We started off the day with a little breakfast bar outside our room. 

I had fruit and hot tea. 

And of course more stairs. Our agenda for the day is to go to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Then to find Paul’s Roman prison. 

Arriving at the coliseum. 

The Colosseum is an oval shaped amphitheater in the center of Rome. It was the largest ancient amphitheater built and is still the largest standing amphitheater in the world (although standing might be a bit of a stretch). Construction was started under the emperor Vespasian (69-79 AD) and completed under his successor and heir, Titus in 80 AD.

These cobblestones are what we walked on most of the day. 

unless we were walking on these huge stones, and let me just say that they are killers on the feet and legs. 

There are quite a few pics of the Colosseum so scroll through quickly if you aren’t interested. 

This is our guide Augustino who gave us more information than I can possibly remember. 

It’s really a phenomenal site although much of it has been restored somewhat and is not original. Apparently the Vatican has taken most of the marble and gold for use in their sculptures in Vatican City. Leave it to those Catholics. 

It is built of travertine limestone, tuff (volcanic rock) and brick-faced concrete, and could hold an estimated 50,000-80,000 spectators with an average audience of 65,000. It was used for gladiator contests, and public spectacles including animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Roman mythology.

Just a couple of the spectators here. 😁

The area in the center (called the underground) is where the animals were kept in stall-like cages. This area was covered with wood and then topped with sand (to absorb all the blood), which became the floor of the theatre. 

A painting of what the Colosseum looked like with the sand floor, animals all underground. 

The Roman Forum is a rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings. It was referred to as the marketplace. For centuries it was the center of day-to-day life in Rome: the site of triumphal processions, and elections; the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiator matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. It has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world and in all of history. 

There is so much more I could tell you about the history of this area but I’m tired 🥱. So I will leave it at that. 

This is a closeup of the animal cages and original brick on the floor. 

Some of the original marble. Amazing to think that emperors (both good and evil like Nero) actually walked on this marble floor.  

Ruins of the palatial palace. 

You can see where the water line is on this wall. It used to be a huge fountain with garden in the center. There were originally 70 fountains in the area. Only three remain and they aren’t as originally created. 

View looking down into the marketplace. 

Grave of Caesar Augustus.  

Steps leading down to the museum above Paul’s prison dungeon. We had a really hard time finding this due to all the construction and restoration going on. Kim sent me down these stairs and said to wave him down if it was down there. It was 🤣.  

This is the museum if you’re ever in Rome and looking for the place Paul was imprisoned before his execution. 

The remains of three skeletons, dating back as far as 830 BC, were excavated near the facade of the museum. 

Going down into the dungeon. 

And down even further. 

And here it is. 

Of course there weren’t any lights then so you really can’t imagine how cold, dark and dank it was. 

Astounding to think about and very sobering. 

This was a wall built right above it. 

A list of some of the Christians imprisoned here. 

And we can’t leave out the pagans. 

A massive monument built in honour of King Victor Emmanuel 11. 

Time for some lunch as it’s about 3:30 and Kim needs to figure out where we are and how to get back to our neck of the woods. 

Pizza carbonara. 

Spaghettio Pastificio Mancini all’amatriciana. 

Ok girls, here’s the latest in jeans. Or some of us who’ve experienced this look before can say the return of pleated trouser style denims. 🤣

This was just too funny not to capture. We’ve seen all manner of clothing, and lack thereof, modes of transportation, almost run over by some, but this topped the cake. 

Mosaic tile floor in our B&B. There is a lot of it and very well done. Old of course.

It’s 8 o’clock and we rested a bit after another arduous day of walking so decided we would hit the streets again for our last blast of Rome. I picked up a couple of cheap souvenirs because we are in Rome after all. We walked thru a hotspot for nightlife in this area and then went in search of a porchetta sandwich with pesto sauce. All that walking has made us hungry again. Alas, we couldn’t find one so came back to the room to just snack on stuff I brought from home. 

Another lovely picture of me blogging. It’s cold in this room. 😬 

A few stats for the last two days:

48,586 steps 

21.7 miles

17 floors climbed

I guess that will do it for tonight. We’re off to Tuscany tomorrow. Ciao!