We took a tour of the Colosseum, and the size is indescribable and the photos don't do it justice. This was probably the most impressive thing we saw on our entire trip. It's maybe about as big as the OSU 'Shoe. It used to hold 50,000 people and is 2,000 years old!!!!!
And, yes, Flea got to visit the Colosseum, too!
The other side of the Colosseum is a completely different scene. The Palatine Hill has beautiful, tall trees, and lots of grass. Such a gorgeous view from an arch in the Colosseum.
This is a view from the lower level of the cells where they kept the beasts and prisoners before their battles. This would have been under the original floor.
Right next door to the Colosseum was Constantine's Arch. He was the first Christian Emperor of Rome.
The Palatine Hill just looks like heaven, and it could not have been a more beautiful day!
This is the stadium on Palatine Hill where they had chariot races.
The Roman Forum - so many temple ruins everywhere you looked!
This was a marble ruin now used as a bench. Really??? This would be behind bullet-proof glass in the U.S.!!
Amazing art work, pottery, and jewelery that is 2,000 years old! I think we're all being punk'd, right? Because this stuff cannot possibly be real!! The whole city feels like you're on the set of a Hollywood movie!
The Temple of Saturn.
This is the monument for Victor Emmanuel and the tomb of the unknown soldier. It's the biggest building I've ever seen! Unfortunately, it was built in the 1900s, but it's size is hugely impressive.
Along our way to lunch we came across the Santa Maria in Portico church. Very beautiful!
Look closely in the glass case... yes, this is a real dead guy! Yikes!
We had lunch in the Jewish Ghetto, as recommended by our guide. We ate lunch at Giggetto, outside next to some random ruins. And, yes, this is a dough Menorah!
We then hiked across the Tiber River to the little island and saw San Bartalomeo church and left a prayer for my grandparents in the prayer book. We had more gelato on the bridge and enjoyed the scene on our way back.
Next, we climbed a BILLION stairs to the Santa Maria in Aracoeli, which was well worth the views, both inside and out. Here, I lit a candle for my grandparents, as well. After the church, we looked around the Victor Emmanuel monument some more and took in the views.
We walked back past the Colosseum and got some better photos with the bright blue sky. Kelly and Lori got a cab and we chose to walk (through the real ghetto) back to the hotel. On the way back we saw the Santa Maria Maggiore which we took a quick photo of and ran. It seems to be where all the flower-givers and goopy splat-toy sellers hang out in their "down-time."
We took a brief nap after all of our excitement and sunshine. Then, we met up for dinner and went to a local Irish pub. Irish food in Italy = not the best, but it was an enjoyable atmosphere, and I got to eat french fries and something that wasn't pasta!! So, I was happy!
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