were amazed by the sheer size of the Colosseum and the incredible remains of ancient Roman life.

Caesar Forum



Many of you know that we were super excited about the food.  Ken believes I was a fat Italian man in my former life as I ate non-stop the entire trip.  Of course, we did earn these meals with all the walking we logged.  For our first dinner in Italy we popped into a random Trattoria near the Spanish Steps.  Jackpot!  It was incredible.  I never liked cured meats but the Prosciutto in Italy is pretty dang amazing!  And do I even have to mention how incredible the pasta was?!?

To start our second day in Rome we visited the Borghese Gallery.  We saw incredible artwork by Bernini, Caravaggio, Rubens, Raphael and Titian.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to photograph the artwork but you can see my favorite piece from the Borghese on the left side of the blog: Apollo and Daphne by Bernini.  The intricate details of this statue are incredible.

Entrance to the Borghese Gallery

That evening we strolled over to the Trevi Fountain.  What a hang out spot!  It's insanely crowded but understandably so.  The fountain is a peaceful retreat within the center of a bustling city.



Day number three and we're off to the Vatican.  The Vatican gallery was nice and quiet but once we got on the path towards the Sistine Chapel we were a bunch of cattle being herded!  Nonetheless, the journey to the Sistine Chapel was just as amazing as the Chapel itself.  We were able to snap some photos of the journey, but regrettably photography is not allowed in the Chapel.



Another favorite sculpture, one of Bernini's crumbling angels



The hallway of maps...your eyes aren't deceiving you, the entire ceiling is covered in framed paintings.  And this hallway was probably as long as a football field!



This is a wall in the Raphael room (obviously, painted by Raphael) of the Vatican.  Every inch of these Vatican ceremony rooms were covered in some type of artwork, even the floor which had detailed mosaics.



Fountain in St. Peter's Square



St. Peter's Basilica


Our evening stroll led us to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.  While the Pantheon is not the prettiest sight in Rome, its historical value is intriguing.  The Pantheon has the most well preserved Roman Temple interior.  This building was originally built as a temple to all the gods but is now a Catholic church.

The domed ceiling of the Pantheon

Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona

Next stop...Tuscany!