Ceiling painting, inside the Vatican Museum
Walk by the 2,000 year old Coliseum where gladiator fights took place in front of 50,000 spectators. I have passed by it hundreds of times, and I am still in awe of the magnificent, grand structure. I always wonder how the ancient Romans were able to build such a structure capable of sustaining the tests of time for so many years.
Coliseum
Stop in Piazza Navona to enjoy a gelato and imagine the games being played in the Domitian Stadium at the very spot during the 1st century, or fast forward to the 15th century and think what it would be like to visit the square when Bernini was creating his masterpiece, the Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Piazza Navona
Visit the Trevi Fountain which celebrates and marks the ending point of an ancient aqueduct discovered in 19BC. While you enjoy the enormously magnificent fountain, recall the story of how a virgin girl showed Agrippa’s soldiers the location of the aqueduct and the abundance of water so many, many years ago. The story is a legend, so it may or may not be true, but it sure is cool to sit and imagine.
Trevi Fountain
Rome itself lends enough art, sculpture, history, architecture and magic at no charge, but the city takes it a step further by offering free access to the city museums on a regular basis. The city is currently sponsoring ‘Martedi in Arte’, with museums being free to enter from 7:00pm – 11:00pm, on the last Tuesday of every month. The Vatican Museum is also open for no charge on the last Sunday of every month from 8:00am – 2:00pm, with the last entrance at 12:30pm. In addition to these set days each month, the city also opens its museums for special celebrations throughout the year.
Vatican Museum Entrance
It’s definitely sweet to be able to view the work of some of the world’s great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini (just to name a very few). . .all for the low, low price of FREE!
Michelangelo’s Pietà, inside St. Peter’s Basilica
