A Week in Rome: Intro and Table of Contents

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy at night with lights aglow.

A week in the Eternal City. Fountains, ancient history, fantastic food, lazy walks through two thousand year old streets. This travelogue contains photography of all the major sites and plenty of observations and tips from the perspective of an actual … Continue reading →

A Week in Rome – Wrap-up-the-Last

Our last romp through Rome, plus Metro tips.

It’s hard to leave Rome – the art, the weird feral cats, the history under every step, the unexpected gelato shops. But finally I had to go home. Some final images to keep Rome close in my mind: the Forum, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A Week in Rome – Wrap-up-the-First

Catholic officials confer in St. Peter's Square

Rome is a big city, too big to wrap up in just one post. For all the places I've shown you, there are dozens of little pictures and tidbits that just didn't fit. So it'll take two photo-filled posts to finally get The Eternal City out of my system.

Rome is a big city, too big to wrap up in just one post. For all the places I’ve shown you, there are dozens of little pictures and tidbits that just didn’t fit. So it’ll take two photo-filled posts to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A Treasure vault and lots of heads – A Week in Rome

Roman copy of Greek discus statue at National Museum of Rome

On our last day in Rome, we had a bit of extra time, and the rain was coming down, so we dove into the closest museum to Termini station, The National Museum of Rome.

On our last day in Rome, we had a bit of extra time, and the rain was coming down. We leafed desperately through the guidebook while riding the light rail toward the hotel, which was near Termini Station. Finally we … Continue reading → Continue reading →

V.E. Monument – A Week in Rome

Victor Emmanual Monument in Rome from the bottom looking up.

The country is now a Republic, its dysfunctional royal family banished from its borders, but the Victor Emmanuel monument remains, a shining white palacial expanse of marble, horses, more marble, and more horses, capped off by an enormous fat king sitting on an enormous fat horse.

The V.E. Monument has an odd reputation in Rome. Many locals consider it supremely ugly, a modern violation of their ancient, layered city. This is the sort of monument someone puts together when they aren’t sure their legacy is secure. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museum) – A Week in Rome

Outside of Capitoline Museum complex, Rome.

The Capitoline's appeal is in its irreverent (perhaps unintentional) exhibits, such as this fine collection of disembodied parts.

Atop Capitoline Hill is a museum sandwiched between the enormous wedding-cake Emmanuel Monument and the stunning remains of The Forum. In a single day it’s easily possible to do the Collosseum, Palatine Hill, The Forum, the Capitoline Museum, and the Emmanuel … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Great Fountains – A Week in Rome

It's one of the best sights in Rome, and must be seen after dark to be truly appreciated. It's not by Michelangelo or Bernini, and you won't find it in most art history textbooks. But it is one of the most memorable sculptures in town.

Rome is known for its fountains. They show up in films, either as romantic meeting places or convenient body dump sights. It seems everyone in Hollywood has wanted to do something in a Roman fountain over the years. The sculptors, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

St Paul’s Outside the Walls – A Week in Rome

Priest watches ceremonies at St. Paul's Outside the Walls in Rome.

A long subway ride from the old city, deep in the Roman suburbs, is a massive but ordinary-looking outcropping of the Vatican known commonly as St. Paul's Outside the Walls (of the city of Rome). One of the largest churches in the world, it is about as far from any other tourist attraction as you can get and still be roughly inside Rome. On the blustery November afternoon when we took the trip, we thought we'd see the peaceful columns of a stately cathedral, good for a picture or two. We got a full-blown religious experience.

A long subway ride from the old city, deep in the Roman suburbs, is a massive but ordinary-looking outcropping of the Vatican known commonly as St Paul’s Outside the Walls (of the city of Rome). One of the largest churches … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Castel Sant’ Angelo: Continued – A Week in Rome

Swallows over the Tiber River as seen from Castel Sant Angelo. Rome.

The rest of Castel Sant' Angelo, a 2000 year old bridge, and swallows over the Tiber River.

Castel Sant’ Angelo requires two installments, not just one. We began by focusing on the history of this fascinating structure and its structure in the previous installment. Castel Sant’ Angelo was a prime location for the Tom Hanks film “Angels … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A Day in Florence (Firenze) – A Week in Rome

Main square in Florence, Italy (Firenze)

Europe's high speed train systems redefine the day trip. Instead of a traveling a dozen miles out of town, we travelled 200 in less than an hour and a half, from a train conveniently located near our hotel to the heart of Florence.

An easy day trip from Rome on the train, the highlights of Florence (aka Firenze) can be easily seen in a single day. Florence is also a destination in its own right, but if your center of gravity is Rome … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Castel Sant’ Angelo – A Week in Rome

Archangel Michael at Castel St. Angelo, Rome.

Sometimes, being the Pope isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes you just can't get love from The People the way you do from the Big Guy upstairs.

Sometimes, being the Pope isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes you just can’t get love from The People the way you do from the Big Guy upstairs. And when the little people get ornery, sometimes you just need … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Atop St Peter’s Dome – A Week in Rome

St. Peter's Square, Rome, from atop the Basilica dome.

I've been asked how one stays in shape while vacationing in Italy, given the excellent food. Well it's simple. Italy is, in fact, one gigantic stairmaster.

When you see a giant dome in Rome, you want to climb it. St Peter’s is no different. I’ve been asked how one stays in shape while vacationing in Italy, given the excellent food. Well it’s simple. Italy is a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

St Peter’s Square and Basilica – A Week in Rome

After getting lost in the Vatican Museum, our next order of business was to get lost in the world's biggest Christian church, St. Peter's Basilica.

After getting lost in the Vatican Museum, our next order of business was to get lost in the world’s biggest Christian church, St Peter’s Basilica. The church and the oval-shaped “square” in front of it provide the most recognizable feature … Continue reading → Continue reading →

A week in Rome: Imperial Lion

Stray cats are all over Rome, and in one park they are even fed by a charity.

Click here for previous chapters of “A Week in Rome.” Stray cats are all over Rome, and in one park they are even fed by a charity. You see them stalking through the monuments, the last echoes of the ancient … Continue reading → Continue reading →

St. Peter in Chains – A Week in Rome

Rome is the city where much of the stuff you read about in myth, legend, and various holy books sits in front of you, mugging for pictures. Walking about town the city you stumble on not small moments in history, but very, very big ones.