I arrived in Roma on a Wednesday, mid-day, and did not stop exploring until Saturday. Roma is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I fully understand why it is called the Eternal City. Its almost like this new city has grown up right around the old city and it just works.
My visit started with the Spanish Steps. On the right corner of the step, as you look up, is the house where John Keats lived until his death in 1821. His friend, Percy Shelley wrote the poem Mourn not for Adonis in honor of the somber occasion. Shelley drowned the following year off the coast of La Spezia. Both writers are buried in Rome's Protestant Cemetery and the house on the Spanish Steps has been turned in the Keats-Shelley Memorial House.
The legendary tearooms at Babingtons have been serving English travelers since 1896.
Great view of Rome from the top of the Spanish Steps!
After my hike up the steps, I took a moment to take in the city. While sitting on the steps I got to talking to a young student from Kenya. Turns out he was studying at the Latin school (Trinita dei Monti) and invited me in to see the private room(s).
Upstairs there is a chapel available for the students to receive communion. Within this chapel sits the MATER ADMIRABLE. Ya'll, I felt SO honored to be in its presence.
Mater Admirabilis is a fresco depicting
the Virgin
Mary, at the Trinità dei Monti, a church in Rome. It was painted
by a young French girl, Pauline Perdrau, and has been associated with several
miracles.
Legend has it Pauline had been asked by the nuns at Trinità dei Monti to paint a mural of the
Blessed Mother. After weeks of painting, Pauline finally finished her work.
When the Mother Superior saw it, she said the colors were too bright and bold
and immediately covered it with a large piece of fabric. Years later, Pope Pius
IX was visiting the church and questioned what was behind the drape. The Mother
Superior tried to distract the Pope from it, but he demanded to see it. When he
drew back the fabric, it revealed the painting Pauline had created years
before. The colors had faded and blended together to create a softer image than
the years before. The Pope declared her Mater Admirabilis, mother most
admirable. He told the Mother Superior to never cover this beautiful piece of
work again.
I was then left alone to enjoy this room painted by Taddeo Zuccari, a pupil of Michelangelo. I sat in there for over an hour...
ALL. BY. MYSELF.
Just after the Steps, I ran into this gem in the piazza. The Colonna dell'Immacolate, a large column topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary. The monument is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, as part of the church dogma agreed upon under Pope Pius IX. It's considered a protector of Roma.
Just around the corned you hear the sound of water from the Fontana di Trevi. Legend has it, if you throw a coin into the water it guarantees you'll return to Roma one day.
This is Via dei Condotti and Caffe Greco. This cafe has been serving the world's intellectuals since 1760. Customers such as Keats, Goethe, Liszt, Casanova, Buffalo Bill and King Ludwig have enjoyed this salon.
Along the walk I popped into a few churches. I was amazed that these gorgeous churches were open to the public and located on the busy streets of Roma. Jesus Christ is SO alive in this city.
During my walk I literally stumbled upon The Pantheon!
Know as one of the most complex and beautifully designed buildings in the world. The present structure has been in continuous use since it was built in 125 AD under the Emperor Hadrian. It was designed as a temple to the 12 most important classical gods with the functional space reinforcing the concept. In 608, under the Emperor Phocas, the Pantheon was converted from a pagan temple to the church of St. Mary of the Martyrs. This act likely saved it from complete destruction.
Day two I set out early to visit The Coliseum. The iconic amphitheater was commissioned by the Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD to host the brutal but popular gladiatorial games and animal combat. Despite its condition it still remains an awe-inspiring sight.
The ingenious design of the practical amphitheater allowed for easy access of up to 55,000 people, and the entire arena could be emptied in less than 10 minutes using all of the 80 arched entrances. The top of the Colosseum could be covered with huge canvas awning shading spectators and contestants from the sun.
The gladiator games were free of charge to the public. Events were often theatrical to lighten the gruesome nature of the real entertainment. The fights always ended in death and a constant supply of animals and men was needed to keep the system going. Gladiators were pitted against gladiators, animals against animals & animals against gladiators. Around 5000 wild animals were slaughtered int eh first 100 days of the games when the stadium first opened in 80 AD. While expensively trained gladiators were often spared death, animals and slaves never were. The brutal games were eventually banned in 523 AD.
The view from the inside shows an open brickwork area under what was once a wooden floored arena. The floor could be covered with sand and raked between games to "clean" the arena, and it hid a series of trapdoors that opened to the rooms and animal cages below (now exposed).
The Arch of Constantine is the last great triumphal arch to be constructed in the Roman Forum. It was erected in 315.
The Baths of Carcalla were the ultimate statement of the architectural achievements of the empire. The facilities could accommodate up to 1,600 people and in addition to the baths, saunas, gymnasium, and massage rooms, there were spaces for lectures, shopping, art galleys and a comprehensive library. A real Roman Playground!
What it would have looked like when built in 212.
While I was in Rome my nephew, Aaron James Sweeney was born!!
Day Three I had the pleasure of visiting Vatican City. This has been a place my father has dreamed of visiting so I felt honored to be in the Vatican representing him. My mom has always told me her favorite statue is the Pieta by Michelangelo. I too felt honored to be representing her while standing in awe of the Pieta.
The Vatican is quintessentially Roman. With over 2000 years of history, no other place embodies so much politics, history, religion and art all rolled into one relatively small space. Each century has visibly superimposed itself upon the last, forming a great historic layer cake.
The Vatican is one of the most significant tourist sights in the world!! Its role as a political and religious power is unique, and with less than 900 inhabitants it is the world's smallest independent state. Vatican City was granted political independence from Italy in 1929 and the Pope is head of both government and state. The Vatican has its own postal system, currency, passport, license plate, flag and police. 
I literally fell to my knees and started to cry when I walked in.
Just to the right of the entrance is the Pieta.
This touching depiction of the death of Christ was completed in 1499 by Michelangelo.
The Vatican Museum was another major site to visit. Its the home to the Sistine Chapel among other amazing art & sculptures. The chapel was started in 1475. The frescoes illustrate scenes from the Life of Moses and Life of Christ. The ceiling decoration was commissioned in 1508 by Pope Julius II della Rovere. Michelangelo was given the task of creating a monumental image covering an area of 500 square meter. The nine primary scenes from Genesis represent the Separation of Light from Dark, the Creating of teh Sun and Moon, the Separation of the Waters, Creating of Adam, Creation of Even, Expulsion from Eden, Sacrifice of Noah, the Deluge, and the Drunkenness of Noah.
I'll be heading back to Italy in July for my clients wedding and I couldn't be more excited. The food was incredible, the wine was perfection and the people seemed as free as anyone. Until next time!
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