Roma 1

We are safe and sound in Rome, and keeping ourselves busy with all the many brilliant things Rome has to offer. Weather is beautiful (HOT!), we have a lovely apartment and all is well (though the food is strangely poor so far - Naples had much better pizza). Our days have mostly consisted of big walkabouts, with visits to several key sites per day. Our hitlist thus far:

Piazza Navona - Bernini's fountain and Boromini's facade

Chiesa di Sant Agostini - ornate church with a Raphael fresco and a Caravaggio

Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi - more Caravaggios

Pantheon - the crowning achievement of Roman architectural engineering, this was a temple to 'all gods' with a dome built to contain a perfect sphere. So magnificent, even the Christians couldn't bring themselves to destroy it, and so converted it into a church. Raphael is buried here.

Ara Pacis Augustae - finally open after years of restoration work, this is one of the key items from my old Classics classes (hi Mr Kirby!). A sacrificial altar built by the Emperor Augustus to celebrate the peace he had brought to an Empire torn by civil war.

Mausoleo Augusto - Augustus' tomb, near the Ara Pacis. Now a toilet for homeless people.

Piazza Venezia & Il Vittoriano - a great war memorial palace, but it's been closed for a civic ceremony each time we've stopped by. Ahrg!

Trajan's Column - built to commemmorate Trajan's military conquests, it is engraved with a spiralling bas-relief cartoon. This used to be in a courtyard, and thus readable. Now it stands alone, and can only be admired from a distance - alas! Nearby are the ruins of Trajan's Markets (currently closed for restoration), Trajan's Forum, The Forum of Augustus and The Forum of Nerva.

Roman Forum - the commercial and political centre of ancient Rome, now ruins.

The Arch of Titus - built by the titular Emperor to celebrate his defeat of the Hebrews. Well, I'm here and he's not.

The Time Elevator - an awesome "motion-master" ride that takes you through the history of Rome. Surprisingly well put-together actually.

Chiesa di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva - church with works by Michelangelo and Filippino Lippi.
Largo Argentina - dug as a foundation to a new building, the ruins of three temples were discovered here, and building halted. All the cats of Rome seem to congregate here, on the ruins.