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At Hotel Domus Praetoria They say that throwing a penny in the Trevi Fountain will guarantee your return to Rome. It worked … I am back in Rome!
It is bittersweet to be here though. I am so excited to be seeing it again (I was here just three years ago). Rome definitely holds a special place in my heart because it was the very first city I ever visited in Europe (mmmm … the travelling thing really took off after that little trip!). Bittersweet also because it is my last stop in Italy. After these five days, I am crossing over to Spain. It also means that I am about halfway through the journey but that I don’t even want to think about right now …
So as I have been doing on days when I have travelled from one place to another, I just set out with no real purpose. My hotel is actually very close to the one I stayed at last time around. My first thing was therefore to set out down Via Cavour. I walked this street so many times to get to and from the hotel that I just wanted to see if anything would be recognizable
2 Santa Maria Maggiore
That's actually the back of it to me. It did not take long … I recognized a few hotels and souvenir shops.
I also came upon the church Santa Maria Maggiore. This is a huge church and one that we did not visit last time I was here. It always gave the impression that it was closed. Must have been because we were actually seeing the back of it!! I made my way around and made my way in to this enormous church. Quite stunning actually. There is some incredible mosaics at the front altar. Something to rival those of Basicalica San Marco in Venice!!
I continued walking Via Cavour and I knew that this would eventually lead me towards the Colloseum and the Roman Forum. That was going to be for another day. So I walked over to the Vittoriano. It is this enormous white building which was built in honour of Vittorio Emanuele II. You are not allowed to sit anywhere on the monument because of the fact that it is also home to the Unknown Soldier and you can hear the constant whistles of the security guards that are on hand to make sure that there is indeed no sitting. I’ve
read a number of times that Romans consider it an eyesore and have nicknamed it the typewriter.
I decided to take the Roma del Cielo which is the panoramic elevator at the back of the Vittoriano. You get amazing views of the Roman Forum, the Colloseum and in the distance you can even make out St. Peter’s Basilica.
From there I continued my walk towards the Teatro Marcello which eerily resembles the Colloseum. This would take me to the Jewish district. I meandered some more and eventually made it to the Isola Tiberina. It is a tiny little island in the middle of the Tiber River. You blink and you’ve walked right across it. This then takes you to the Trastevere neighbourhood. I just meandered aimlessly through the tiny backstreets which are filled with the usual boutiques and cafes. I stopped for gelato and sat by a fountain (the spray from it was definitely welcomed … it was steaming hot).
I then made the long walk back to my hotel to wind down the rest of the day. Tomorrow … ruins and more ruins.
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