A Visit to the Ancient Port

About 15 miles by easy train is the port city for ancient Rome. It's name is Oestia as it sits at the mouth of the Tiber River. The site is expansive.




Part of the site.




One of the well preserved mosaics.




Tending bar at the local pub!

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A Rainy Day

I knew the good weather would not hold. I tried to find some indoor activity, but only partially succeeded. The first stop was a Miro exhibit in a monastery.



Anyone know what this is?


Then on to the Pantheon. Once the main temple in Rome, it is now a church where several Italian kings and Raphaelle are buried.





A final stop was a cat sanctuary which is in one of the excavated ruins. It is a no-kill shelter for stray and abandoned cats. They had about 130 currently in residence.




Cats in the wall.

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On to Ancient Rome

From the opulence of the Vatican to imagined opulence of Ancient Rome. It's hard to imagine constructing the Colosseum, especially without cranes. The interior must have been impressive especially when filled with spectators watching what ever games were occurring.




Approaching the Colosseum.




The interior.

From there I explored the posh residential district of the Palatine. This was where the emperors and high officials lived.




A little garden.

Then on to the Forum.


Looking down the Sacred Way.

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The Vatican with 27000 of my closest friends

Spent my first full day at thenVatican. The place is amazing. I think they most of the art of the world. The lines are long, but move fairly quickly. One can join a tour to decrease the wait, but I really wanted to see it at my own pace.


St. Peter's Square




In the museum




A fresco by Raphael





The main alter in the Basilica


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