Time is passing very quickly with our days full of taking in the sights.
Today's agenda began with a walk to the Vatican - seen from the outside at least. The girls decided that the gorgeous sunshine was too beautiful to spend indoors and the Easter Week crowds making up the inevitable queues were a bit long, so we'll save going in there for our return to Rome at the end of the trip. At least we could appreciate the grandeur of St Peter's Square. A few purchases of souvenirs took place and then it was time to cross back over the Tiber River past the Castel Sant'Angelo, making our way to lunch in one of the many cute trattorie tucked in the side streets.
From here we continued on to Piazza Navona to check out Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers and some of the art on display by local artists. Our next stop was the Pantheon, one of the oldest buildings in Rome with its famous oculus to let in the light. Such ingenuity is very impressive when you consider that this building has the oldest self-supporting concrete dome in the world. Around the corner from the Pantheon, in front of Ms Moyle's favourite church, we came across some impromptu bubble blowing, which set off several rounds of bubble bursting. Going inside the cool church was quite a contrast to the sunshine outside. We all admired the stained glass rose windows and the starry ceiling against the deep blue - or as Nancy called it, the Baci wrapper ceiling. After lighting some candles and offering up individual prayers, it was time to continue our way back towards the hotel. We crossed Piazza Venezia (the crazy roundabout) once more to climb the steps of the Piazza Campidoglio, whose layout was designed by Michelangelo in his spare time when he wasn't busy creating other priceless works of art.
Back at the hotel it was time for a quick rest and then dinner before coming back to pack ready for our move north tomorrow. The bells are tolling, signalling the end of a long day, and it's time to rest up.
No comments:
Post a Comment