A Week in Rome...

I've been living in Rome for a week. The emotional high is beginning to abate, and we're settling into life in the city. Our classes have begun, and we're beginning to get the sense of the rhythm and flow of life here in Italia. I do already love it, but in many ways I am still overwhelmed by it all--I'm enjoying and appreciating things, but there is SO much more for me to learn and know in order to appreciate this city to the fullest extent.

...for some reason Blogger didn't save all the captions that I did, so I'll put those in now.

I'm picking up this post after three days of being sick--I'm now recovering from a 104 degree fever, but God is good and I have wonderful people who are looking after me now!

That being said, here are some of my favorite shots from the past week:

These columns (featured on the church below) are on the square that houses Trajan's forum, right in the heart of ancient Rome. It's next to the Victor Emmanuel Monument--a part of the city so full of history and cobblestones that I can just smell the stories lingering everywhere. 

This big guy is on a huge fountain in the Piazza del Quirinale, a large, open part of the city surrounded by government buildings. 

Trajan's forum itself!

<3 Italia

...water in the Trevi fountain...

...a rose AND the Trevi fountain? Does it get much better than this?! 

Trevi water, again. I couldn't restrain myself. 

On my to-do list: get an apartment in the city and plant a rooftop garden. With herbs and lots of flowers, and possibly a couple reclining garden chairs. 

One day, in our meanderings, we meandered across a huge protest. It rattled most of Centro Storico (historic center of Rome), actually, and the police presence was huge--there were definitely some army chaps around as well. We never discovered what they were protesting, though. (we also never felt unsafe). 

Victor Emmanuel monument at night!

This is one of my few good shots from the Pantheon--I was really disappointed in my photos from the day I toured it. It's simply stunning--a perfect sphere inside, awe-inspiring, ancient. I couldn't capture the majesty of it all. 

I can't wait to visit again when it isn't overcast--it was beautiful, but it would be something else with sunlight streaming through the 27-foot-diameter whole in the coffered ceiling. 

Like most of the historic buildings of Rome, the Pantheon has actually been turned into a church (feel free to be surprised--I had no idea). It houses this fresco, which is actually one of the oldest Christian frescoes in existence. In fact, you can go still to Mass in the Pantheon today!

...I just like the pedestal in this one. Kinda funky. :) This guy's next to Michelangelo's steps, leading to the Capitoline Museum on the Capitoline Hill (who'd have thought?).

Same location, one of two twin statues by the master himself!

One of the three buildings that houses the museum. Forgive the gray pictures--a storm was rolling in. The horse and rider in the center is the one and only Marcus Aurelius (yep, like in Gladiator), the philosopher-emperor. It's one of the only statues of its kind that was preserved through the empire's conversion to Christianity--they thought it was Constantine, so they didn't melt it down. This one is only a replica--the real one is inside, and is absolutely massive. 

Constantine! (and Heidi) The complete statue must have been colossal.

Some of the loveliest details of the Capitoline were easily missed--this gem is one of the ceilings in one of the stairwells. I love the symmetry and detail... it's just lovely. 

A blown-glass chandelier--several of these lit the museum.

This is the Spinario, allegedly a sculpture made to honor a little shepherd boy who ran for miles to deliver an important message to the Roman Senate, and only paused to remove a large thorn from his foot after he had accomplished his mission. I just love how natural it looks--the little tilt to his head is so right. 

Roma, through a window. :) I still smile, every time. 

Romulus and Remus getting fed by their lovely nursemaid. Their chubby baby-legs crack me up.

Roman skyline... 

This is Bernini's Medusa. I love the raw emotion captured here--he displays what an awful existence of isolation she would have led, of being a monster...

Artemis/Diana, like the statues that the silversmiths would have made in Ephesus when Paul came through. I don't think this is the statue that they started a riot over, though. 

Hercules! The attention to details in the muscles are insane, and the action captured is pretty impressive. 

The Roman Forum itself. :)

Ocean/Poseidon. This statue was also massive... to give some scale, look at that little black thing bending over to the left of the statue's foot. That's a person. This statue was actually a "talking" statue in its day--it was a place where dissatisfied citizens posted notes about how they hated the government.

This is the "Dying Gaul", one of my favorite statues. It's beautiful, detailed, and carries such a depth of emotion. I was really disappointed because it was one of the three rooms in the entire museum that was being renovated, so I couldn't see the whole statue, and it was the one I had been looking forward to the most... but I saw so much beautiful art that I can't complain!

Roma... to be continued!!

Pillars, Gardens, and Obelisks

One of the perks of living in Rome is the public parks and historic monuments. One that I did not expect to stumble across was Mussolini's summer villa, but lo and behold, this former dictator's elaborate house and grounds are open to the public as a large, lovely park!! It's perfect for strolling around, or (as I have used it) going for runs. Jo and I ran here the other day, and it kind of blew our minds... we went running in Mussolini's backyard!

This is one of the first things that you see when you enter the main gates--a 20-foot obelisk. The man did not exactly hold back when he designed this place.

Doesn't this look like it's in Egypt? Mussolini imported this obelisk from Egypt, and planted copious amounts of palm trees around his grounds. It feels exotic. 

 

...and there's the main villa! This is taken from near the base of the obelisk. It's huge, and really quite a lovely place. Notice that it looks like a temple...

I was honestly most surprised by the fact that it's not very well kept up. I have a couple theories as to why that is, but I'd better not hazard a guess. The stairs have lots of weeds growing on them, and the grounds in general are somewhat in disrepair. There are several areas roped off and under construction--maybe for renovation. It's a large, public park that many locals frequent, and especially comes alive on the weekends. I spent a few hours soaking it all in on Sunday afternoon. It seemed like such an odd contrast--people are walking their dogs and letting their children play in the summer villa of a former dictator. 

More temple-like architecture...

Belissima!!

Can you find obelisk #2 in this picture? :) 

I spent a while sitting and sketching this tower. The grounds house a number of buildings--a theater, a greenhouse, and a few buildings that are a little vague in my understanding... this whole building looks like a mosque, but I'm not sure what Mussolini used it for. 

All-in-all, this park is a lovely, pleasant surprise. Rome is full of surprises and hidden gems--hope I stumble upon some more! 

Fountains, Cobblestones, and Gelato

In the past two days, I have strolled by the Colosseum, gazed at the Trevi fountain all lit up in the evening, stood in a 1st Century apartment, observed frescoes in a church from the 3rd century, shopped along the Via del Corso, eaten white peach gelato with lavender at the Gelateria del Teatro tucked behind the lovely Piazza Navona, surveyed paintings stacked at the open-air markets in the shadow of Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (four-rivers fountain), eaten quattro formaggi (four cheese) pizza with miele insalate (honey salad), done my best Audrey Hepburn as I climbed the Spanish Steps, and heard Italian chanted in a mass in the ornate Basilica de S. Maria in Aracceli at the top of the majestic Monumento Vittorio Emanuele II.

I think I'm dreaming.

I honestly can't do a reflective post right now--I feel like I'm drinking from a fire hose. So here's  a photo dump!

The Colosseum hangin' out at the end of the street. I don't think I'll ever get used to this. :)

The Basilica di San Clemente--a Renaissance-era church dedicated to Saint Clement built on top of a 3rd Century version of the same, which is built on top of a series of 1st Century apartments in which a Mithraic cult did pagan rituals, which is built on top of something from 1st century B.C. which is below the water-line, so we couldn't go there. But talk about history--we walked through a couple milennia! Bummer that no pictures were allowed, though. There was beautiful art!

:) The sun came out as we passed the Colosseum--this is on the hill facing it. 

Aaah!! 

We're really here. Whaaaat???

First time eating out. I'm still getting used to having to pay for water, but it's worth it since the food is so delicious...

...my four cheese pizza and honey salad. Delicioso!

This little gem is tucked behind the Piazza Navona. It's called Gelateria dei Teatro, and has fantastic flavors--white peach with lavender, lemon with rosemary, and pure chocolate, to name a few. Picturesque and definitely a moment to remember. 

Fountain next to the....

...Pantheon!! Group photo. This thing is HUGE. We're standing about 75 yards away from it at this point, and it's still that big. Definitely awe-inspiring... We're beginning to learn about the significance of the architecture, too, which will help me appreciate it more. I do know that those are Corinthian columns! (shout-out to Mommy's 3rd grade homeschooling)

Words. Fail. This is also larger than I expected. 

With my dear friend at the Monumento Vittorio Emanuele II! 

Love these girls already! I think the flowers in the shape of the Italian flag are a neat touch... Oh, also the giant marble building with the sky-high pillars. That's cool, too. 

Climbing the Monumento! (very actively, of course)

<3 Roma!!

My over-the-shoulder shot of two performers playing accordion while we ate lunch sitting at a Chinese Restaurant on the Piazza dei Oratorio. I'm a little ashamed that it was the first weekend and I was eating Chinese food, but they accepted our meal tickets, and the food was delicious. Guilt-free. :) 

Perfect ending to the day--my adaptation of a Caprese-like salad with roasted garlic and basil chicken. On a terrace.

....in Rome. Praise the Lord. :)