Sunday, 8 December 2013

21 – 25 November 2013 – Rome, Lazio, Italy

We were thrilled to be back in one of our favourite cities in the world.  We spent a few days wandering around admiring the Roman art and architecture.

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The Colosseum

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We spent six hours at the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel.  Housed in a section of the Vatican Palaces, this is one of the largest and richest museum complexes in the world.  Besides the contents of the museums themselves, the furnishings and decorations of the palace were incredible.

Every inch of the floors and ceilings were covered in paintings and frescoes

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Picture quality mosaics

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The sculptures in the Vatican Musuem were the most complete we have seen anywhere.  We had seen many versions of this ancient statue of Artemis but they were always damaged in some way.  This giant size example is in perfect condition.

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One of several paintings by the famous animal painter Peter Wenzel

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The Borghese Gallery was located in the magnificent 17th century Villa Borghese which was built by Scipione Borghese – a nephew of Pope Paul V.

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Like the Vatican Museums, the ceilings and walls were lavishly decorated with frescoes

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Note the figure with the head of a dog below

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Bernini’s sculpture of Apollo catching Daphne just as she is transformed into a tree

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Bacchino Malato (Sick Bacchus) by Caravaggio

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Michelangelo’s eternally awe inspiring Trevi Fountain

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St Peter’s Basilica – the largest Catholic church in the world

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Michaelangelo’s Pieta inside the Basilica

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Swiss guards outside the Basilica

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Castel St Angelo

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One of the many bridges across the River Tiber

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We think that the best gelati in Rome is at Gelateria di Romana - €2.50 for three scoops, molten chocolate in the bottom of the cone and flavoured whipped cream for the top.

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