Italy is a Museum of Different Styles and Different Time Periods (Part 1)

This first group of pictures is from our week in Rome...weekend excursion pics to come in the next segment! :)

The hotel that we stayed in while in Rome could not be in a more perfect location! We were located right next to the Piazza Navona. This is a picture of the Fountain of the Four Rivers located in the heart of the Piazza. There was many outdoor restaurants, street performers, beautiful paintings, amazing painters and most importantly the origin of a delicious desert known as Tartufo...mmm.

Beautiful Painting on the ceiling of the Cathedral.

This column had stories written all around it winding up

Me in front of Trevi fountain!

Spanish Steps at night

Eating at Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona...home of the original tartufo and other scrumptious foods

Roman Forum

Trajan's market

We even saw the Google Maps guy...maybe we will be on google maps for the roman forum!

Roman basilica

Arch of Titus

Arch of Constatine

Roman Colosseum aka Flavian Amphitheater

Inside the Colosseum. Since there was a lake underneath the colosseum they were able to reenact naval battles.  Here gladiators valiantly fought and enemies heard the roaring crowd before they were killed by some wild beast. 

Me and my new friends veronica and victoria inside the colosseum.

Inside Vatican City

Colonnade at the Vatican

Vatican

Inside the Vatican.  What a sight it was to see the light beautifully streaming through the windows.

One of the best well known pieces of sculptor - La Pieta. The only piece of sculpture signed by Michelangelo.  Michelangelo's signature is carved onto the sash the Virgin wears on her breast.

Inside the vatican there is a row showing how other large buildings size up to the vatican.

I really enjoy sculptures....just thinking about the detail and the work that had to go into the sculpting of this.

And I forgot to mention that these are located inside the Vatican.

Museum of the Vatican

Located in the Vatican Museum this is the famous Laocoon Group.

Inside the Vatican Museum on the way to the Sistine Chapel

 Also located in the Vatican Museum. There was a long row of enormous rugs that had different stories from the life of Christ.

Our hotel was also located near the Pantheon! The pantheon is well known for many things but one of the most important aspects is the dome.  It has the largest dome made out of concrete.  I only took a picture of half of it because the other half is under renovation and covered in scaffolding.

Best cup of Coffee EVER! When you go to Rome go to St. Eustachio Caffe-it is located near the Pantheon.  Here they keep their recipe under lock and key...and it is no wonder why.  Check out the huge topping of fresh whipped cream on top and the delectable chocolate tasting espresso underneath...delicioso!

So we tried to go to Mass at the Vatican on Sunday...it was a no go because the line was way, way, way too long...so we took a picture instead :)

One last picture of Rome!