Rome (Roma) - in the Latium region

Via Aureliana in the Veneto area. We stayed at the Empire Palace Hotel, seen on the right with the flags.	The Empire Palace Hotel on Via Aureliana. We stayed here.	The terrace on the Spanish Steps. Via Condotti, with upscale shops, is in background.
Closer view of Via Condotti from the terrace on the Spanish Steps	The Spanish Steps - upper part. The Spanish Steps were built in the 1720's.	The Spanish Steps - lower part. Saturday night crowd. The Church of the Triniti dei Monti is at the top of the steps.
The Spanish Steps - lower part. Saturday night crowd. View from the Piazza di Spagna. 1	Trevi Fountain. Rome's largest fountain. Completed in the 1760's. Designed by Salvi. Neptune flanked by 2 Tritons.	Judy at Trevi Fountain. The two Tritons are with two "sea horses" - one docile and the other unruly - moods of the sea.
Richard at Trevi Fountain	Judy next to the tiny "Smart" car. We saw lots of these cars throughout Italy.	Judy, Seiko and Bill after dinner at an outdoor cafe on Via Veneto, near the Piazza Barberini
Victor Emmanuel Monument. Inaugurated in the 1920's in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy in 1861.	Piazza del Camidoglio on Capital Hill (Capitoline). Michelangelo designed the piazza and facades of the buildings in the 1500's.	Bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius on Pizza del Campidoglio. It is a copy. Original is in the adjacent Capitoline Museum.
Roman Forum - the square. Mostly from the Republic period (509 - 27 b.c.e.). Political, religious and commercial center.	Richard at the Roman Forum. The Colosseum is in the background.	Forum: Left columns-Temple of Vespasian 81c.e., Right columns-Temple of Saturn 498b.c.e., Arch of Septimius Severus 203c.e.
Forum: Arch of Septimius Severus, 203 c.e.	Forum: Santi Luca e Martina Church - early medieval church - rebuilt in mid 1600's. Also Arch of Septimius Severus.	Forum: Foreground columns - Temple of Saturn 498 b.c.e. Background columns - Temple of Castor & Pollux 484 b.c.e.
Forum: Basilica Julia 54b.c.e.-open area on right and low brown structure behind it. J. Caeser's body burned & consecrated here.	Forum: The building is the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, 141 c.e. Best preserved building in the Forum.	Forum: Jewish prisoners on Arch of Titus (81c.e.) carrying menorah, horns and altar. Celebrates Titus' victory over Jerusalem.
Forum: Arch of Titus in background; Columns - Temple of Castor & Pollux; Right - The Palatine Hill	Forum: Building next to Palatine Hill. Palatine Hill - home to emperors and patricians, e.g., the orator Cicero.	Forum: Buildings and shops next to Palatine Hill.
The Colosseum: Built by Emperor Vespasian. Opened in 80 c.e. Seated 55,000. 80 arched entrances. Rome's greatest amphitheater.	The Colosseum: Site of gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights. Roman structure but Greek facade. 1	Colosseum: Inside
Colosseum: Inside 1	Colosseum: Level below arena. Wild animals lifted to arena from this lower level to battle gladiators.	Colosseum: Judy on the upper level
Colosseum: Richard on the upper level	Colosseum: Judy on the upper level 1	Piazza Navona: Baroque style-buildings from the 1600's-oblong racetrack in 1st c.-building foundations were for the grandstands
Piazza Navona 1: Oblong shape. Church of St. Agnes in Agone (1600's), designed by Borromini. Striking concave facade of church.	Four Rivers Fountain by Bernini on Piazza Navona - Baroque style - unveiled in 1650's.	A mime on the Piazza Navona
Judy and a mime on the Piazza Navona	Judy (in rear) at Tre Scalini on Piazza Navona. We had their world famous "tartufo" chocolate gelato. Judy gave it a thumbs up!	Judy at Tre Scalini on Piazza Navona after having a very satisfying "tartufo" chocolate gelato.
Vatican: Judy and our local Vatican guide Salome, in the Courtyard of the Pine Cone (Cortile della Pigna).	Vatican: Courtyard of the Pine Cone - entrance to the Vatican museums. Scultpure: Sphere Within A Sphere by A. Pomodoro, 1990.	Cortile della Pigna: Bronze pine cone - from ancient Roman fountain - symbolizes a welcome. Niche by Ligorio in mid 1500's.
Sculpture of Artemis: Goddess of fertility (for obvious reasons). It is in the Vatican Museum.	St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican: High Renaissance & Baroque styles. Took more than a century to build, starting in early 1500's.	The Dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Designed by Michelangelo though not finished in his lifetime. Dome is 448 feet high.
Judy on St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.	Richard on St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Columns designed by Bernini (in Baroque style) in 1600's.	Pantheon: Roman temple of "all the gods." Built in 120 a.d. Only ancient Roman building remaining intact.
Pantheon: Perfect sphere on perfect cylinder. Church in middle ages. Before 20th c., largest concrete building ever constructed.	Pantheon: Served as model for Michelangelo's dome of St. Peter's at the Vatican and for Brunelleschi's dome in Florence	Musicians on the Piazza della Rotunda in front of the Pantheon
Campo de' Fiori (Field of Flowers): Cultural and geographic center of secular Rome in the 1500's. Relatively few tourists.	Campo de' Fiori: We ate dinner outdoors at the restaurant with the awning, in the background.	Campo de' Fiori: Statue of Giordano Bruno - burned at the stake here as heretic (1600) - he believed earth moved around the sun.
Campo de' Fiori: Judy and Richard having dinner	Campo de' Fiori: Judy having dinner	Small street-plaza next to Campo de' Fiori showing a fresco on an old residence
Close-up of a fresco on an old residence in a small street-plaza next to Campo de' Fiori	Dwellings built into an ancient Roman wall - near Campo de' Fiori	Great Synagogue: Built in 1874-1904 after emancipation of Italy's Jews following unification of Italy in 1861.
Great Synagogue: Babylonian & Persian features to distinguish it from Christian churches.	Crossing the Tiber River on the Ponte Fabricio. Left - Jewish Ghetto area. Right - Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island)	Judy crossing the Tiber River on the Ponte Fabricio going from the Jewish Ghetto area to Isola Tiberina
Judy crossing the Tiber River on the Ponte Fabricio. Right - Jewish Ghetto area. Left - the Isola Tiberina	From Ponte Fabricio: Left - Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island) in Tiber River. Island strategically important since ancient times.	Crossing the Ponte Cestio from Isola Tibernia (Tiber Island) to Trastevere. Ponte Pallatino seen in background.
Narrow street in Trastevere near the Tiber River	Piazza di Santa Maria and Santa Maria church in Trastevere. One of Rome's oldest churches (4 c.). Current building from 12th c.	Outdoor cafe on Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere. We ate dinner at this cafe.