Rome

What can I say about Rome! It was stupendous, marvelous, and so overwhelming! I know I’m going to leave something out. We met Ezzio, our driver, early morning to begin our tour – he was a big hit!
Leaving from Civitavecchia we were on our way to Rome.

Our first stop as we traveled the old Ostiense Way was at San Paola fuori le Mura, where Emperor Constatine built the Basilica of St. Paul’s without the Walls over the grave of this saint as a memorial.

The statue of St.Paul by Obici shows him with a sword to symbolize his beheading nearby.

The grave of St. Paul.

Inside the basilica, under the elaborate canopy you can see where St. Paul was supposed to be buried.

Inside the gates of Rome we saw where Circus Maximus was once located.

Then…Ancient Rome!

Our next stop was San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains), where we saw the chains that bound St. Peter and…

…Michelangelo’s Moses.

Finally! We reached the Trevi Fountain…and yes, we tossed in our coins.

On our way to lunch we walked to the Pantheon.

Inside we saw where Raphael was buried.

After lunch we headed to the Vatican.

Our first sight was of St. Peter’s Basilica as we crossed the Tiber River…

…then went on to Vatican City where we walked in the square, then shopped.

Since the lines were so long, our time was so short, we couldn’t go inside the Vatican Museum or St. Peter’s.

Ezzio felt sorry for us and took us to a beautiful spot overlooking the city.

We are so glad Joy introduced us to him. We loved our trip!!!