Pizzeria "Ai Marmi"

I'm often asked which was my favorite city, Paris or Rome, and my answer is always Paris for the sights and Rome for the food. When in Rome dine at Pizzeria "Ai Marmi." This restaurant came recommended to us from all different directions. It's located in Trastevere on the Tiber River.

Surprisingly, it has delicious pizza (and bruschetta).

Speaking of bruschetta, I recently learned it is pronounced 'broo-sket-ah' not 'broo-shet-uh'... I had no idea! It's never, ever too late to learn something new.

The Trevi Fountain

We couldn't hold the suspense so we made an early stop by the fountain. It was finished in 1762. You truly can hear everyone's excitement as you approach it.

We will be back by here a little later to partake in a 'tourist ritual.'

Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

These two sites were a lot to take in - They were the center of Rome and of the civilized world. There was much to see... Away we go!

We walked through the Roman Forum to head to Palatine Hill first. Palatine Hill was once a huge palace. The umbrella trees you see below mark where one wall of the palace use to stand. Here is the main courtyard:

I'm standing in the throne room below, where the emperor once sat long ago (Crown on!):

A view of the Roman Forum from Palatine Hill... Loving the blue skies:

The above represents a much abbreviated tour. Now off to the Roman Forum... Below stands the Arch of Titus - It commemorates a Roman victory. Here also stands a Hank:

I will mention this again later, but we were disciples of Rick Steves throughout our travels in Paris and Rome. He is the author of some amazing European travel books. Rick is funny too... He writes things in his books such as, "If things still look like just a pile of rocks, at least tell yourself, "But Julius Caesar once leaned against these rocks."

Speaking of Caesar, above is the spot where his body was burned. His funeral was held in this main square, and it is where the famous words of Mark Antony were spoken, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." Flowers are still placed upon this site today - He was burned in 44 B.C.

Above is the Temple of Saturn, the Forum's oldest temple dated to 497 B.C.

Sites, sites and more sites galore!

Colosseum Tour

"Our 'Caesar Shuffle' begins with the downtown core of ancient Rome, the Colosseum... Built when the Roman Empire was at its peak in A.D. 80, the Colosseum represents Rome at its grandest. The Flavian Amphitheater (the Colosseum's real name) was an arena for gladiator contests and public spectacles."

Walking through the Colosseum and arena was surreal...

It's baffling to be standing in the same place as 50,000 fans once did, from so long ago, watching gladiators battle to their death. History is fascinating!

Colosseum (or Colosseo) - First Glimpse

Here is our first glimpse of the Colosseum on our walk towards it:

We made it!! We're really, really here!! ... These were my thoughts.

Just like the Museum Pass in Paris, I would suggest the Roma Pass in Rome. You pay one price to get into all sights, and you get to bypass lines at most places (which is the best part)!