Rome

The Colosseum

Our final destination in Italy was Rome.  We felt like there was so much to see that we decided to spend several days there. 

We were really excited to see the Colosseum.  It was ridiculous how old this place was!  I was under the impression that some pretty bad stuff happened here, but didn't know just how bad.  I figured there were some periodic festivals where people were put to death there, but we learned that people were put to death here just about every day!  The Romans would capture prisoners alive and save them for the Colosseum.  The daily entertainment in Rome was to watch people fight for their lives.  It was free to watch, so most people made it a part of their regular routine.  Gruesome! 

At the Forum in Rome

Of course, some of those who were put to death were Christians who were persecuted and martyred.  The floor of the Colosseum, which is no longer there, housed a system of pulleys and trap doors where victims or animals could be raised to give the element of surprise.  There is an intricate maze of cells where inmates or animals were held.  It's difficult to imagine folks being entertained by watching people be mauled or devoured, but that was the case. 

Near the Colosseum was an area called the Forum which was a strip of land that has been left untouched since ancient times.  Still standing are some ancient pagan temples, some columns, and some historic sites, such as the place were Julius Caesar was put to death.  It is remarkable to be able to walk the same streets that have been used for thousands of years, where the history that you read about actually happened. 

The Pantheon

We also saw the Pantheon, one of Rome's most spectacular and historic buildings.  It was erected on the site where legend has it that Romulus, Rome's founder, was taken up by Eagles to be with the gods. Built in 80 A.D., it has one of the largest domes of any building and it is an architectural wonder, especially for its day. 

We enjoyed wandering the streets of Rome and finding these ancient buildings, fountains, and sites.  Many of the spots we know from movies--the Trevi fountain has been featured in several.  It was under renovation at the time of our visit, but it was still fun throwing a coin in it. Legend has it that if you throw a coin in, you will find true love.  It worked for me... retroactively 27 years ago!

At St. Peter's Cathedral

We were staying right by the Vatican and so a visit was in order.  We went through the most
magnificent church I've ever seen, St. Peter's Cathedral.  It is such an imposing structure and an architectural marvel to behold.  To see it, I was inspired by the degree to which people have gone to show their devotion to God.  But I also felt a little uneasy as there were huge monuments, shrines erected to St. Peter and all of the popes in the history of the church.  I can't help but think that Peter would be embarrassed by such things. 

St. Peter's Cathedral

We also went to the catacombs on the outskirts of town.  The story is that the cemeteries of Rome were full and dead bodies were beginning to stack up and were causing disease and death.  A law was passed requiring that people burn the dead bodies of their loved ones.  Christians, believing in bodily resurrection, went to great lengths to ensure that their departed were buried intact.  They found that the old quarries worked nicely.  The soil was made of volcanic ash that was very easy to dig, but once it was exposed to air, it hardened and made a solid structure. 

Unlike the catacombs in Paris which was filled with fully exposed bones, the catacombs of Rome were graves that were dug and covered with a headstone.  Many of the graves have been ransacked over time by invading armies, but there are still many that were intact.  These are covered with Christian symbols that are still used in the church to this day-the ichthus fish, the anchor, and the dove.  I think I was most moved by the fact that Christians have held the exact beliefs and used the same symbols for thousands of years. Pictures were not allowed in the catacombs. 

We went through the Vatican Museum as well.  It is one of the largest and richest collections of religious art in the world.  It was overwhelming to try take it all in. The crowds were shoulder to shoulder (not fun), but the art was incredible.  I think we were all most excited about going through the Sistine Chapel.  As you enter the Chapel, no talking is allowed.  The ceiling is covered with the most phenomenal paintings.  We were searching for the famous hand of God reaching out for man, which we discovered was right in the center of the ceiling.  Again, no pictures are allowed in this room, but it was such a blessing to get to see this in person. 


We also went to some of the lesser-known sites in Rome.  We climbed the Spanish Steps and looked in several of the fancy shops that are situated at the bottom.  One morning I went through Castel Sant Angelo, one of the homes that the Pope has held in history. You are struck by the fact that there was such a struggle for power in the church.  The pope literally was running for his life much of the time.  The pope had his own army at one time!   It's amazing to see learn how the church has struggled throughout history. 

We also ate lots of gelato every chance we got.  We struggled with the food at this point in our journey.  The kids were tired of eating pizza and were so ready for some real Italian food from someplace like Olive Garden!  We managed to find a good Chinese place near our house which helped get us through. 

We feel so blessed to have had the chance to make this trip, especially this part in Europe.  After being gone for a month, we were all ready to come home.  We took a short flight from Rome to Istanbul, Turkey, and then a 12 hour flight back to Chicago.  It was good to be home!