Rome - In The Footsteps of Gladiator
Rome was my biggest disappointment this whole trip. Disappointment not because I wasn’t moved or impressed by the place but because we had but one day (8 hours) to explore BOTH Rome AND The Vatican. That would be the equivalent of spending an hour in Disneyworld.
Ideally, I would like to explore the city of Rome for a whole week, and The Vatican for a few more days after. Hopefully one day my cousin Clark, an even bigger History buff than myself, decides to follow his dream of being an archaeologist and actually move to Rome so that I can come and crash in his place when I visit.
* The first view of Constantine’s Arch and The Colosseum. Take note of the line of tourists towards the right going inside the Colosseum with an estimated waiting time of 1 hour and 20min. Now compare that to the one hour which was the total time we spent here in this part of Rome.
* Constantine’s Arch was erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate the victory of Constantine I over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on 312 AD. It is the inspiration for Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
* The Colosseum, though being thousands of years old and yet bigger than our own Araneta Colosseum, still manages to impress and awe despite my seeing hundreds of pictures of it throughout my life. Originally covered with marble and full of sculptures, the Colosseum was stripped clean by the Catholic Church in order to build The Vatican, thus giving it it’s current skeletal look. However, plans are on the way for renovation and restoration work which is to begin this year (with the monument being covered by four floors of scaffolding) and to last till 2015, which meant that our visit was greatly timed!
* I was tempted to scream, "Are you not entertained?!?" Maximus Decimus Meridius-style but there were just too many guards hovering around!
* The entrance to the Roman Forum which made me tear up a bit as I so wanted to go in and see The Temples of Saturn, Vespasian and Titus, Vesta and Castor and Pollux, the Arch of Septimius Severus, Forum Main Square and Palatine Hill. Next time, definitely!
* This awesome classic looking building is actually the modern City Hall of Rome. Very impressive indeed!! I wouldn’t mind working in these surroundings everyday!
Ideally, I would like to explore the city of Rome for a whole week, and The Vatican for a few more days after. Hopefully one day my cousin Clark, an even bigger History buff than myself, decides to follow his dream of being an archaeologist and actually move to Rome so that I can come and crash in his place when I visit.
* The first view of Constantine’s Arch and The Colosseum. Take note of the line of tourists towards the right going inside the Colosseum with an estimated waiting time of 1 hour and 20min. Now compare that to the one hour which was the total time we spent here in this part of Rome.
* Constantine’s Arch was erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate the victory of Constantine I over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on 312 AD. It is the inspiration for Napoleon’s Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
* The Colosseum, though being thousands of years old and yet bigger than our own Araneta Colosseum, still manages to impress and awe despite my seeing hundreds of pictures of it throughout my life. Originally covered with marble and full of sculptures, the Colosseum was stripped clean by the Catholic Church in order to build The Vatican, thus giving it it’s current skeletal look. However, plans are on the way for renovation and restoration work which is to begin this year (with the monument being covered by four floors of scaffolding) and to last till 2015, which meant that our visit was greatly timed!
* I was tempted to scream, "Are you not entertained?!?" Maximus Decimus Meridius-style but there were just too many guards hovering around!
* The entrance to the Roman Forum which made me tear up a bit as I so wanted to go in and see The Temples of Saturn, Vespasian and Titus, Vesta and Castor and Pollux, the Arch of Septimius Severus, Forum Main Square and Palatine Hill. Next time, definitely!
* This awesome classic looking building is actually the modern City Hall of Rome. Very impressive indeed!! I wouldn’t mind working in these surroundings everyday!
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