Saturday 23 January 2016

What a day...

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. 
 -- Unknown Quotes Author


What a day we enjoyed!  Exploration of the city and lots of walking figured into everything that we did today.  We saw so many things that it is unlikely that we will remember all of the names of the places.  True to what we were told by the Sisters there are lots of lovely churches/chapels tucked away and we discovered several of them today.  As with most days here we began with Eucharist with the Sisters,  enjoyed a fabulous breakfast and then we were off for the day.  Today the intent was to explore many of the highlights of the city.   After a short train ride and then a bus ride we were on foot.   Once we reached the heart of the city it was difficult to decide which direction to go in.  It was almost necessary to open the map and just point, however the trusty map reader, Edmund, had the spots highlighted so that was most helpful.  

The city today was buzzing with people and it would be very easy to get lost in the crowd but it was so much fun to get caught up in the fervor of all that is going on around, doing touristy things as well as having some quieter, solemn prayerful moments.  



The Vittorio Emmanuel -- by Rome standards this is a modern building


Standing Guard at the monument



The Architecture and statues are just phenomenal


Statue of Justice


This reminded us of a scene out of the movie Ben Hur


A View of the city from the stairs ... but wait for it we get to go even higher shortly!


We were able to go up on the roof  of the building in the first picture and from there you can see Vatican city in the distance


Scenes of the City below


the Colosseum in the distance


Ruins of Rome


The Statue at the top of the building


And here we are up on the roof  of the building in the first picture.  This is not a selfie but I did manage to take our first selfie up here much to the great humor of Edmund, Anthony and I.


The Ruins of Old Rome Below


One section of the chapel next door -- the nativity


one of the altars


Altar of the Nativity


High Altar area


Anthony and Edmund -- we are about to enjoy the local pizza and calazone
Sadly we had to say farewell to Anthony today.  He was returning to Oxford where he is studying.  He is one of Newfoundland's Rhode Scholars!


Followed of course by gelato for dessert -- the flavours, the flavours!  You have to have at least two!



Onward to the Colosseum, 


The Archway was under construction


A picture or two of the Colloseum





The Trevi Fountain was much larger than I thought it would be



the Statues at the fountain


The Pantheon--trust Edmund and I to end up here in a rally!


Temple Adriano


Some of the Art work in Saint Andrea Church.  This place boasts one of the most beautiful sacristies


Chapel of St. Andrea


Ceiling of said chapel


Doors and altar


Intricate ceiling work


In the church downstairs if you looked up at a certain spot there was an opening in the ceiling where this dove seemed to be in flight and the angels were looking down -- it looked like an opening to heaven


Baptistry


We ended up at this quadrant quite by accident.  
It is know as the Four Fountains so here are two of them


The third fountain


and now the fourth!


Fountain in the middle of Republic Square


A slightly wider view

We were also able to make it to St. Mary and the Martyrs Church today where we took the opportunity to pray and to remember the many people that have trusted us to remember them in our prayers.  St. Mary and the Martyrs contains much of the work of Michelangelo and as it was late in the evening the pictures are quite dark.  Despite the fact that it was busy there, an area was set aside for meditation and quiet prayer.  If you were not praying the section was off limits.  There was a peacefulness about the place.  From the outside it does not seen to have a great deal to recommend it but the outer facade hides a gem.


the Entrance to the Basilica


the head of John the Baptist


Some of the artwork


The Centre of the Church is more like a great hall and 
there are four chapels that go around the sections


One of the chapels


this chapel contained the organ



1 comment:

  1. Once again thank you, wonderful pictures and great documentary.

    ReplyDelete