2023 Sunday Nov. 5

Rome

No Relive video today.

Our last full day in Rome so we were out early to see as much as possible.

Our first stop was the Trevi Fountain—close enough for a picture but no way to throw coins into the fountain.
Next we went to the Pantheon. Crowds, but we were admitted free after standing in line (first Sunday of the month).
Although the Pantheon dates from between 27 and 25 BC, it was converted to a church (Saint Mary and the Martyrs) in 609 AD.
The vault is the largest unreinforced vault ever built. A six-meter-thick wall supports the weight.
Raphael Sancti is buried in the Pantheon.
Also, Umberto I , King of Italy, is buried here.
Finally, Vittorio Emanuele who is memorialized by the large white building near the Roman forum is buried here.
This Egyptian obelisk is centered in the piazza before the Pantheon..

The Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, near the Pantheon, is known for its elephant obelisk but also for a Michelangelo sculpture.

The church is owned by Dominican friars today.
Michelangelo’s sculpture of a naked Christ was sculpted in the early 16th century. The loincloth was added later.
Saint Catherine of Siena is buried here. She is a saint, mystic, and doctor of the Church who died in Rome in 1380.
The square before the palace at the top of the Capitoline Hill and in front of the Roman forum was designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century.
Caesar looks over Richard’s shoulder.
The Roman forum. No time for a visit below, but ample visitor lookouts allowed us to see.
Note the roofing material behind this Roman forum arch. New discoveries are opening more digging and research even today.
The Colosseum’s subway stop is being updated; thus the yellow fencing at street level. We were heading to the subway—no time to visit the Colosseum.
The Arch of Constantine is in the background.
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four major churches in Rome, is near the Termini Station and our hotel.
The interior looking toward the altar at Santa Maria Maggiore. A mass was being held, so we left the church immediately upon realizing a worship service was in progress.

Comments:

Julia Holman: I love all the great photos. Who ever was in charge of the loin cloth for Jesus….did not do a great job. Lol looks like a garter belt. 2023/11/13 at 3:38 pm

Reply: You’re right, and I can’t imagine covering the statue as an afterthought. Still, that’s what I read! 2023/11/18 at 4:38 pm