Italy: Day 6 (07-07-09)

This morning, Anne Marie, Joey, Mom and Dad decided to visit Campo de’ Fiori, a historic area known for its morning markets. They took the metro, and then a bus down to the market area that was filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. They picked up a few ingredients for lunch and then came back to the apartment to pick up Adam and I, who relished a few extra moments of sleep this morning. Then, we all walked down to another local market, this one filled with clothes, purses, belts and other miscellaneous items. After spending the morning shopping, we came back to the apartment to eat lunch and take a quick break from the heat. It’s been in the upper 80’s all week, which seems normal for the Carolinas, but in a city with very little air conditioning and a lot of outside sightseeing, it seems even more scalding. We enjoyed another fresh pasta lunch before heading down to tour the Coliseum.

(Above and Below are pictures from the Campo de’ Fiori outdoor market where local vendors showcase their fruits and vegetables)

The Forum was built in 46 B.C. which is almost uncomprehensible! The Forum is located right beside the Coliseum. It once the hustling centerpiece of Rome. The original forum was built several centuries before Christ and Julius Caesar built a new one in 46 BC. Within the area lies numerous ruins of churches and temples dedicated to Roman gods and goddesses, the remains of beautiful columns and arches, markets, and ancient forums dedicated to famous Roman figures such as Caesar and Augustus.

We found a pedistal to make our own statues on.

The Coliseum was amazing. It began in 72AD over the former residence of Nero, estimates place the seating capacity between 50,000 – 70,000 spectators. From common people to senators, people from all walks of life piled in to see the fights between gladiators and wild animals. They have also excavated two stories below the floor of the coliseum where the animals and gladiators prepared to fight. The lower stories also contained complex pulley systems to raise and lower animals and people into the arena.

Paolo, the apartment owner, had recommended a restaurant just across the street that we decided to try on our last night in Rome.

After a great dinner, we walked up the street for our evening dose of gelato. Then, back to the apartment to get packed to take the train to Florence tomorrow morning.