Roma Romantica

A city oozing with reverent culture, architecture and art. Without a doubt the highlight of this trip for me was the discovery of St. Peter’s Basilica.  Words alone cannot express the grandeur and magnificence of the Vatican and the world’s most outstanding place of Christian worship. The mosaic paintings high above in the domes, magnificent paintings, marble columns forever reaching for the ceilings, marble statues such as Michael Angelo’s “Pieta” kept me in awe as the constant stream of 40,000 daily pilgrims both believers and non believers filed through this hallowed sanctuary  of worship. Time constraints didn’t allow us the opportunity of visiting the Vatican Museum or the Sistine Chapel but these are a must for the next visit.

Our bus tour was a mixed blessing as it was raining but allowed us the overview of the vast array of ancient ruins, Roman Coliseum, magnificent marble fountains and the National Monument, though I would have preferred to explore by foot. Luckily the rain let up allowing us the opportunity of seeing the Trevi Fountain in all of its remarkable perseverance which was followed by a short shopping walkabout through some of the historical streets of the old city.  There is just so much to see and do. I felt somewhat cheated out of time. All the more reason to get back here to experience that which was missed and will be waiting for us upon our return.