Post for 4.18.08
Brooke and I planed on going to Pompeii and Naples today but didn't end up going because the forecast called for major rain. Instead we walked to other areas of Rome we hadn't seen yet. First we went to the Pantheon, then Piazza Navona, and Campo De' Fiori. On the way to these locations we stumbled onto a 100' tall column built for Marcus Aurelius in AD 180.
The Pantheon is incredible! It's the best preserved ancient building in Rome. The first temple at the spot was built between 25-27 BC, the current temple was built in AD 118. Raphael's actual sarcophagus is on display inside, as well as other Italian monarchs. Rapheal died in 1520 and requested that he was buried in the Pantheon in his will, and got that wish! When you impress the Pope, you get what you want. His tomb was opened in 1833 and it was confirmed the body is really inside. We downloaded a free audio tour by Rick Steves off iTunes and listened to it together on the old iphone ;) I was proud of myself for coming up with that idea. It was nice just hangin out on the steps outside just taking it all in.
Piazza Navona is a 15th century Baroque piazza lined with outdoor cafes with a huge fountain by Bernini in the center. It was built on top of a 1st century stadium and has continued to be a popular social center of the city ever since. We had some great pizza for lunch here. Our waiter was really funny; he swooned every women that came through the cafe. Things like, "No? No dessert ? You don't need dessert when you have a beautiful woman like this". He would flutter his eyes at Brooke every time he walked by.
Brooke and I had dinner in Campo De' Fiori this evening. In the medival and Renaissance era it was one of the roughest and liveliest areas of Rome. Cardinals and nobles used to mingle with fishmongers and foreigners in the market. A famous painter Caravaggio killed his competition after losing a tennis match in this square. There is a really cool/creepy looking statue in the middle of Giordano Bruno. He was burned at the stake at that spot in 1600 for heresy. What did he do? He suggested the earth moved around the sun. In the mornings they now have a fresh flower market, and in the evening a ton of cafes open up that seem to attract local college students.
Side notes:
As it turns out, not a single drop of rain fell. It was perfect weather today. A lady told us that the weather changes every 5 minutes here.....I think that's an excuse for sucky weather men. We are doing Pompeii and Naples on Monday instead. You KNOW it's going to rain too ;)
Last night we decided to stay in our hotel for dinner and the 2 plates of spaghetti we had was 30 EURO....Breakfast this morning was even worse believe it or not. We won't be eating anything from the hotel other than the little chocolates they leave on our pillows.
Tomorrow we are touring the Borghese Gallery that has impressive collection of paintings and sculptures. We don't have plans for the afternoon, but we are planning on going back to the Pantheon to have dinner in one of the outdoor cafes in front of it.
