On Tuesday we left our hotel to catch the 0900 train to La Spezia and then the Intercity to Roma Termini. We arrived about 1430, found our way to the Metro for a 2 stop trip to Barberini station before a 30 minute walk to our hotel.
We discovered a lovely old hotel, close to Trevi fountain with nice rooms with good airconditioning – essential as the temperatures stayed in the 30s for our entire stay. After unpacking we went for a walk to the Trevi fountain, Column of Marcus Aurelius and the Spanish steps – all a short walk from our hotel. So much wonderful history so close!
On Wednesday we had booked a Rome walking tour with a local guide, Roberto which started at the Largo di Torre Argentina, site of the ruins of 4 Roman temples and near the site where Julius Caesar was killed.
From here we strolled down small cobblestone lanes and visited Palazzo Farnese and Piazza Navona with its beautiful Fountain of the Four Rivers by Gian Bernini.
Roberto was most upset that the French Government was given a 99 year of the Palazzo Farnese in 1936. He was looking forward to it returning to the Italian people in 2035. Next was the amazing Pantheon. This is the best preserved ancient Roman building as it has been in continuous use since it was rebuilt in 128 AD by Emperor Hadrian. Its dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
We then wandered to the Trevi fountain and then finished at the Spanish steps. Our guide gave us an insight into living in Rome and a better appreciation of the architecture and history of the sights we visited.
After a relax in our room to cool down we went for walk in the afternoon to Villa Borgese gardens and a trip to the Museum of Leonardo Da Vinci. This had many models built from Leonardo’s sketches and showed what wide ranging ideas he had.
Dinner that night was in a restaurant in the nearby Galleria Colonna. An original letter from Galileo Galilei to Clavius explaining his belief that the planets revolved around the sun was on display here. As scientists we were amazed at this piece of history.
On Thursday we visited the Colosseum. Warren had been looking forward to this all trip. He was not disappointed.
