_roma_

This past week, I had the fortune to spend four days in Rome, exploring the ancient and not so ancient... After a three hour train ride, we checked into the hotel and went straight out to explore the city and try to not get run over by the crazy drivers; if you aren't careful, your feet will get run over.

The larger than you could ever imagine Saint Peters...


St. Peters is huge!
View of the dome. I was shocked to learn that there is only one room of frescoes. Believe it or not, all of the artwork (that appear to be frescoes) are actually mosaics made up of quarter inch glass.

Piazza San Pietro viewed from the dome.

Double spiral stair in the Vatican Museum

School of Athens. A very fine, and much larger than I thought, work of art by Raphael. The Sistine Chapel is also part of the Vatican Museum, but unfortunately, cameras were not allowed and I wasn't about to risk getting my camera taken away.


Classic photo of the morning light accentuating the coffers of the dome in the Pantheon- the oculus, along with everything else I have previously seen only in pictures, and now see in person is much larger than I thought.


Roman forum

Me, with the arch of Constantine and the Colosseum in the background.

We explored Paletine Hill- a serene place within the chaos of the city.


My favorite, the Trevi Fountain. When we were there, we witnessed a really sketchy man with a magnet stealing money out of the fountain- lesson learned- throw your change far into the fountain and don't toss 1 or 2 euros...
San Carlo alle Quatro Fontaine- the facade that I am using for my current studio project. It is currently testing the limits of my intellect...



The stairs that lead down to the crypt- beautifully done.


The Spanish steps- my professor is the one standing with his arms spread- typical of Bob.


On Friday, we went to Ostia Antica. This ancient city was buried under sand and mud of the Tiber and wasn't discovered until 1909, which is probably why it is in the great condition that it is.


After Ostia Antica, we trecked all across the city to find the Contemporary Art6 museum, which was closed due to the installation of an installation that opens March 7th. I hope to make it back down to see Renzo Piano's Auditorium Parco della Musica, so I can catch the exhibit, among other things. This was one of the pieces hanging in the covered courtyard that was open to the public.


I went to Orvieto for the weekend, and we will be going next Wednesday as a class, so I will post pictures after that. We went to Assisi today, Luca on Friday, Orvieto for the weekend...