Rome, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. The site of sculptures, fountains, and artifacts greater than one can imagine – there was no way we could see it all during our three-day visit, but we would definitely try.
Between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill is the Arch of Constantine. We picked up a focaccia and some tea from the local Carrefour and ate lunch sitting on a nearby hill. A few other folks had the same idea and were eating a variety of cheeses, sandwiches, and pizzas.
We could see the Colosseum right across from the arch and wandered around the structure, through the crowds of tourists and tour guides. We ran into guides that offered to do a tour and skip the line to get into the Colosseum, but with so many tourists inside the Colosseum we figured we could get a better view of the building from outside.
We passed the Altare della Patria nearly every day on the way from our Airbnb to the center of Rome. Eventually, on the second or third pass we decided to go in, it turns out that there is a small free exhibit inside the Altare della Patria.
The Fontana del Pantheon is located in the Piazza della Rotonda, in front of the Roman Pantheon. Out on the street there were many folks taking pictures and washing their hands, you could also fill up your water bottle straight from the fountain.
Walking into the Pantheon we looked up at the column of light shining through the domed structure. There was plenty of room to wander since guards controlled the number of tourists allowed in the building at a time.
Behind the Piazza del Campidoglio you can get a great view of the Roman Forum. If you look closely enough you can see the Colosseum in the distance.
After seeing many of the sites in Rome, we decided to spend a day at the Vatican. The Vatican has some of the longest lines we have seen – thousands were gathered in the blistering heat with no shade in sight. Once inside, we saw several Swiss Guards in their traditional garb, a garb that looks more suited for circus acts or a court jester who would with the slightest provocation perform several backflips and break into song about a bear covered in hair.
The Vatican was one of our last stops in Rome and one of our favorite experiences yet. Without a doubt we can’t wait for our next destination: Venice.