Ancient Roma

Today was absolutely amazing! Starting off by eating a quiet breakfast on the terrace overlooking our courtyard, before the rest of the house was awake, gave me some time to let the realization that I am actually in ROME set in!

Three of us went to mass at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere (built in the 3^rd century and one of the oldest churches in Rome), which is about a 10-15 minute walk from home. I was surprised by how much Italian I was able to understand. I definitely didn’t get the understanding of any of the readings or prayers, but I was able to pick out a significant number of words that I understood! It was definitely more than I thought that I would understand. Mass was also very much more informal- people showed up close to a half hour late (assuming the majority were tourists joining the mass as they happened upon the church), a few answered cell phones, and at communion people didn’t go up to the priest row by row, but rather all flooded the center aisle.

Packing a lunch, a group of us headed out to explore ancient Rome. We started by walking along the river and then up into a hill top neighborhood Aventine. We ended up emerging on the hillside opposite the Palatine Hill with a gorgeous panoramic view. Wandering down to the big green space in the valley, we realized we were standing in the middle of the Circus Maximus-that is were the chariot rides took place in ancient Rome! The scale of the field was unbelievable (as is everything else we’ve seen!). We then circled around the hill and found the Arco di Constantino (Arch of Constantine) and the Colosseum. Both were so much larger than I could have ever imagined despite studying them in class! I was pretty much speechless for a while because the essence of history is very strong. The realization that I am in Rome is finally sinking in!! Wandering with absolutely no plan, ignoring maps, and having no time agenda was the best way we could have experienced the sights. Stumbling upon one ruin after another, it was a very personal and memorable way of seeing things. We also wandered through the Forum, Campidoglio, Capitoline Hill, Piazza Venezia, Trajan Column and Monument of Victor Emanuel. Climbing the steps up to the Monument’s panoramic view was very much worth the climb because we could see all of ancient Rome and still hear the street musicians and sounds of the pedestrians exploring ancient Rome! After making an almost 4-hour loop without maps, we ended up back near our apartment, which was good because by that point we were all happily exhausted!  

Tiber River- major river in Italy- our apartment complex is adjacent to the river

Aventine Hill

Aventine Hill neighborhood

Kelly, Marj, Dave, Will, Me and Melissa

Palatine Hill

View down into the Circus Maximus

At the center of the Circus Maximus

Arch of Constantine

Colosseum

Kelly and I

Victor Emmanuel Monument visible on Capitoline Hill

One of the views from the monument's terrace

Kelly, Marj and Melissa

Me, Marj and Dave

Kara, Kelly, Marj and I

Forum and Ancient Rome

Campodoglio

Forum

Today it definitely started to feel like we are truly in Rome! Walking the streets of ancient Rome with not a care or worry (minus watching out for pickpockets) it truly felt like I was experiencing the essence of ancient Rome!