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Andrys Basten | profile | all galleries >> ITALY Photos - Tuscany photos - 2006 (partial) >> Rome photos: Arch of Constantine & Colosseum visits tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Rome photos - Day One | Rome tourbus photos : Impressions from a doubledecker | Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Tour Photos | Rome photos: Arch of Constantine & Colosseum visits | Civita di Bagnoregio Photos | Pitigliano photos | Photos: Sorano and Sovana day trip | Montepulciano photos | Photos : Pienza to Siena and Montalcino | Siena Photos, Part 1 | Siena Photos, Part 2 | Colle di Val d'Elsa photos, #1 of 2 | San Gimignano photos, #1 of 2 | San Gimignano photos, #2 of 2 | Colle di Val d'Elsa photos, #2 of 2 | Volterra photos - (In progress) | Lucca photos, Day 1 | Life atop the Lucca Wall - Lucca Photos 2 | Carrara photos - Fantiscritti Quarry, Michelangelo's marble source | Florence photos, #1-a of 5 | Florence photos, #1-b - Michelangelo's DAVID, Ghiberti, Fra Angelico | Florence , #2 of 5 - Duomo and Uffizi Museum photos | Florence photos, #4 - Cellini's Perseus, Michelangelo's David | Florence photos #5 of 5 - duomo area details | Tourist House Ghiberti photos- our Florence b&b

Rome photos: Arch of Constantine & Colosseum visits

Went to see the inside of the Colosseum one night but we arrived at closing time.  We stayed, though, to enjoy the beautiful end-of-day light at the nearby Arch of Constantine, built by the emperor who turned from paganism to Christianity but hid that for awhile.  But, did he actually convert?

    We returned in the morning to make a quick visit to the interior of the Colosseum, (although below-surface areas discovered in recent years were closed to public for restoration work, alas) before heading for the Pantheon (those pics later).

    The travel photos are mainly almost step-by-step pictures for friends interested in the trip.

( For FULL SCREEN: PC's, press/toggle F11.  Mac's, maximize screen. )

A new day in Rome from Albergo Romano window
A new day in Rome from Albergo Romano window		 Rome cars from window through slats
Rome cars from window through slats		 In normal early morning light, imposing old thing.
In normal early morning light, imposing old thing.		 Gray-brown in normal light
Gray-brown in normal light
The now usual scene, with Arch of Constantine behind
The now usual scene, with Arch of Constantine behind		 Arch of Constantine at twilight - 7pm
Arch of Constantine at twilight - 7pm		 Arch and theatre
Arch and theatre		 Squinting in the sun since 315 AD or so, puzzling over the pilgrims
Squinting in the sun since 315 AD or so, puzzling over the pilgrims
The light really was golden at that hour.
The light really was golden at that hour.		 Broken area seen from Arch of Constantine
Broken area seen from Arch of Constantine		 Wider-angle shot, with less people
Wider-angle shot, with less people		 Restful, visiting at this late hour
Restful, visiting at this late hour
Only two people on that Colosseum lawn
Only two people on that Colosseum lawn		 Light was highlighting only the statues (of prisoners).
Light was highlighting only the statues (of prisoners).		 Triumphal arches commemorate military/political wins.
Triumphal arches commemorate military/political wins.		 Side relief was taken from an earlierTrajan site (many centuries represented on the Arch).
Side relief was taken from an earlierTrajan site (many centuries represented on the Arch).
Full scene on side, zoomed. Constantine replaced older heads with his own likeness!
Full scene on side, zoomed. Constantine replaced older heads with his own likeness!		 First third of scene, zoomed. Note trophy head being raised, at left top
First third of scene, zoomed. Note trophy head being raised, at left top		 Close-up of Leader 1 near left center of full scene
Close-up of Leader 1 near left center of full scene		 Leader 2 battling Leader 1 (one of them originally Trajan)
Leader 2 battling Leader 1 (one of them originally Trajan)
Closer-up (like a young Brando)
Closer-up (like a young Brando)		 Full area on the right side
Full area on the right side		 The two battlers in black & white
The two battlers in black & white		 7:30pm. The only shot with all 4 statues. May delete this one..
7:30pm. The only shot with all 4 statues. May delete this one..
Closeup of bottom of Arch
Closeup of bottom of Arch		 Colosseum at dusk, from Arch
Colosseum at dusk, from Arch		 The other side of the Arch
The other side of the Arch		 Constantine making offering to Apollo or Diana.
Constantine making offering to Apollo or Diana.
A relief scupture I just liked. Expressive face and the horse's eyes.
A relief scupture I just liked. Expressive face and the horse's eyes.		 Arch hidden by trees
Arch hidden by trees		 Wider shot
Wider shot		 Various views of ye olde Colosseum
Various views of ye olde Colosseum
Off kilter one appealed to me
Off kilter one appealed to me		 It looks like a stage set. In a way, it is.
It looks like a stage set. In a way, it is.		 Colosseum is eternally a fixer-upper.
Colosseum is eternally a fixer-upper.		 By sundown, at almost 8pm
By sundown, at almost 8pm
Next morning! We got inside but access was restricted.
Next morning! We got inside but access was restricted.		 The entrance area
The entrance area		 Strange covering must be newish?
Strange covering must be newish?		 Looking across, with torn-up ground below
Looking across, with torn-up ground below
This place, with all its historical drama, fascinates me, obviously.
This place, with all its historical drama, fascinates me, obviously.		 This place must have been something to experience.
This place must have been something to experience.		 Liked the various textures in the patchwork ! collection here.
Liked the various textures in the patchwork ! collection here.		 Seen from an inside corridor looking out
Seen from an inside corridor looking out
What the gladiators saw before going up the stairs
What the gladiators saw before going up the stairs		 Leaving area at 10am. Horse & buggy and gladiators getting into place.
Leaving area at 10am. Horse & buggy and gladiators getting into place.		 Imperial guards pose for $. This blurred shot wasn't posed.
Imperial guards pose for $. This blurred shot wasn't posed.		 Sweet horse
Sweet horse

comment | share
Andrys Basten04-Feb-2012 21:49
To Guest who had the school project some time ago, I missed your note but wanted to
say, if you ever get back here, how nice that was to read about the effect on your reaction
to the project. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write and for letting me know that
the comments can be helpful :-)
Guest 11-Jul-2008 18:38
cool photogallery, wana go there:)
Guest 09-Apr-2008 00:09
Great photos! I was working on a school project about the Arch of Constantine, which I found rather boring. Your pictures gave me a completely new perspective. The lighting, and angles in each shot really show the beauty of the arch.
Thank you.
Guest 12-Nov-2007 01:05
I enjoyed all of the pictures and the comments
Guest 05-Jul-2007 18:10
i enjoyed the comments on the bottom of each picture.... it helps to know what you are looking at!

:)
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