ITALY - Rome

Location - Western Europe; Capital - Rome; Population - 60 million; Currency - Euro MORE ITALY

Following the Vatican City I spent a few days in Rome before my flight back to London, in November 2007.

The Euro

Castel Sant'Angelo, close to the Vatican, was built in the 2nd century by Hadrian, Rome

Walking along the Tiber river next to Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome

The Spanish Steps were built in 1725 and named after the Spanish Embassy nearby, Rome

The Spanish Steps, Rome

Looking down from the top of the Spanish Steps to the Piazza di Spagna , Rome

There's plenty of designer shops near the Spanish Steps in Rome 

Overlooking the Spanish Steps, Rome

Sidestreets off the Via del Corso, Rome

The Colosseum, originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre, was the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire - Rome

The Colosseum could hold 50,000 spectators who would watch gladiatoral battles and other public events - Rome

Building of the Colosseum was completed in 80AD and it's use continued until the 6th century - Rome

More info

The inner and outer walls of the Colosseum - Rome

The Colosseum - Rome

The Colosseum - Rome

Between the outer wall and the Colosseum arena - Rome

Part of the arena floor has been reconstructed.
Underneath the floor lies the hypogeum which housed the gladiators, slaves, animals and hydraulic mechanisms - Rome

Corridors in the Colosseum, Rome

The Arch of Constantine as seen from the Colosseum.
It was built following Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD - Rome

The Domus Augsutana courtyard, the official residence of the emperors, is one of the Roman ruins on Palatine Hill, Rome

At the edge of Palatine Hill looking south west is the Circus Maximus, where 200,000 would watch chariot races. It's little more than a park now - Rome

The Palatine Museum, Palatine Hill - Rome

There's excellent views of the Roman Forum from Palatine Hill, Rome

The Roman Forum, with the Templo di Saturno on the left - Rome

The Basilica of Maxentius, a meeting hall in the Roman Forum - Rome

Templo di Saturno, Roman Forum - Rome

The top of Il Vittoriano (left) is visible from the Roman Forum - Rome

Behind the Roman Forum is the Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo in 1538 - Rome

A statue of Marcus Aurelius in Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome

Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome

A statue of Pollux in Piazza del Campidoglio.
Castor, his twin according to Roman mythology, is on the opposite side of the staircase - Rome

Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome

Returning from the Piazza del Campidoglio to the Roman Forum - Rome

The Teatro di Marcello, or Marcellus Theatre, adds a Renaissance palazzo to a 1st century BC base.
It's now been converted to luxury flats - Rome

More info here

The Tiber river near Isola Tiberina, Rome

Isola Tiberina lies in the Tiber river and is supposed to be the smallest inhabited island in the world - Rome

A lake in Villa Borghese, Rome

Looking down on Piazza del Popolo from Pincio, near Villa Borghese, Rome

Pincio is in the background, above Piazza del Popolo - Rome

Another sidestreet off Via del Corso, Rome

One of my favourite sights in Rome, the Trevi Fountain, was completed in 1762 by Nicola Salvi

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

Seahorses and Neptune, the god of the sea in Roman mythology, rise from the water - Trevi Fountain, Rome

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

A walk between the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, Rome

The Pantheon was built around 120AD under Hadrian's reign - Rome

More info on the Pantheon here

The original Pantheon was built in 27BC by Marcus Agrippa but was destroyed by fire.
The inscription reads 'Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, three times consul made it' - Rome

The Pantheon - Rome

The Pantheon - Rome

The concrete dome has a 9 metre oculus open to the sky - the Pantheon, Rome

Watching you watching me at the Piazza della Rotonda, Rome

Cafes and restaurants ring the Piazza Navona, Rome

Piazza della Repubblica, close to Termini station, Rome

The cobbled streets of Trastevere is a beautiful part of Rome

Trastevere is a district of Rome on the west bank of the Tiber river

The quiet streets of Trastevere, Rome

An ivy covered wall in Trastevere, Rome

Trastevere, Rome

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LINKS

www.enit.it

www.ferroviedellostato.it - Tren Italia's website; buy train tickets online

www.italia.it - Italian tourist board

www.italiandualcitizenship.net/all-about-italy-for-kids - Italy for kids

www.rome.info - Rome website

www.rome30.com - a useful search facility for cheap accommodation in Rome

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.