"Go thou to Rome..."

At the end of August, I intended to post weekly to this blog.  Best laid plans aside, it is now October, and this is the first post in months.  Now, I write about our visit to the Eternal City, to Roma!  What can I say about Rome.  I had extremely high expectations headed to Italy.  I have wanted to go to Italy my entire life.  It was on my "bucket list."  My only trepidation heading into the trip was that my expectations were so high.  I should have feared not, because Italy did not disappoint.  I have never experienced anything like Rome. Quite frankly, I do not expect anything made by man to exceed the wonders of Rome.  We decided to rent an apartment there for about a week and take a few day trips.  However, the city was so immense and fascinating that the only day trip we took was to Assisi (a more idyllic and peaceful setting I have never seen.)  So, Rome and Assisi awed and inspired us.  I have decided to write about our experiences both as a diary of sorts, and possibly to help those who may be deciding to take a trip there themselves.  For Jim and I, we wholeheartedly agree with the English poet, Percy Shelley: "go thou to Rome." 

First, our itinerary (with the support of Rick Steve's superb guidebook on Rome):

Monday 10/7- We arrived around 9am and became acclimated to the city and the time change.  We simply walked around the sites including: St. Peter's Basilica, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza Colonna, Campo de'Fiori (Steve's "Heart of Rome" walk) and back to our apartment near the Vatican through Trastevere.

Tuesday 10/8 (our 25th anniversary)- We spent the morning and early afternoon at the Musei Vaticani, where among other wonders, we saw the Sistine Chapel (twice, more on that later).  In the late afternoon, we toured St. Peter's Basilica with our wonderful guide, Sister Nancy.  

Wednesday 10/9-  We attended the Papal Audience in the morning.  In the afternoon, we walked up the Via Veneto to the Borghese Gallery. Later, we were again at the Spanish steps, our eyes now on the look out for Bernini! and the passeggiata along Via del Corso. 

Thursday 10/10- Spanish Steps, The Keats/Shelley museum, the Pantheon, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, San Ignazio, to Termini station for our train tickets, the Baths of Diocletian, Santa Maria della Vittoria,  then a long walk past Trajan's Column, Victor Emanuel Monument, the Forum and Colosseum.  

Friday 10/11- to beautiful Assisi via train- Chiesa Nuova, Santa Chiara, San Rufino, San Francesco, San Damiano, The Porziuncola (in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli).

Saturday 10/12- On to Imperial Rome-  The Roman Forum and Palantine Hill, the Colosseum, San Clemente.

Sunday 10/12- After an attempt to go to High Mass at St. Peter's (we could not even get close), we attended Mass at the American parish in Santa Susanna.  Then we headed back to the Colosseum, Boca della Verita at Santa Maria in Cosmedin, a lovely (and long) walk through a rose garden, a stunning view of St. Peter's, the Protestant Cemetery, the Piramide, St. Peter's in Chains, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterno, La Scala Santa, and at the end of the day, to the Steelers bar near Piazza Navona to watch the Steelers game.

Monday 10/13-  San Luigi dei Francesi, Gesu (the Jesuit church in Rome), the Baths of Caracalla, back to St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza del Popolo, Santa Maria del Popolo and back to Piazza Navona and Campo de'Fiori.