Colosseum and Eternal Rome

This afternoon we went on a tour.  We were on a two-story blue bus and this mosaic Madonna was on eye level with me.

We drove by this military monument on our way to Palatine Hill.

This is the Palatine Gate.

This is the plaque on the wall.

We walked to the top of Palatine Hill with was no easy task.  Our tour guide kept saying that it was worth it and it was.

 

Palatine Hill was where Ramos and Romulus were suckled by a wild boar prior to Romulus founding Rome.  It is where many of the Emperors built their palaces and there were extensive ruins to see.

This bird was not very happy that we invaded her territory.

 

This area was called the dinning room as it was where everyone laid around and ate.  There were gardens and fountains in the middle.

This building is in really good condition and of course is not as old as some of the ruins.

 

We saw the three arches that surrounded the area.

This pagan temple turned church has beautiful original doors that still work.

 

This is one of the temples that later became a church.

 

We got to see where Julius Caesar was cremated.  Someone puts flowers here everyday.

 

Here is the second arch.

This is our first view of the colosseum from inside ancient Rome.

 

Here are Wayne and I waiting to go inside.

 

The colosseum is really the Anfiteatro Flavio named after the Emperor Flavio.

This is the view from inside the colosseum.  Contrary to popular belief there were no Christians killed by lions in the colosseum but one of the Popes used this story to his advantage to keep further plundering of the site.  Originally it was filled with water and sailors waged sea  battles for the audience.

 

When we went out on the terrace we could see some street performers waiting to take pictures with you for a price.

 

Here we are on the terrace with the Constantine Arch in the background.

And here we are with Palatine Hill in the background.

 

This is looking down and the chambers that were built later to house the wild animals that the gladiators fought and that the noblemen later hunted.

 

Although the tour was only three hours, two of those hours were spent walking over rough  cobblestone streets and up and down hills and stairs.  We decided to go back to Asti Roma for dinner.

 

Here we are toasting a wonderful day and making plans for tomorrow.

 

For more pictures go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/marynelle