Rome Day 1
This morning we had an early breakfast at the Train Depot Bar and Cafe - where we feel we are regulars already LOL. Then we caught a bus back to Catania airport with no difficulty, and on to Rome!
Our apartment for 4 days here is clean and spacious and very near the colosseum. I think we are all happy to have a few days with no planes and no packing up.
We walked the Via Imperial, looking down into the Imperial fori of Nerva, Augusta, Julius Caesar and Trajan on our way to Mamertine Prison. Mamertine is where Paul and Peter are thought to have spent some of their last days on earth. It’s a pretty grim place. Over the top of the prison a church wasvbuilt because the site was looked on as important by Christians ever since. Even in the dark ages there would be service in the field (underneath which was the Roman Forum waiting to be rediscovered) next to the prison site. On top of that church / chapel, a “modern” church was built in 1597 - St Joseph of the Carpenters. In 2018 the roof collapsed along with the gilded ceiling and its reliefs and it took some time to restore everything. The center panel of the ceiling was the Holy Family, and it landed face down but survived intact. The church is beautiful.
Next we visited Trajans Market, which is a huge complex from approximately 110 AD. It was offices, shops, maybe even some residences. It must have quite grand when all of the marble cladding and frescos were intact. It was built with ingenious ways to let in light and air. We walked from there to Area Largo Argentina where there are 4 BC temples and it is the site of the assassination of Julius Caesar. Then the rain started… but we persevered and walked to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps - even a few churches on the way. We braved a VERY crowded metro train to get back to the colosseum and to our apartment and dinner at a cafe on a street near us. Full first afternoon in Rome!
Missing everyone at home, God Bless
PB & Margery, Scott & Shelly
Trajan’s Column
