The Race is On

Today in Rome was the Giro d'Italia. It is a long distance professional bike race that is three weeks long. It started in Venice and ended today in Rome with a 14.4 kilometer route. We had no idea that this was going to happen today and were shocked to see the huge crowds and the roads blocked off for the bikers. It was impossible to get anywhere and the people in the crowds were cheering loudly for their favorite bikers. There was a TV set up near the Colosseum to show the bikers in other parts of the city. Today the winner was Denis Menchov!

Hot Lunch Jam

Our favorite lunchtime food has become paninis. You can get them at most cafes or bars and grab them and go or sit down for lunch. I love paninis here because there is such a variety. You can get prosciutto and cheese, salami and cheese, turkey and mozzarella, mozzarella and spinach, mozzarella and tomatoes, or like my picture, eggs, tomatoes, and lettuce. You can get them hot or cold and they are delicious. The best part is the different breads that your sandwiches come on. Some are thick and fluffy, others have different herbs and spices on top, and some are flat breads.

Next in Line

Lining the streets of Pincio Gardens are various busts of remarkable people from Rome’s history including artists, heroes, and a few philosophers. Before coming to Rome I had no idea what a “bust” was. It is a portrait or sculpture of a person showing only the head and shoulders. There are a total of 228 white marble busts in all. Unfortunately, some are falling apart or display some graffiti but most of that can be ignored.

*Added information taken from DK Eyewitness Guide to Rome and http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/pinciogardens.htm

Romance and the Dead

Today we didn't have class so we decided we would do a little exploring on our own. We went to the Milvian Bridge. I had no idea it was so far but it ended up being about a four mile walk. So the bridge has been very prevalent in Rome's history during the wars but that is not why we went to see it. In 2006, it became a place for couples to go and express their "everlasting love". It started with a movie "Ho Voglia di Te" that was popular among Italian teenagers. In the movie a young couple took a padlock, wrote their names on it, and locked it up with a chain around a lamp post. Teenagers then started doing this same thing on the Ponte Milvio. They started with a lamp post and the lamp post got so heavy that it almost fell over. So the Mayor of Rome took down the lamp post and put up posts along the bridge for people to put their locks on. So all along the bridge are these posts covered in different padlocks with people's initials and various sayings on them. People then throw the keys into the Tiber River to symbolize their "undying" love. The whole bridge is covered in graffiti with people's love notes to each other.

After we saw the bridge we stopped by the Crypt of the Capuchins. I had no idea what to expect but it was an indescribable site. The Capuchin friars have buried their dead in this "cemetery" underneath a church. But instead of just burying their dead, they took their bones and displayed them in various ways and designs. So there were six rooms in total: The Crypt of Resurrection, the Mass Chapel, the Crypt of the Skulls, Crypt of the Pelvises, the Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones, and the Crypt of the Three Skeletons. There is a main "display" and then there were bones all over the walls and ceilings arranged in different shapes and designs. Even the chandeliers were made of human bones. There are 40,000 monks buried in the crypt! It was actually pretty gross and a little bit disturbing. We weren't allowed to take pictures out of respect for the dead so here is a picture from the website. It was truly an unusual place.

Walk This Way

Today for class we paired up and each picked a fountain in Rome to lead our class to. We started at the church, Santa Maria in Trastevere at that fountain. The first fountain we visited was Fontana dell’Acqua Paola. This fountain commemorates the reopening of an aqueduct in 1612. Generations of Romans bathed and washed their vegetables in this fresh water fountain despite many laws against it. It was on top of Janiculum Hill and was quite a hike to get there but the fountain was beautiful, as was the view.

We then went to the Piazza della Bocca della Veritá Fountain which was right across from the Bocca della Veritá, the Mouth of Truth. Legend has it that if you put your hand in the mouth, the jaws would snap shut over the hands of those that told lies. No jaws snapped down on my hand!

Joe and I then led the class to the Fontana delle Tartarughe, fountain of the tortoises. It was built between 1581 and 1588 and displays 4 youths resting a foot on the head of a dolphin. The tortoises were added by an unknown sculptor nearly a century later.

*Added information from DK Eyewitness Guide to Rome

Barca, Barca, Barca!

Last night was the Rome Final 2009 of the UEFA Champions League. It is the most important European football cup. It was between Manchester United and Barcelona. Rome was packed for the big event. The night before, we walked past the Trevi Fountain and saw a huge crowd of Barcelona fans had congregated and were chanting over and over again for Barcelona. We went out to watch the big game because we do not have a TV in our apartment. Most of the bars were shut down because Rome had stopped selling alcohol from 11 PM Tuesday night and would not sell it again until Thursday morning. The bars that were open were packed with fans straining to see the TV. Barcelona won 2-0! I have never watched a European football game before and I know nothing about the sport but it was very exciting to watch with all of the passionate fans that invaded Rome.

Barcelona fans crowding the Trevi Fountain Tuesday night.

Walking Through the Ruins

Today we went to the Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum. We started at the Palatine Hill and worked our way down. The Palatine was where, according to legend, Romulus and Remus were raised by a wolf in one of the caves there. Later, the Palatine became a very popular place for emperors to build their palaces. Augustus was born here and later continued to live here. You can see his old house and also the House of Livia, his second wife. The emperors Tiberius, Caligula, and Domitian all built large, fancy palaces here. This is a picture of the stadium that was part of the Imperial Palace and was used by emperors as a private garden.

We had seen most of the Roman Forum from afar as part of class but we walked through it to get a better look. My favorite was the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. It was first dedicated by the Emperor Antoninus Pius to his late wife Faustina in AD 141. It was later rededicated to them both after the emperor's death. In the 11th century it became a church because it was thought that St. Lawrence or San Lorenzo was condemned to death there.

The Colosseum is one of my favorite places here in Rome. It is right outside of our apartment and we pass by it at least twice a day. Every time, I am mesmerized by this vast structure. We had a few readings for class about the Colosseum that enriched my visit there. This was the site of mass slaughters of both people and animals. It is famously known for its gladiator fights. But many Christians died here for their faith, refusing to follow the Catholic faith. Sometimes they were killed by animals, other times they were set to fight another person, sometimes a prisoner, who were both fighting for their life and their freedom. When visiting the Colosseum, you could see under the floor where the animals and people were kept prior to their fights.

*Added information from DK Eyewitness Guide to Rome

Salad Days are Here Again

Today, after walking around to different churches for class, we decided to grab lunch by the Colosseum. We went to a very authentically Italian place- there was no English on the menu. I ordered a salad with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, olives, and anchovies. However, I did not eat the anchovies. My salad did not come with dressing. It only had some oil over top as most salads do here in Italy. I am a huge fan of dressing usually but I am beginning to enjoy the lighter taste of oil on my salads. It helps that the lettuce, tomatoes, and mozzarella are so fresh here!

Someone to Save You

A striking entity of Pincio Gardens is the obelisk. Emperor Hadrian decided to put the Egyptian-style obelisk in the park during the second century AD. He wanted this obelisk in memory of his favorite slave- Antinous. According to some reports, Antinous died saving the emperor’s life. The obelisk was put in the gardens in 1822 by Pope Pius VII.

*Added information taken from DK Eyewitness Guide to Rome and http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/pinciogardens.htm

On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful

This weekend we decided to escape the busy city of Rome and jet off to the Amalfi Coast. It was so beautiful! The whole coast is rocky cliffs surrounded by the clear blue Mediterranean. The entire place was stunning.

Our journey getting there, however, was nothing short of an adventure. We woke up at 5 in the morning to catch a train to Naples. But the electronic boards were not working so we didn't know which platform to go to, and apparently no one else did either. It was a scramble to figure out what was going on. I tried my best to speak to some people in Italian and I understood them but no one was helpful. So we missed our train and the one after that and were sitting in the train station for over two hours before the boards finally started working and we could catch the right train. The train ride was fine but once we got to Naples we had to take the Metro to Sorrento. The Metro broke down while we were on our way. So a 45 minute metro ride turned into 2 hours. Then we had to take a bus to the hostel that we were staying in. So that was another hour trip. So by the time we reached our hostel, the warm inviting coast was just what we needed to see.

It was my first time staying in a hostel but this one was great. We had our own little bungalow with 2 rooms, a bathroom, and a little kitchen area. It was perfect for our little weekend getaway.

On Saturday we took a ferry to the island of Capri and enjoyed a fabulous day exploring the island and laying on the rocky but beautiful beach. The water was so refreshing, except for the jellyfish.

As part of our ferry ride we got a tour of the outskirts of the island and had the opportunity to see the Blue Grotto. The Blue Grotto is supposedly a "must see" thing on the island. It is a cave that is illuminated by the sunlight, lighting the entire cave in a bright blue glow. So we decided we would see it. I was unfortunately separated from my group of friends but I still got to see the Blue Grotto and I must say, it was a disappointment. We didn't see the blue glow. We saw the cave. The boat rower's song though was highly entertaining.

The weekend overall was a fabulous getaway to the most beautiful place I have ever seen and we were a little bit sad to return to the hot, busy city and our schoolwork.

On the plus side we did have our first star sighting!! On our way home from the train station we saw Eva Longoria Parker and her husband Tony Parker lunching at a restaurant! We were star struck!

Life Can Be Sweet

Italy is famously known for its gelato. Unfortunately, I don't like it, but I did try it. You can get gelato at a cafe, bar, or gelateria and one is found on almost every corner. My roommates and I went to Giolitti, one of the very famous gelaterias in Rome. So famous, it even made my map. We went around lunch time so it was incredibly crowded, packed with workers on their lunch break grabbing a quick espresso or a gelato before heading back to work. While gelato is Italy's ice cream, there a few major differences between gelato and ice cream. For starters, they are made differently. Ice cream is made by mixing cream, milk, and sugar, and then adding air. Gelato does not add air so it is denser than ice cream. Gelato is served at a lower temperature than ice cream, so it melts faster in your mouth, giving you a taste of more flavor, faster. Gelato also has 15-20% less butterfat than ice cream. Gelato comes in a plethora of flavors. Giolitti offers more different flavors of gelato than any place we have gone to thus far. They even put more than one flavor on a cone at a time!

*Added information is from WhyGelato.com - A Gelato-Inspired Resource. 20 May 2009 .

Hickory Dickory Dock

One of my favorite things about Pincio Garden is the water clock. It looks like something straight out of a fairytale. The clock sits on a huge rock in a little pond all to itself, surrounded by trees and plants. Vines grow up the huge Grandfather clock and the water vibrates with the sounds of the clock gonging on the hour. It sits on a little street, Via dell-Orologio, road of the clock. It was built by a Dominican monk, Giovanni Embriaco, during the 19th century and was even displayed at the Paris Exhibition of 1889.

Story of an Artist

Raffaelo Sanzio, although he is more commonly known by just his first name, was one of the great artists of the Renaissance era along with Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo. He studied in Perusia under Perugino for four years. In his early works his style reflected his educated at the Perugino School but in his later works, he developed his own style which was influenced greatly by both Leonardo and Michelangelo. His most famous works include The School of Athens, which is currently displayed in the Vatican Museum, The Triumph of Galatea, and Sistine Madonna. The work that established Raphael as a prominent artist in Rome was his work in the Vatican. Pope Julius II asked Raphael to redecorate the four rooms of his private apartments. So Raphael and his students began the work in 1508 but Raphael died before it was all completed. The frescoes show the religious and philosophical ideals of the Renaissance. The four rooms are the Hall of Constantine, the Room of Heliodorus, the Room of the Segnatura, and the Room of The Fire in the Borgo. Raphael's contribution to the High Renaissance was his ability to not only depict the scene of an event but to decipher the subject.

The Dispute over the Holy Sacrament from Room of the Segnatura

*Additional Information taken from "Raphael." Mark Harden's Artchive. 21 May 2009 http://www.artchive.com/artchive/R/raphael.html. and Publishing, DK. Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides). New York: DK Travel, 2003.*Images taken from nicholas.learnerblogs.org/.../13/raphael-sanzio/ and http://flickr.com/photos/37409770@N00/2103929036

The View From the Top

Today we visited St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican City. It was absolutely stunning. The church was so big and every inch was covered in beautiful artwork. I did not know how much there was to see in the basilica but there was the dome, designed by Michelangelo, the Pieta also by Michelangelo, the throne of St. Peter, and the Baldacchino by Bernini.

After we visited the Basilica, we tried to visit the Vatican Museum but it was closed because today was Ascension Thursday- the 40th day after Easter Sunday, marking Jesus's ascension into Heaven. So instead, we climbed the many stairs to the top of the St. Peter's dome.

Half way up, you could look down into the basilica and we got to oversee the ongoing mass in celebration of the holy say. The stairs were a little bit scary, very cramped, and a little smelly, but the view at the top was worth the climb. You could see the entire Piazza San Pietro, the Vatican gardens, and most of the city. It was absolutely amazing.

This Little Piggy Went to Market

We went to the open market at Campo de'Fiori today. I was surprised at the variety of things for sale. They had rows and rows of beautifully colorful fresh fruit and vegetables, different pasta noodles, dried fruit, nuts, kitchen gadgets, all different kinds of flowers, some clothes, scarves, ad jewelry. All of the vendors were more than happy to help you shop at their stands, and only some bordered on being pushy. The fresh fruit and vegetables were sold at a much better price than at the grocery stores and the selection was incredibly better. The atmosphere was far more relaxing than the stressful super markets where no one wants to help you, you feel rushed to bag your own groceries, and you get dirty looks if you don't have exact change.

5 O'Clock at the Oasis

Today we made the trek to Pincio Gardens. It is a little bit difficult to get to because it sits on top of Piazza del Popolo and you have to climb a lot of stairs to get to the top. But as soon as you make it, it is completely worth it. The view is breathtaking. Not only do you get the great aerial view of Piazza del Popolo, you can see most of the city. As you walk deeper into the gardens, you get further and further away from the chaos of the city. It is a nice, quiet and peaceful getaway. The gardens are relatively quiet, the trees offer much welcome shaded areas, and the benches offer a nice place to sit.

Get Me to the Church on Time

Today we visited a few churches and my favorite one was Sant'Ignazio di Loyola. It's located in a beautiful piazza- Piazza di Sant'Ignazio. The church doesn't looking especially magnificent from the outside but as soon as you go inside you are speechless. Your eyes are immediately drawn upward to the beautiful ceiling that depicts biblical scenes across a blue sky. All along the sides of the church are elaborate altars and tombs, each exquisitely decorated.

The thing that surprised me the most was the "dome". Right in the middle of the church, it looks like there is a huge dome, as was the original plan for the church. But the dome was never built and the area was filled in, but it was painted to give you the illusion of a dome! It was pretty incredible to see because if my professor wouldn't of told me that, I never would of known. It is a pretty well-known tourist site, I think due mainly to the amazing artwork and the unusual, optical illusion "dome".

The Pantheon

Today for class we visited the Pantheon. It was actually the second time I have explored the inside of the Pantheon since I have been in Rome, but I love it. It is so huge that it is overwhelming to take it all in.

The inscription on the front of the Pantheon still reads the original Latin inscription...


"M. AGRIPPA.L.F.COSTERTIUM.FECIT” which means “Marcus Agrippa son of Lucius, having been consul three times made it”. How cool is that to have your name inscribed on a building that has lasted for centuries! Emperor Hadrian built this Pantheon to replace Marcus Agrippa's Pantheon that burned to the ground.

Of course the most striking thing about the Pantheon is the incredible architecture. The sheer enormity of the inside is crazy. The marble floor is beautiful and the granite pillars outside are wider than a person and 10 times as tall. Being inside the Pantheon, looking up at the oculus, makes you feel incredibly small.

*Added information from "Rome.info Roman Pantheon." Rome.info Rome tourist information, Ancient Rome travel guide. 19 May 2009 http://www.rome.info/pantheon/.

Garden of Delights

For my class, I have to choose a place in Rome that I am going to continually explore and write about in my blog. I have chosen Pincio Gardens. It is located on the eastern side of Piazza del Popolo and can be reached by a set of stairs that leads uphill so that it overlooks the Piazza. The gardens were designed by Giuseppe Valadier in the early 19th century. This, now famous garden, has been visited by various iconic people, such as: Gandhi, Mussolini, Richard Strauss, and King Farouk of Egypt. It has become known as one of the many romantic spots in Rome. It is also home to the exquisite restaurant, Casina Valadier.

*Picture is taken from http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/pinciogardens.htm

*Added information was from Publishing, DK. Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides). New York: DK Travel, 2003.

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

For my class, we have to pick an ongoing theme for our blogs. Since Italy is an area of such lavish cuisine, I have chosen food for my theme. So far, I have loved everything I have eaten. And coming from a usually picky eater, that is saying something. In Italy you can get food from a multitude of places like a ristorante, a trattoria, an enoteca, or a birrerie to name a few, all of which are scattered throughout the city. A ristorante is a more elegant place to eat and is therefore more expensive. A trattoria is more of a family-run business and offers excellent home cooking. An enoteca offers snacks, rather than full course meals, and many times include well-stock wine shops. A birrerie is better for an informal, sit-down lunch or dinner. One thing I love about Italian restaurants is the outdoor seating. Most restaurants have their tables outside and you can enjoy your food and the excellent weather, as well as the sights!

*Picture is taken from www.foodherald.com/images/italian-forum-leich

*Added information was from Publishing, DK. Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides). New York: DK Travel, 2003.

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

We started off this beautiful day at the Roman Forum. Back in the day, the Forum was the center of political, commercial, and judicial life in ancient Rome. And emperors from many different eras erected arches to themselves throughout the forum. From where we stood, we had an amazing view of the Western Forum that was breath taking. Eight columns of the Temple of Saturn is still standing, and right next to it are the three remaining columns of the Temple of Vespasian, as seen in my picture.

Then, after class, we went to the Trevi Fountain, which I learned is considered a mostra which in direct translation means show or exhibit. But this fountain was built as a monument to mark the end of an aqueduct, the Acqua Vergine. Tradition is to throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain to ensure your return to Rome.

From the Trevi Fountain we went to the Spanish Steps which were built in the 17th century by the French owners of Trinita dei Monti to connect the church with Piazza di Spagna. Unfortunately, the azaleas weren't blooming for our visit, but the site was striking nonetheless.

*This picture was taken from http://www.fitzpat.com/kelly/europe_web/graph...

*Added information was from Publishing, DK. Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides). New York: DK Travel, 2003.