Europe – Part 6

Countdown: Top 5 Places & Why 

#4: Rome, Italy

Coliseum exterior

“All roads lead to Rome.” – Chaucer, 1391

Coliseum interior

City highlights:

• Coliseum
  – A very cool experience being able to see the historic structure from Gladiator
  – Had a fun time exploring the inside of the amphitheatre & got to see part of the stage and sections underneath
• Roman Forum
  – Large ancient ruins of architectural remains of what once was the center of public life in Rome
  – Got to walk on the roads where these greats walked: Julius Caesar, Maximus Decimus Meridius & Marcus Aeralius
  – Had an awesome tour guide; she was passionate and extremely knowledgeable about this type of history, and with a Master’s in Classical History she brought Rome to life!
  
  
• Trevi Fountain
  – People from all over the world come to see this famous landmark
  – Is one of the most famous fountains in the world & an estimated 3,000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day
  – The big idea: Make a wish and throw a coin in your right hand over your left shoulder into the water & one day it may come true
                                                                                                                               

• The Vatican
  – Sistine Chapel: a huge room, full of extraordinary painting’s, which houses some of Michaelangelo’s most famous works, not to mention the ceiling masterpiece he painted (which took over 4 years to complete)
  – St. Peter’s Basilica: got to walk through this Late Renaissance church & has a very large square outside surrounded by numerous columns (colonnades)
  – Vatican Museum: contains sculptures and other famous art works from the Renaissance era
• Spanish Steps
  – A cool looking design and is apparently the widest staircase in Europe

Outside Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

St. Peter’s Square with St. Peter’s Basilica & Sistine Chapel in background

Overlooking St. Peter’s Square from St. Peter’s Basilica

Other quotes on Rome:

“While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; And when Rome falls – the World.” – Lord Byron

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” – Proverb

“Every one soon or late comes round by Rome.” – Robert Browning

“Rome was not built in a day.” – Jean de La Fontaine

“I came, I saw, I conquered. [Latin: Veni, vidi, vici.]” – Julius Caesar

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” – Maximus, Gladiator

“I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.” – Emperor Augustus Caesar

“Her smile, I’m sure, burnt Rome to the ground.” – Mark Z. Danielewski

“In Rome it seems as if there were so many things which are more wanted in the world than pictures.” – George Eliot

“Civis Romanus sum.” (I am a Roman citizen) – Cicero

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
– Marcus Aurelius