Sag in Piazza della Republica.
The St Mary's Basilica was our first introduction to the beautifully decorated interiors. The whole basilica including the ceiling was ornately decorated with paintings, and cornices.
Through the arch way here, you can see the arena inside the colosseum. The huge amphitheater was built on the site of an artificial lake, part of Nero's huge park in the center of Rome. Games would be conducted between gladiator and gladiator or gladiator and wild animals for public entertainment when there was no TV or Video games.
Above the ground are four storeys, the upper storey contained seating for lower classes and women. The lowest storey was preserved for prominent citizens. Below the ground were rooms with mechanical devices and cages containing wild animals. The cages could be hoisted, enabling the animals to appear in the middle of the arena.
Remains of an old basilica.
The top of the St Peter's basilica.
The crowd in the St Peter's square who came for the weekly papal blessing.
A close view of St Peter's basilica from the security entrances.
The main dome of St Peter's Basilica. The Latin inscription translates to: To the glory of St Peter; Sixtus V, pope, in the year 1590 and the fifth year of his pontificate.
Grill work through which another pope can be seen below.
Cornices and decoration in Piazza della Republica.
The elliptical building is immense, measuring 188m by 156m and reaching a height of more than 48 meter (159 ft). The Colosseum could accommodate some 55,000 spectators who could enter the building through no less than 80 entrances.
Roman forum ruins seen adjacent to the only remaining basilica of that time which is still in use. Basilica was used in ancient times as a place for governance before it was taken over for use as a church.
View of the colosseum from the titus arch in the forum romanum
Vatican police in St Peter's square
The crowd hearing to the pope for the sunday morning prayers.
St Peter's square as seen from the basilica.
Statue of Pope Pius VII The dignified effigy of the pope shows fatigue and the signs of" his long exile, and yet he is portrayed as blessing both friends and enemies alike.
Chapel of the Transfiguration In this chapel you can admire a mosaic reproduction of one of the world's most famous paintings "The Transfiguration" showing Christ on Mount Tabor, Raphael's last painting.
St Mary of Angels and Martyrs Basilica. This was at one time the center of Rome and the time was calculated from the sun dial located within this basilica.
This is the Roman Colosseum. We were fortunate to see the colosseum on a snowy day. The last time Rome had a snow fall was 25 years ago.
The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch, erected c. 315 CE to commemorate the triumph of Constantine I after his victory over Maxentius in the battle at the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE. The arch is located in the valley of the Colosseum, between the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum, along the road taken by the triumphal processions. The arch is the largest of only three such arches to survive in Rome today. The two others are the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Septimius Severus, both in the nearby Forum Romanum.
Side profile of Arch of Constantine.
Caesar's palace overlooking the circus maximus.
Pope Benedict XVI giving his sunday benediction.
Sag in front of St Peter's Basilica.
The Pietà is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
The tomb and mortal remains of the pope St. Leo the Great. Above the altar where he is buried, there is a majestic, high-relief marble portrait of Leo the Great as he met Attila the Hun, the scourge of god, near Mantua. The Pope's words were convincing, Attila was persuaded not to attack Rome. He told his troops that when the Pope spoke he saw the threatening figures of Peter and Paul with drawn swords before him. The sculpture was done by Alessandro Algradi (1595-1654) and is the only high relief of this type in the Basilica.
Altar of Immaculate Conception A painting by Bianchi was converted into mosaics. St Peter's Basilica does not have paintings. All the beautiful art that looks loike paintings are actually mosaics done using precious and semi precious stones.
Paintings in St Mary's Basilica
Here you can see the colosseum, the victory arch of Constantine and the umbrella pines. Due to the snow the colosseum was closed for visitors and we got to see the place without the usual crowds.
Here you can see our tour guide Anna showing the colosseum, and the arch to Sag.
Constantine entered Rome victoriously after defeating Maxentius, and the senate awarded him a triumphal arch.
The Circus Maximus was the largest stadium in ancient Rome. At one point the Circus could seat 250.000 people, one quarter of Rome's population.
Dome of St Peter's basilica surrounded by the statues on the top of the pillars.
A closer view of the papal coat of arms.
Domes inside St Peter's basilica.
Altar of the Lie This altarpiece is a mosaic work representing The Punishment of the Couple Ananias and Saphira, from the original painting Cristoforo Roncalli (known as the "Pomarancio" of 1604. After lying to St Peter, Saphira fell to the ground before the Apostle; in the background two young men carry the dead body of her husband, Ananias.
Marble decoration and paintings in St Mary's Basilica
We just stood still seeing the colosseum with the snow falling from the far above skies. It was a breathtaking view that we will remember for life.
Another view of the arch of Constantine and the Colosseum. The second day of our trip was sunny and we saw the colosseum in the usual setting of buzzing crowds all around.
The Arch of Titus is a triumphal arch that commemorates the victory of the emperors Vespasian and Titus, which lead to the conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Jewish temple there.
Angels Castle. This fort is part of the vatican and was the hideout of the pope during the middle ages.
Pope Benedict XVI is giving his blessing from his papal palace. You can see the papal coat of arms in the foreground.
Romans were infatuated with Egyptian Obelisks and they used them to decorate Rome. During the reign of the Pope in Rome, they were moved around to direct visitors to the important monuments of Rome.
The main altar of St Peter's, framed by the bronze Bernini's baldacchino. In the background you can see the apse with St Peter's Cathedra supported by four Doctors of the Church.
Monument to Pope Pius VII was created by the Danish sculptor Thornwaldsen There is a statue on either side of the monument. Wisdom, crowned with an olive wreath and with an owl, symbol of Christian vigilance, at its feet, acquires knowledge from the Bible. Fortitude is dressed in a lion's skin and treads on a club. These are the two virtues that distinguished the troubled times of this pope's long reign.