Layer upon layer...Rome

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Geo: 41.8894, 12.4947

We started slowly, but after a quick tour of Cathy's quirky apartment, (with very few straight walls!) we got a coffee and brioche and headed the two blocks down the street to San Clemente. Cathy said it was 3 degrees, but it didn't feel it - light jackets only today!

St Clemente church is amazing. The Norman (1200AD) church is lovely, with mosaics in the apse and lovely frescos - particularly the mosaics of the Tree Of Life around the Cross....but in a corner of the church, you descend under the church...and this is where it gets really interesting! Under the church, they have been able to excavate a 400AD church. It is one of the earliest churches, as until Constantine permitted Christianity, Mass and other Christian gatherings were conducted in secret. It is incredible to wander through the 4th century - this was only rediscovered in the 1850s, when the parish priest thought that there must be something underneath! But wait..it gets more amazing! We then went downstairs to find that there is a complete 100AD Roman villa and Mithrean temple! Photos cannot do justice (and aren't permitted) but this was incredible!!!!!

We then went to the only Abbey Fort church in Rome, the Santi Quattro Coronati. It was used by the popes to hide, when they were in danger and based in St Giovanni in Laterno. It was burned to the ground in 10th century by the Norman sacking of Rome, and rebuilt in the 11th century. Most amazing was seeing the (still operating?) foundling wheel into the convent, for the delivery of unwanted babies.

Quick sandwich, then home for a sleep.

Then to the Time elevator, on the bus. We stopped on the Corso when Cathy saw that the Crypta Vialata was open - this is the home of St Luke, where St. Peter often visited and where St Paul spent two years under house arrest. It was incredible - we were alone, and the history resonated from the walls. We touched the well, knowing that the inhabitants of the house 2000 years ago also touched these same stones.....very very special.

The Time Elevator is a new multi media experience, designed to show Rome through the ages- it did a good job and the kids were thrilled! Especially when the 10th century rats ran up our legs!!!!

Then off to the Trevi fountain to throw in some coins, and some souvenir shopping on the way home. We had a lovely pizza dinner around the corner from the apartment with Cathy and Ian, then a little disgestivo at home while the kids went to bed

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Comments

[domperi]

Sigh.. wish I was there....