CA to Palm Beach: Long Weekend in Rome

Last October, Steve took me to Rome for a long weekend.

I arrived early in the morning. I took a 4 hour nap and then got up around 1:00 to go tour the city while Steve was in meetings.

Hard to believe that these amazing ruins more than 2000 years old are on almost every corner.

The Colliseum was amazing to see in person. I find it fascinating that the Colliseum was built almost 2000 years ago and we are still building sports arenas the same way.

Some entertainment to see as I was walking around town.

Steve joined me the following day for a spectacular evening. First, was a kiss and a coin throw into the Trevi Fountain. The story goes, If you throw a coin into the fountain, you are guaranteed to return to Rome.

Starting during the Renaissance period, the Popes decorated the end of the aqueducts they restored with extraordinary fountains.

Then we were off to the Pantheon. The Pantheon was an ancient temple in Rome that was converted to a church. Since it is a holy site, you are required to cover shoulders.

In the 16th century, Michelangelo came to the Pantheon to study its dome before he began work on the dome of St. Peter's (whose dome is 2 feet smaller). The Pantheon was inspiration for many other famous domed buildings including Thomas Jefferson's Library at the University of Virginia. It was so beautiful.

It is the most complete ancient building in Rome. The Pantheon was dedicated to pan theos, "all the gods." When it became a church, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs.

The Pantheon is the burial place of several important Italians (including the artist Raphael), and it remains an active church.

We were off to the Vatican City. The open space which lies before the basilica was redesigned in the 1600s designed "so that the greatest number of people could see the Pope give his blessing."