Day 8 - Tuesday - Rome

Both of us headed down to have breakfast which was the worst till date, the buffet was very sparse, the croissants didn’t look too fresh.

The stop for the hop on hop off bus was quite close to our hotel so after breakfast we headed there. Exchanging our vouchers for tickets and headsets we settled into seats on the open roof top. It was a nice bright sunny day, a bit hot since we had been here and both of us carried our sweaters instead of wearing them for once.

As the bus passed several attractions we heard the audio guide giving us details on the attractions, we had decided to get off at the Colosseum first and jumped out at the Forum stop. The first glimpse of the structure is amazing, as we have seen it countless times on TV and in movies and recognize it instantly.

 

Colosseum, Rome



Colosseum, Rome

Roman Forum

The bus passed by the structure to reach the stop and we had to walk back towards it. The Roman Forum and the Palatine Hills were to our left as we walked towards the entrance. Up close the structure is just as grand as in the movies, just much larger in real life. We queued up to purchase tickets.  We had already decided to not bother to visit the Forum for lack of time; you can purchase combination tickets for the Colosseum and the forum if you choose. Once inside its simply huge, it is the largest amphitheatre in the world and I can only imagine the grandeur of it’s hey days.

Even today it is a fantastic structure to stand in; as you gaze at the complexity of the structure; the floor where the animals were caged is almost completely in ruins now but the way the whole thing is set up is admirable. The arena is a huge circular space in the centre surrounded by seating spaces on all sides; we climbed to the first floor to get a better view of the arena space. After posing for pictures against the interiors and from the first floor, we headed to the balcony area and took some more pictures of the view from the Colosseum. Almost all the seating arrangements are destroyed by now, only one set of seats remain till this day, the ones used by the dignitaries to view the gladiatorial fights.



Colosseum Arena

We decided to use the washrooms before we headed out and of course there was a long queue for it. They have set up temporary washrooms at one end of the entrance, but they are free and clean.

Heading back to the bus stop we decided our next stop was the Castel St. Angelo across the Tiber River. As we walked on the bridge leading up to the castle we passed by several vendors selling souvenirs, scarves and an Indian fakir doing a magic trick! The structure is embellished with some beautiful sculptures of angels and also houses a museum.

Castel St Angelo - Rome



Castel St. Angelo

As we had to purchase a ticket for the museum and we had our fill of those in the last few days we chose to instead head to the next attraction on our list which was close by – the pantheon. It is in the Piazza Navona area which is located opposite the Castel St.Angelo on the right side of the Tiber River.

The Piazza Navona area is quaint and very walkable, filled with tiny alleys and squares with delightful looking shops selling paintings, jewellery, gelato stores, small bars and restaurants with tables set up on the street. They are all lined with well tended potted plants and Mansi and I decided to get some gelatos at one of the stores and then ambled down the streets in search of the Pantheon. Of course we got lost and directed in the right direction by helpful Romans with not a word being understood by either party, they gesturing the directions and we nodding our ascents. We landed up at the wrong square with another pretty fountain and a pretty church facing the fountain. After taking pictures and directions to the Pantheon, which we hoped led us in the right direction.

 

Suddenly we turned a corner and there it was the famous domed structure in the world at the opposite end of the square with a wonderfully cooling fountain in the centre. The external structure is dominated by humongous columns. Filled with hundreds of tourists the Pantheon still manages to make one feel quite small while standing in its shade. With the sun peeping out from the centre of the dome, the Pantheon is a functional catholic church. We saw several people praying and one has to maintain absolute silence inside, after clicking plenty of pictures we headed out.

The Pantheon, Rome

As it was almost lunch time and both of us were famished we decided to rest and eat at one of the restaurants in the square (Piazza della Rotunda). I decided to try the spinach filled ravioli and Mansi took some spaghetti. It was the best ravioli I have ever tasted, with a tomato sauce and melt in the mouth ravioli. After complimenting the chef and paying for our meal we decided to head to the Circus Maximus which we had passed on our way in the morning.

This time we found the bus stop without losing our way too many times. Getting off at the Circus Maximus stop Mansi took pictures and I sat on one of the benches taking in the panoramic views. This area was used by the Romans to hold chariot races and features a huge field which is now just pebbles and grass.

 I was desperate to use the rest room but there were none in sight, a vendor told us to head down the road but I was not too trusting of his information.

 

Circus Maximus

Next on our list was the Spanish steps and we got on the bus, but decided to get off near the Capitoline Hills as it looked interesting.  A small flight of steps leads to the Piazza de Campidoglio. Mansi enquired with one of the restaurants opposite the Capitoline Hills about a wash room and they had one and we could use it, finally. We headed up the hill to take in the views, there is a church at one end of the square, but it was closed. The steps leading up the hill have wonderful sculptures adorning both ends of the steps. Mansi chose to visit the church next door to the hill and I waited at the top of the steps. I did some people watching as there were tourists from all over the world there, some sitting beside me taking a breather, others wandering around taking pictures.

As it was quite late around 5.30pm I think we decided to make the Trevi Fountain our last stop and then head close to our hotel for some shopping for Mansi (she was keen to make some purchases for her family) and dinner. Catching the next hop on bus we got off at the Trevi Fountain stop and walked the short distance down the road.

The Fountain was so crowded, people everywhere, clustered in front and all sides of the fountain. The streets leading up to the fountain were packed to capacity. We quickly took some pictures and abandoned our plan of seating and spending some time there, it was too crowded to enjoy.

 

Trevi Fountain

Back to the bus stop and the next bus back to Termini Station. We decided to head to the hotel to freshen up and I wanted to do a web check in. The hotel had an internet desk near the lobby and I logged on one of the computers, the speed was so slow that the Swiss Airways check in page just wouldn’t load. Mansi tried on another system, no success. Finally I had to whatsapp a friend in Mumbai the details and she checked us in. We were super annoyed at the slow internet speed and complained at the reception desk.

Deciding to get some shopping done before dinner we headed to an area near our hotel, we had spotted some vendors close by selling clothes and hand bags and Mansi got some gits to take home. Then we headed down the street behind our hotel in search of a restaurant. Spotting a quiet shaded one with a beautiful awning covered in vines on a side street we stopped to eat. I had a chicken with bell peppers and some wine. The food was not so great and my chicken had too many bones to be enjoyed. But it was getting late and we had a very early morning flight back home so we called it a day and headed to the hotel.