David's Diary: Saturday, June 29, 2002
Rome - Part III
Trevi Fountain
Our last day in Rome was once again hot with blue skies and plenty of sunshine. After checking out of our hotel we took the subway to the Spanish Steps. From there we walked to Trevi Fountain. Today is a holiday and while it is Saturday all the shops are closed and many people are out enjoying the sunshine. At the fountain we saw three different wedding parties arrive to have their pictures taken with the baroque fountain, created in 1732, in the background.
Piazza Navona: Fountain of the Four Rivers
From there we walked to Piazza Navona. The beautiful piazza is lined with palaces, but it is the Fountain of Four Rivers in the center that got our attention. The masterpiece by Bernini depicts the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and the Rio Plata rivers. The figures are all much larger than life and we just spent time gazing up at them.
Steps to Campidoglio
We stopped for lunch at a small bistro where the latest football game featuring Italian teams was being shown on a giant screen above the door. We then followed a suggested walk in our Lonely Planet guidebook. Near the end of the walk we approached the Campidoglio. We stood at the bottom of the steps, designed by Michelangelo, and looked up at the colossal horses and the statues that stand at the top of the stairs. The piazza at the top of the stairs was also designed by Michelangelo and is surrounded by palaces, some of which are government offices now.
Roman Forum
We walked past the Palazzo Senatorio, the official seat of the mayor of Rome to get a view of the Roman Forum. Two days ago at the start of our visit to Rome we had stood below. Today no one is there as the forum is closed to the public in honour of the holiday today.
Last Day in Rome
We made the two to three kilometer walk back to our hotel, where we picked up our one bag and headed off to the train station. We made our way back to Osti, stopped to shop for groceries, and finally made it back to Dragonsinger in Marina di Roma at 9:00 at night. Rome has many things to offer and we felt that we had packed as much as was possible into our three exciting days there.