Day 11
Big plans today. We have planned to go to the Coliseum and the Palatine Hill. Bet you hadn’t heard of that before. Well we found out all about it today. We decide to forgo the Coliseum until after lunch because the crowds are just silly. We walk past the arch beside the Coliseum and look for the Palatine. There is a large park like area to the right and we have our Roma Passes ready. Not such a long line but with the Roma pass we walk right in.
We have the Rick Steves tour but have completely lost the thread and just start to wander following the paths. This is a huge area in the center of Rome and it is an archeological site that goes back to ancient times. It is the home of the emperors of Rome and the temples and towns that accompanied them. Absolutely wonderful. To walk where these people had carried on their daily responsibilities and lived in such “interesting times” was like walking back in time. The ancient streets are there, although you really want to watch your step. Can’t think it would be much fun riding these streets in a chariot and keeping your teeth from rattling loose. Many palaces and temples are being uncovered and we must have walked hours and not seen it all.
We finally exit and grab a sandwich from a cart and sit on the grass to look down into the excavations while we ate. People looked like ants down there.
We walk back toward the Coliseum and we spot a statue that looks unique and I go for my camera when it moves and scares us both! It is an actor who has painted his face to match his costume and is posing for tips. A couple of euros get me a good shot.
Once again the Roma Pass gets us in the door past the lineups at the Coliseum. We start on the lower level and walk around the base which would be the same level as the floor of the arena. You can see where the addition was attached to original building after a fire. There is a cross on this level where the emperor had his box. Up to 5000 animals were sacrificed daily and the games would run continuously for 100 days with 50,000 viewers attending for free. The audience would receive a clay token on entrance that would have a seat number and lots of access to seating. This building is so well designed that it could be emptied in less than 15 minutes at the close of the games. There were 80 elevators in the floor of the arena to bring up animals, people and props. Take a look at the pictures and those little squares were the elevator shafts. Wow. It is an sizeable building but it feels smaller than we expected. You can see where the seats would have been but have a hard time imagining all those people in there. You will also see an area in some of the shots with what appears to be a stage with marble seating above. This is where the original floor would have been and the seats were the sky boxes of the day. We take the elevator up to the top level and get a bird’s eye view.
As we leave we decide to visit the Trevi Fountain. Across town we go and make our way by metro and walking. We hear water before we see it. What a surprise. We had expected a large plaza to be the home of this famous fountain.
It is inside a fairly small plaza that was wall to wall with people. It is attached to the back of a building and looks as if it is erupting from the walls. It is just beautiful and we take a moment to sit and enjoy it’s beauty. Still can’t get over the setting. What a fantastic piece of art.
We head home and Lyn gathers some bits and pieces from the local stores and whips up the best pasta we have had except for the walnut pasta. Yummmmmmy!
Travel Tip:
Buy a Roma Pass at any Tourist Info site. This will give you an entrance to many different venues (two free entries and then discounts on further venues) and we can use it as a bus pass for three days. We used it on a combine ticket for the Coliseum, Palatine Hill & Forum. Then the Borghese Museum. You avoid the lines at the Coliseum
This is a great site for information about Rome:
http://www.roninrome.com/sites-and-attractions/skip-the-line-ticket-options-for-the-coliseum-colosseo-in-rome
Big plans today. We have planned to go to the Coliseum and the Palatine Hill. Bet you hadn’t heard of that before. Well we found out all about it today. We decide to forgo the Coliseum until after lunch because the crowds are just silly. We walk past the arch beside the Coliseum and look for the Palatine. There is a large park like area to the right and we have our Roma Passes ready. Not such a long line but with the Roma pass we walk right in.
We finally exit and grab a sandwich from a cart and sit on the grass to look down into the excavations while we ate. People looked like ants down there.
We walk back toward the Coliseum and we spot a statue that looks unique and I go for my camera when it moves and scares us both! It is an actor who has painted his face to match his costume and is posing for tips. A couple of euros get me a good shot.
Once again the Roma Pass gets us in the door past the lineups at the Coliseum. We start on the lower level and walk around the base which would be the same level as the floor of the arena. You can see where the addition was attached to original building after a fire. There is a cross on this level where the emperor had his box. Up to 5000 animals were sacrificed daily and the games would run continuously for 100 days with 50,000 viewers attending for free. The audience would receive a clay token on entrance that would have a seat number and lots of access to seating. This building is so well designed that it could be emptied in less than 15 minutes at the close of the games. There were 80 elevators in the floor of the arena to bring up animals, people and props. Take a look at the pictures and those little squares were the elevator shafts. Wow. It is an sizeable building but it feels smaller than we expected. You can see where the seats would have been but have a hard time imagining all those people in there. You will also see an area in some of the shots with what appears to be a stage with marble seating above. This is where the original floor would have been and the seats were the sky boxes of the day. We take the elevator up to the top level and get a bird’s eye view.
As we leave we decide to visit the Trevi Fountain. Across town we go and make our way by metro and walking. We hear water before we see it. What a surprise. We had expected a large plaza to be the home of this famous fountain.
It is inside a fairly small plaza that was wall to wall with people. It is attached to the back of a building and looks as if it is erupting from the walls. It is just beautiful and we take a moment to sit and enjoy it’s beauty. Still can’t get over the setting. What a fantastic piece of art.
We head home and Lyn gathers some bits and pieces from the local stores and whips up the best pasta we have had except for the walnut pasta. Yummmmmmy!
Travel Tip:
Buy a Roma Pass at any Tourist Info site. This will give you an entrance to many different venues (two free entries and then discounts on further venues) and we can use it as a bus pass for three days. We used it on a combine ticket for the Coliseum, Palatine Hill & Forum. Then the Borghese Museum. You avoid the lines at the Coliseum
This is a great site for information about Rome:
http://www.roninrome.com/sites-and-attractions/skip-the-line-ticket-options-for-the-coliseum-colosseo-in-rome
1 comment:
Dear Grannys (Grannies?) ~ Just wanted to let you know I am LOVING your stories and pics. I haven't been writing, "under the weather" shall we say.
But wanted you to know how much I'm enjoying what you have to say, and delighted for both of you that you're having this experience!
Melinda
XOXOXOXO
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