Thursday, November 7th

We started the day with a sightseeing tour of Vatican City. Vatican City, officially Vatican City State, is a landlocked, sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of around 840. This makes Vatican City the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population.

Vatican City is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state, ruled by the Bishop of Rome—the Pope. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergymen of various national origins. It is the sovereign territory of the Holy See (Latin: Sancta Sedes) and the location of the Pope's residence, referred to as the Apostolic Palace.

In the city are cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. The unique economy of Vatican City is supported financially by the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications.

We’ll see the wonderful art treasures in the Vatican Museum and Gallery and Raphael’s Rooms. We’ll also view Michelangelo’s magnificent frescoes in the Sistine Chapel including the famous Last Judgment and The Creation of Man.

  

This afternoon we visited the remnants of “Ancient” Rome. We saw the Colosseum, that once held 50,000 spectators. Emperor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian Dynasty, started construction of the Colosseum in 72 AD. It was completed in 80 AD, the year after Vespasian's death.

     The huge amphitheater was built on the site of an artificial lake, part of Nero's huge park in the center of Rome which also included the Golden House (Domus Aurea) and the nearby Colossus statue. This giant statue of Nero gave the building its current name.

     The Colosseum was covered with an enormous awning known as the velarium. This protected the spectators from the sun. It was attached to large poles on top of the Colosseum and anchored to the ground by large ropes. A team of some 1,000 men was used to install the awning.

     Emperors used the Colosseum to entertain the public with free games. Those games were a symbol of prestige and power and they were a way for an emperor to increase his popularity.

  

We visited Trevi Fountain where legend has it whoever throws a coin in the fountain will one day return to Rome. The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows Agrippa, the general who built the aqueduct that carries water to the fountain.

 

Leaving the Trevi Fountain we went to see The Spanish Steps. Climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, The Spanish Steps are dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. The Scalinata is the widest staircase in Europe. It is a gathering place. The Early Baroque fountain called Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the ugly Boat"), built in 1627-29 and often credited to Pietro Bernini, father of a more famous son, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, is at the base of The Spanish Steps. The fountain was being renovated.

We returned to the hotel. Prior to departing for the optional dinner excursion, Lisa and I made our way to see the Scala Santa (the Holy Staircase). The Scala Sancta (English: Holy Stairs, Italian: Scala Santa) are, according to the Catholic tradition, the steps that led up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, which Jesus Christ stood on during his Passion on his way to trial. The stairs were, reputedly, brought to Rome by St. Helena in the 4th century. For centuries, the Scala Santa has attracted Christian pilgrims who wished to honor the Passion of Jesus.

Back at the hotel we joined the group for the optional dinner excursion. The excursion took us to Caravano, an Italian restaurant, for a 5-course Italian meal with wine and music (opera). Those who went had a great time!