Day 2 - Rome

November 7, 2010

Compo D Fiori Freshness

All the fresh meats and cheeses you can imagine!

Can you smell the beautiful flowers? 

I wanted to take them all home!

We woke early - it took just 10-1/2 hours to recover from the complete exhaustion of our travels - we opened the windows and let the cool air and the quiet of the morning dissent upon the apartment.  It was about 6am, and wonderful to wake up and be in Rome!  We are getting the hang of our showers, each with its own quirts - then off we headed to Piazza Compo D Fiori - (established as a market in 1859, means Field of Flowers, was once used for executions) which is now an active market in the early morning everyday but Sunday.  Was full of tents and stalls selling Lemoncello, Balsamic Vinegar, fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, pasta, and whatever one can sell the locals and the tourists! We taste tested Lemoncello at 10am - that will wake you up!  Is supposed to be good for digestion, so start early, right?  Also taste tested Balsamic vinegar, bought fresh mozzarella and tomatoes and fresh made fettuccine, hmm Sunday dinner has been planned!  Oh yes, it wouldn't be complete without fresh parmigiana regiano - our flat has a grater :-)

Heading toward the Pantheon we came upon San Luigi - an old church with the beautiful quiet court yard.

San Luigi

Random Tourist :-)

Love the serenity of the courtyard!

 

 

 

 

The obelisk - granite monolith 21 feet tall, 13th century BC

These guys were pretty bored keeping everyone safe and happy to pose :-)

Random fountain with random tourist

 We found the Piazza Della Rotonda on the way to the Pantheon, the fountain was built in 1575.

Here came upon a young woman with a wonderful voice, Elizabeth  Candelieri - we were happy to buy her CD - is just wonderful, all in Italian so don't know what she is saying but could listen to her sing for a long time!

Elizabeth Candelieri - wonderful voice!

The simple things!

Pantheon Exterior Pillar

One of EC's favorite places in the world is the Pantheon, it is the best-preserved Roman monument in the world, almost 2,000 years old.  It was designed in the style of a traditional pagan Greek temple, build in 27BC.    A single bronze door leads the way to the immense interior, the oculus (hole to the outside in the dome) was built to provide a direct meditation to the heavens.  There are 16 Egyptians granite columns with capitals, and the floor is paved with marble and granite.

The dome spans 142 feet (the largest ever built before reinforced concrete came to be in the 20th century - knew you were dieing to know!)  Today the Pantheon is in essence a mausoleum of the royalty of Italy.

Exterior of Pantheon - repairs are good!

Pantheon Exterior

The oculus - would love to see it rain!

Interior of Pantheon

Pantheon Interior

Not quite sure why the guards?

The center alter

The sun shone bright!

Rumor has it the engineers put this opening in to see how it was built!

Pantheon Interior

Beautiful Marble and granite floor

Immense door!

 

 

 

After the Pantheon we headed to the Fontana Di Trevi - if you saw When in Rome or 3 coins in a Fountain, you have seen Fontana Di Trevi.  The legend is if you throw a coin in the fountain the person that picks it up will love you forever, there is also the  ritual that you throw two coins in the fountain, the first insures you will return safely to Rome, and second that your wish will come true.  In reality, they collect all the coins and donate them the Italy's religious charities!  It is a beautiful fountain with an immense back drop (this is actually the end of a building).  The imposing figure on the backdrop of the fountain is Neptune.  The water is clear and blue and the fountain (designed in 1732 after Pope  Clement XII held a competition). 

Fontana Di Trevi

A coin for a wish!

Fontana Di Trevi

Neptune in the center of Fontana Di Trevi - 1732

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EC taking pictures of the fountain

Spanish Steps

From the Fountain we found our way to the Spanish Steps - we trudged up hills and small alleys wound our way - me always having confidence that EC knew her way after she has studied the maps for months.  Much to our surprise we found ourselves at the TOP of the Spanish Steps (a good thing really).  Piazza Di Spagna (or the Spanish Steps) is reported to be one of most unusual fountains as at the base of the steps it is boat shaped and called Fontana della Barcaccia, and was built to commemorate the great flood of 1598. 

View from the top of the Spanish steps - St. Peter's Basilica in the background

Wonderful view - and worth the climb :-)

Vantage point -church at the top

The obelisk outside church Trinita Dei Monti at the top

Part way down

The church at the top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the Spanish Steps we headed down a street called Via Condotti, it the high-rent district, it has all the big names, Gucci, Prada, Armoni, Burberry, Dior, Fendi, Bulgari, Hermes, Cartier, Chanel, Ferragamo, Valentino.  They even had a Jimmy Choo shoe store (for all Sex in the City fans!).

 We stopped for a late lunch outside the Pantheon (EC has had better veal, I had Canolli's - sauce was really great :-).

The time was getting near the afternoon when things close, so we headed back in the direction of our flat.  But we needed to see if we could find the famous fabric store that is reported to be multi-story with every kind of fabric imaginable and over 200,000 bolts of fabric!  YES YES, the Bassetti Tessuti - we found it!  They were closed but we will head back on Tuesday for sure.

We got back to the flat, and both crashed for a nap - we are getting on the Italian time schedule really fast.  Then we headed out and found great Italian pizza (super thin crust, little sauce, great cheeses - yummmm).  We walked all over after dinner.  I did find a wine store with a woman that spoke "a little English" - she lined me out with a local wine  - that is great - is called Stocco Verduzzo, a product of Italy and very good.  They do seem to like their Red Wines (I am a fan of whites).  So with a glass of wine and a blog complete - we are off to get some sleep.  Rome is all we expected and more!  Just great fun!
K and EC