Day 2, Rome (St. Maria Major, Coliseum, & Roman Forum – September 19, 2017

Today’s original plan was modified due to receiving notification that our Coliseum tour ticket time had been changed.  Therefore we began our sightseeing with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore,  which was built Pope Sixtus III in 440 CE on the highest point of the Cispian Hill.

The nave contains 36 Hymerrian marble and 4 granite columns with Ionic capitals with a coffered ceiling. 

Over the columns is an architrave with 28 5^th century mosaics depicting stories from the Old Testament. 

Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua have leading roles.  The channel arch contains later 5^th century mosaics that show Byzantine influence.  In the Annunciation scene, Mary is dressed as an Oriental princess.  The apse mosaic shows the Crowning of the Virgin surrounded by angels and a procession of saints.  The 15^th century coffered ceiling is decorated with gold from Peru. The 12^th century floor is inlaid by Cosmati. 

We then took a bus to the Coliseum area where we had lunch at Il Gladiatore located across the street from the Coliseum.  At 2:00 pm, we were met by our guides and escorted to the Colosseum entrance.  

We visited the main floor and upper areas of the coliseum to get excellent views of this huge facility.  

Waiting for our underground tour

Our tour also included the lower level where the gladiators and animals were prepared for the shows and entertainment -- some lasting 100 days.

Coliseum Underground

Underground Passageways

The gladiators and animals made their appearance on the main sand covered floor by being transported in elevators to trap doors in the floor.A reconstructed elevator showed the mechanism used to accomplish this. 

Replica Elevator

Coliseum Main Floor

Each level a different column capita

After leaving the coliseum, we had a walking tour of the Roman Forum, which we entered through the Triumphal Arch of Titus, which commemorates the victory of Titus and Vespasian over the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem.  One of the base reliefs on the Arch shows the transport triumphal march with Jewish captives and solders bearing the booty from the temple in Jerusalem including the menorah, Golden Table, and silver trumpets. 

Base Relief on Arch of Titus

Upon entering the Forum, we passed the ruins of the Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius, which dates to early 4^th century.  

 Further along is the remains of the temple of Antoninus and Faustina, which was built in 141 CE.  

Church of St. Lorenzo inside Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

 It rests on its original podium and some of the ten 56 foot columns show the groves from the ropes used in an unsuccessful attempt to pull down the temple and reuse the materials.  At that time, approximately a third of the temple was below ground level and the columns could not be toppled.  Instead it became a church (probably in the 7^th century) to St. Lorenzo and the church was built inside the temple.  From this vantage point we could view the remains of the Temple of the Vestal Virgins

Temple of Vesta Ruins

and the Rostra (orators platform). 

Rostra in Foreground

We exited the forum and walked to our restaurant (Il Giardino Romano) in the old Jewish Ghetto.  

Group at Il Giardino Romano

Roasted Lamb/Potatoes

After dinner, while walking to the bus stop, we walked past the turtle fountain. 

We didn’t spend much time there, because the weather changed to rain and we rushed to the bus stop to board the extremely crowded #64.  Unfortunately, a couple of individuals lost their wallets and credit/identify cards to pickpockets.  That created a big headache for those affected.  So, heightened awareness of our surroundings in crowds was emphasized.