Rome 3

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Day 3 and we are really enjoying ourselves despite walking miles yesterday, tired but happy. We had a fantastic multi-course meal in a small family-run restaurant in the Via de Ripetta, just off the Piazza del Popolo. Sorry but can’t remember the name but it’s on the right hand side, just before or after Via Angelo Brunetti.


We were strolling down to the Tiber near Ponte Umberto and leaning over the wall when a driver whistled David over. Said he was a stranger in the area and needed some directions. He quickly suggested he'd been a visitor to some pan-European event and had managed to be presented with some posh clothing as a present. Would we like some cheap? Pardon, do you think I've just got off the Ark? Goodbye con man or less words to that effect! Can I take your photo of you and your car to show the police? At which point a screech of tyres and he was gone!!

What a wonderful area to stroll around, even if you take a wrong turning out of St Peter's Square like we did. Ah! time for a leisurely coffee and bite to eat before heading to Piazza Navona etc.

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Photos

Palazzo di Giutizia from Ponte Umberto
There's no escaping the traffic!

The Vatican & Ponte St Angelo
What a wonderful view.

Castel St Angelo from Ponte St Angelo
Construction began in AD123 and it later became Hadrian's mausoleum. This pedestrian bridge is adorned with the statues of saints.

St Peter's Dome and Ponte Vittorio Emanuele
Another great view.

St Peter's Basilica
More traffic to get in the way!

St Peter's Basilica & Piazza St Pietro
We were early yet crowds for the Vatican were huge. Sorry, but we didn't have time to visit the Sistine Chapel! Will come back some other time.

Seats in Piazza St Pietro
The seats await users for some great oration.

Hmm!
Not as good as our lawn's finely honed turf!

Piazza Navona
What a great square, a hub of activity, leisure and interesting architecture.

Fountain in Piazza Navona
Naughty man! Actually, it was a fish spouting on the other side.

Piazza dellla Rotunda & The Pantheon
Fantastic architecture, without referring to its build around AD 117-138. Hadrian is supposed to have been its architect and patron. It's in much better nick than his wall in Northumberland that we've trecked many times.

The Pantheon Dome
What an incredible sundial. The hole is open to the elements so what happens when it rains?
Can you believe how old that gorgeous prisitne masonry is?

Inside The Pantheon
Fabulous.

Colonna di Marco Aurilleo
30m high and dating from AD180. The stone carvings all around note the campaigns of Marcus Aurelius against the Germanic tribes and Sarmatians. The statue was changed to Apostle Paul in 1589.

Colonna di Marco Aurilleo
There are stairs to the top.

Spouting Lion in Piazza del Popolo
What a fabulous Piazza this is.

Piazza del Popolo
Different day, different light.

Piazza del Popolo
Different viewpoint.