Countdown to Rome

The countdown starts now!  I am very excited that I am leaving in 3 weeks to go to Italy.  I am looking forward to spending time with my mom and sister who will both be joining my husband and me on this trip.  Since this will be my first time in Italy I started doing research on places that I want to make sure is on my list to see and also made a list of things that I would like to do during the trip.  We will be visiting Venice, Florence and Rome but for this blog, I will talk about my research on Rome.

Vatican City

Being Catholic, I know my mom would like to see the Vatican City when we’re in Rome.  She also would love to get a glimpse of the Pope.

Vatican City may be the smallest sovereign nation/state in the world and is home to some of the world’s greatest artistic and architectural marvels.  Vatican City houses some of Rome’s most visited attractions: St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums.  Vatican City is also where you will find Michelangelo’s Pieta in St. Peter’s Basilica and his ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

Vatican City gained independence in 1929 and is governed by the Pope.  I read that it has its own post office that issues official stamps and its own banking systems that mints coins!  The Swiss Guards, a small force of Swiss soldiers, who stand attention around St. Peter’s Square, is maintained by the Holy See.  The Swiss Guards provide security for the Pope and the papal residence since 1506.  They are also the most photographed subjects in Vatican City.

My brother’s fiancé gave me the website http://www.papalaudience.org  to learn more about the papal audience.  I learned that Sunday at noon is the Angelus prayer when the Pope speaks from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Wednesday morning is the weekly general audience, which is either in the Square or inside the Pope Paul VI auditorium.  Tickets are required for the Wednesday papal audience but are not needed for the Angelus prayer on Sundays.  We also need to make sure that we plan to pack the accepted attire for our visits to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.  To be allowed to enter these two places, modest clothing and proper behavior are required.

Colosseum

The Colosseum, the second most popular attraction in Italy next to Vatican City welcomes millions of visitors annually.  It has been a symbol of Rome since 80 AD and remains intact 2,000 years later despite some parts of its original marble façade being pilfered to build St. Peter’s Basilica.  The Colosseum, built less than 10 years, is the world’s largest amphitheater with the stadium covering six acres with the highest tier seat measuring 157 feet high.

There are various available tours of the Colosseum that we can pick from based on our interests and it is encouraged to consider a group, private or self-guided tour to fully understand the Colosseum’s historical importance .  Given the number of visitors who come to the Colosseum lines are long so we will definitely  look to purchasing tickets in advance and will be doing a “skip-the-line” tour.   Because the Colosseum is an open air-amphitheater and will require a ton of walking, essentials to pack are a hat, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes and of course sunscreen.

Pantheon

The Pantheon is open every day and is free to visit.  It is one of the most influential and well-preserved buildings of ancient Rome and has a massive dome and center oculus.  The Pantheon has beautiful architecture, beautiful art and rich Roman history.  It is also the burial ground for the first king of Italy Victor Emmanuel II and Renaissance artist, Raphael.  The Pantheon is close to Via della Maddalena and the “gelaterias” (shops that sell Italian ice cream). which is a bonus.

Expert local guides, small group and private guided tours are available and the best way to learn about the building’s history and architectural design.  There will be a lot of walking so comfortable shoes are a must.  There is also a food tour of Rome’s historical center that passes through the Pantheon so we know we won’t be hungry during our Pantheon visit.  Some of the Pantheon tours also combine visits to some other popular Rome highlights like the Trevi Fountain (the most famous fountain in Rome and perhaps all of Italy), Piazza Navona and the Roman Forum, a sprawling mass of ruins.  Located in the center of Rome, the Pantheon is a short walk to the Tiber River, the main shopping street of Via del Corso and other attractions.  Santa Maria Sopra Minerva Church is also one block away behind the Pantheon.

The Pantheon holds weekend public mass on Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 10:30 am. Because it is an active religious building, we have to remember that flash photography and loud conversations are not allowed.  Access to the interior is not allowed at night but the illuminated ancient architecture after dark will be a must see for us!

If you have any suggestions to make our visit to Rome fun and memorable, please drop me a note on the comments section below.  I would love to hear fron you!