October 24 - Day 3 in Rome and we visit the ancient sites

This morning we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then headed out to find the nearest Metro stop so we could head over to the Colosseum area.

Machine to buy Metro tickets

Since our Colosseum tour was not until later this afternoon, we decided to exit the Metro at the Barberini stop and find the Church of Santa Maria.  Inside the church is the Cappuccin Crypt where artistically arranged bones of 4,000 capuchin monks who died between 1528 and 1870 line the walls and ceilings in intricate patterns.  The idea of this was very strange so we thought we would check it out.

Church of Santa Maria della Immacolata Concezione

We first take a peek inside the church, which is beautiful.

Then it is time to enter the attached museum which houses the Cappuccin Crypt.  No photos were allowed so once again I depend on the internet to supply the following.

Turning the corner after walking through the museum with interesting artifacts used by the Franciscan friars in Rome, there was a message on the wall:  "We were what you are...you will become what we are now."  There were 6 different rooms, each with a theme and artistically arranged bones.

The Crypt of the Skulls

In the Crypt of the Skulls, the central scene is an hourglass with wings...depicting time on Earth flies.

Close-up of the intricate designs made with the bones.

Crypt of the Tibia and Fibia

In the Crypt of the Tibia and Fibia, niches are inhabited by Capuchin friars, whose robes gave the name to the brown coffee with the frothy white cowl.

Crypt of the Three Skeletons.

The Crypt of the Three Skeletons depicts the Day of Judgment.  The ceiling has a skeleton with a grim-reaper scythe and a set of scales weighing the "good deeds and the bad deeds so God can judge the soul". 

This collection of bones ranks up with one of the most bizarre things we have ever experienced.  It was amazing to see the intricate designs, but also very creepy!

It was then time to get back on to the Metro and head to the Colosseum.  We had to transfer at the Termini Station and take the B Line down to the Colosseo Metro stop.  We arrived in plenty of time to enjoy lunch at a restaurant on the hill overlooking the Colosseum.

Just pick the pizza you want and then they bake it.

We still had time to walk around the area of the Colosseum before it was time to meet up with our tour guide from Walks of Italy.

Our first sight of the Colosseum

Built when the Roman Empire was at its peak in 80 AD, the Colosseum represents Rome at its grandest.  The amphitheater was a stadium for gladiator contests and public spectacles.  It could accommodate 50,000 fans and they could all exit the arena in 15 minutes!

When it was time, we met our tour guide and headed over to the Roman Forum to begin the tour.

Our guide explaining the areas we will visit

It was amazing to walk down the streets of the Forum and imagine what is was like in ancient times.

Arch of Titus

The Arch of Titus commemorated the Roman victory over Israel in 70 AD.  When the Romans conquered a country, all they required was allegiance to the empire, which was no problem for most conquered people who already had many gods.  The Israelites believed in only one God and it was not the emperor, so they revolted.  The Romans defeated them and took home 50,000 Jewish slaves who were forced to build the Colosseum and the Arch of Titus.

Basilica of Constantine

The Basilica of Constantine was a huge hall of justice.  It was a grand hall that was as long as a football field and lavishly furnished.  All that is left of the basilica are a few arches.

Overview of the Roman Forum

The Forum's main square was originally about the size of a football field.  Surrounding it were temples, law courts, government buildings, and triumphal arches.  This is where Rome was born.

Where Julius Ceasar's body was burned

Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was an ambitious general and politician and was popular with the people, but in later years he assumed dictatorial powers and was assassinated by a conspiracy of senators.

Julius Caesar's body was burned on this spot under the metal roof after his assassination.  He had walked right by here the day he was assassinated.  Along the way, a street-corner Etruscan preacher warned him, "Beware, the Ides of March".  

Temple of Julius Caesar

The funeral for Julius Caesar was held here.  The citizens gathered and speeches were made.  Mark Antony stood up to say, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.  I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him."

Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina

The Senate built this temple to honor Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) and his wife, Faustina.  It is fairly well preserved.

Palatine Hill

The hill overlooking the Forum is where the emperors lived in a sprawling 150,000 square foot palace.

Circus Maximus

From Palatine Hill we could see the Circus Maximus, which was Ancient Rome's most popular chariot-racing stadium.  It was 2,100 feet long and could seat a quarter of a million spectators.  Today it is a natural amphitheater for concerts and public speeches.

Arch of Constantine

In 312 AD, Emperor Constantine defeated his rival in the crucial Battle of the Milvian Bridge.  The night before the battle, Constantine had seen a vision of a cross in the sky.  Constantine became sole emperor and legalized Christianity.  The arch marks one of the great turning points in history--the military coup that made Christianity mainstream.

It was now time to enter the Colosseum.  We begin the tour by going to the underground where the animals and prisoners were held and the gladiators wait for their entrance.

The passage leading from the underground to the area floor, where the gladiators entered the arena.

Standing on the arena floor.

 The spectators ringed the playing area in bleacher seats that slanted up from the area floor.  The Colosseum's seating was strictly segregated.  At ringside, the emperor, senators, Vestal Virgins and other important people occupied marble seats with their names carved on them.  The next level up held those of noble birth.  Then up another level was for ordinary free Roman citizens and at the very top was the bleachers for the poorest people and the women.

The top story of the Colosseum is mostly ruined; only one side retains its high wall.

We then climbed up to the upper levels to look down on the arena area.  Only a small portion of the floor of the arena is covered so you can see the passages beneath the playing surface.

The underground had a complex web of passageways where the props and stage sets were stored that could transform the arena to look like an African jungle or a Greek temple.  There were 80 different elevator shafts via a system of ropes and pulleys that could get the sets up to the arena floor quickly.

 

Did they throw Christians to the lions like in the movies?  Christians were definitely thrown to the lions, made to fight gladiators, crucified, and burned alive, but we were told probably not here in this particular stadium.  

After our tour, we hopped on the Metro, transferred at Termini Station, and got off at the stop near our hotel.  We bought gelato before heading to the hotel and that was dinner for us.  Exhausted after two full days of siteseeing, we headed to bed.

Tomorrow we have just the morning in Rome before we head to the Civitavecchia port to board the cruise ship.