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Day one of our next adventure... Discovering the wonders of Italy.
We have based ourselves in a charming part of the city just behind the Vatican, but still in walking distance to the hustle and bustle of central Roma.
With a short walk we are already at the Castel Sant'Angelo along the River Tiber. This castle was built by Hadrian (AD117-138) as his mausoleum. It has also been used for a mausoleum for a number of other emperors and their families, a papal refuge, prison, garrison for Napoleonic troops and now a museum.
It has a huge bronze statue of the Archangel Michael on the top of the main building, which has given the castle it's name.
We then crossed the river and made our way to the Piazza Novana, this was once the Stadium of Domitian, with some incredible 16th Century palaces surrounding the perimeter, but it is the fountain Fontana die Quattro Fiumi that is the attraction with its gushing fountain flowing around an Egyptian obelisk built in 1650.
The Pantheon was our next stop.....this is one of Rome's most extraordinary buildings. The Pantheon (which in Greek means "all the gods") has been a place of worship for more than 2000 years. It rises to a height of 43.4m (same height as width) and has the worlds largest unreinforced dome with an oculus of 8.7m in diameter letting in sun. Opposite the entrance is the main alter and around the sides are the tombs of artist Raphael, King Umberto I, Margherita of Savoy and King Vittorio Emanuele II - FABULOUS!!
Then onto the next ... Fontana di Trevi. Completed in 1762 with Neptune, god of the sea the centre piece in a shell shaped chariot being led by two tritons and two seahorses - one wild, one docile which represent the moods of the sea. In the niche to the left of Neptune, a statue represents Abundance; to the right is Salubrity -SPECTACULAR !!
..and to finish the day off - The Spanish Steps at the Piazza Di Spagna. The 137 steps lead up to the a beautiful Baroque Church, Trinita dei Monti and at the bottom a boat shaped fountain designed by Bernini. The steps are named after the 17th Century Palazzo di Spagna, which is the residence of the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican which is located in the Piazza.
We have all had an extraordinary day....
I should say at this point ....I am loving Rome!
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