Well last night Mom fell asleep within minutes, which I could tell from her snoring. This morning we showered, ate breakfast quickly to make our 0915 meeting time in front of Colonna Traiano to learn that after some time worrying at the location, that the morning tour had been cancelled as our guide was suffering from heat stroke. Apparently, Roma’s experiencing a heat wave but I think the weather is just lovely. So while Mom had a discussion with Fernando and Rachel, two others of the tour, the young man that had informed us of the cancellation and provided the phone so Mom could reschedule or receive a refund, marked out the tour route and gave me a brief history lesson.
Colonna Traiano.
The Colonna Traiano was erected by the Emperor Trajan, who brought the empire to its greatest height, erected the pillar to commemorate a battle. On top of the pillar is a statue of San Pietro looking towards his basilica in the Vatican, which was originally crowned by a statue of the emperor and replaced but the Church.
San Pietro installed in 1587 AD on top of Colonna Traiano.
I overheard later that upon Trajan’s death, the emperor was cremated and his ashes placed in the base of the pillar making it also a mausoleum. The pillar stands in front of a forum and near the remains of the world’s first shopping mall—a four tiered marked place in the Foro Traiano.
Trajan's mausoleum.
Foro Traiano constructed in 112 AD in front of the colonna.
Some more brief things about Colonna Traiano is that it use to be surrounded by four story libraries which allowed to the pillar to be “read.” After the pillar’s erection games were held in the Colosseo for one hundred days—a very expensive event with on lion costing $2 million in today’s dollars.
Detail of Colonna Traiano's narrative.
Detail of Colonna Traiano narrative.
Directly across is the white marble building of the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II or Monumento Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II. The building was erected between 1911 and 1935 AD by the fascism leader Mussolini as a monument to Italy, himself, and is the Italian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The stone pedestal box above the tomb, which an equestrian statue of Emanuele crowns, hosted a fifteen-person dinner before the statue was put in place.
Colonna Traiano with Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II behind.
Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Side view of dinner box crowned by Emanuele equestrian.
Mussolini was apparently also a character, in the just across in Palazzo Venezi where his office was housed, he kept his light burning day and night to signify he was working for the people when he really was not. Also constructed by him was the Via dei Fori Imperiali, which cut though the ancient Foro Romano, destroying ancient works like monument had, to the Colosseo. The road also divided the ancient area, separating the Trajan area from the rest.
Mussolini’s monument to Emanuele was also erected in a style attempting to mimic the ancient Romans however, it was not understood at the time that Romans painted their statues, buildings, and other such things so the monument’s pure white façade is incorrect from a historical standpoint. Moving from the monument we traveled past the last spot of the tour by error but made our way back to the Campidoglio [Capitoline Hill] crowned by the Musei Capitolini but the detour provided our first real view of Foro Romano with the arches of Settimio Sev and Tito.
Ruins on our way to Campidoglio with Emanuele monument in the background
More ruins.
Fresco on ruins.
Unknowingly walking past the Campidoglio entrance..
Ruins seen at the bottom of Campidoglio.
Fernando, Mom, and Rachel still walking...
Beautiful floral and Roma building at bottom of Campidoglio.
Foro Romano seen as we come up the back of Campidoglio.
The Temple of Hercules? in Foro Romano.
Leaning over and look at stonework in the Foro Romano.
Foro Romano with one of the triumphal arches.
First sight of the the Musei Capitolini (three buildings) on Campidoglio.
All four of us elected to enter the Musei Capitolini and as I was the one with the cash for Mom and I not only did I purchase our entry tickets at €11.00 [$14.3633] a piece I also ended up purchasing an audio tour device at €5.00 [$6.5288] device. A most fortunate communication error, for the audio devices were great at guiding and providing information on the rooms and artefacts on display—in English of course. The only time I took out my camera in the museum was in the sun lit room where the horse mounted statue of Marcus Aurelius [one of the few surviving ancient equestrian statues because the Church though it depicted Constantine] is on display as well the Etruscan she-wolf that later had suckling Romulus and Remus added that has become such an iconic symbol.
Alanna with Etruscan she-wolf in Musei Capitolini.
Leaving Musei Capitolini on Campidoglio.
Here comes the bride...
I did not enjoy a full tour as Mom desired to return to our room and eat lunch. So we returned the audio devices to get my ID back, exited the museum, and departed Campidoglio. Lunch was at a snack bar in our area, pizza for €4.00 [$5.223] which we split between us. We then retired to our room, number two.
La Casa di Rosy, Roma 2025 EET
Out afternoon rest was short and after a quick stop at a supermarket store on route to our afternoon tour meeting place we arrived on top of the metro station across from the Colosseo. Which derived its current name from the colossal statue of Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus that had stood in front of it, as the building had also been erected in the area of the drained artificial lake Nero had built as part of his palace. The Colosseo is correctly named the Flavian Amphitheatre after the dynasty that erected the games arena. Our guide Serena then guided us, using very helpful radio headsets, to the Arco di Constantino, up Palatino which provided the view of Circco Massimo, to the Foro Romano informing us of the building, how archaeological excavation had essentially discovered that the level of the ground had risen at least two stories from the ancient ground level; location of the Vestal Virgins residence and temple; that there are some examples of the rare red marble from Egypt that is no longer available; and other such details.
Dark Rome Tour Guide Serena on top of metro station in front of Colosseo.
Colosseo dirty, Colosseo clean.
Gate LII into Colosseo. Admission fee and gate entrance depended on status.
Entering the Colosseo, the forth ring.
Interior of the Colosseo.
Original stone covered seating. Seating went Emperor and Vestal Virgins, senators,
equestrians, plebeians, woman, and rabble on wood on top outer ring.
Gladiators.
Exterior of Colosseo showing forth ring that was destroyed in earthquake.
Arco di Constantino [Arch of Constantine].
First sight of Palatino before getting on top of the hill.
On top of Palatino looking at the stadium in Domus Augustiana [House/Palace of Augustus].
Water on marble of Domus Augustiana showing dust free colours (and Mom's foot).
Original interior facade showing Domus Augustiana decor.
Domus Augustiana's bath area on left, foundation of garden fountain on right.
View of Circco Massimo from Domus Augustiana on Palatino.
First view of Foro Romano from Palantino.
Renaissance/medieval? buildings and garden on top of Palantino with Mom.
Archo di Titus [Arch of Tito].
Interior of Archo di Titus.
Interior of Archo di Titus showing damage when used as fortification gate.
Temple of Romulus with Serena in corner that has working bronze door
and red Egyptian pillars. Rededicated to Santi Casma e Damiano.
Temple of Antoninus and Fautina.
Interior church is San Lorenzo in Miranda.
Mom standing in front of Caesar's cremation altar.
Caesar's cremation altar with offerings to the statesman.
Tempio di Vesta [Temple of Vesta].
Having left Foro Romano the exterior of Basilica Constantini which was seen from Palantino
Alanna's feet at the end of the three hour walking tour.
The tour was three hours and while I was more than willing to do more thorough exploration of Foro Romano, Mom desired food, bed, and to rest her pulled calf muscle. So we proceeded back to our area with a stop at Al Conosseo for some gelato at €2.00 [$2.6115] per small cone and I selected mango and a fruit blend, very tasty. Supper was purchased from the lunch snack bar location: eggplant and cheese between bread for me at €4.00 [$5.223] which had tonight’s meal costing €8.00 [$10.4461].
Upon returning to our room, we ate our supper and after showering, divided up the postcards between us. My five will go to Mac, Amber, Chris, Laura, and Robert at Affinity Credit Union. Tomorrow we plan on visiting the termini for stamps and more postcards.
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