Trip to Rome
September the 7th was the day we set off to Rome. Arriving at the Fiumicino where it was stifling hot gave me a sense that the warm weather is far from over, but also relieved me from the good ol' British weather.
Visits to the vast open museum of the old and the imperial fora were essential and there we saw a real layering of archaeology and history, going back to the fourth century BC and extending to the seventh century AD: more than a millennium of activity, building, and display. The Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Baths of Diocletian and Trajan's Column are sights of amazing survival and quality; to these we visited a number of churches, some fifth century in date, many with excellent early medieval mosaics on walls and floors.
Adding to this, we also visited one of Rome's catacombs Sant'Agnese, to the port site of Ostia, the villa of Hadrian at Tivoli, the Renaissance palace and gardens of Villa d'Este. Which was absolutely spectacular.
The hotel we stayed at was Domus Sessoriana - Our Hotel is attached to the Amphitheatrum Castrense, Rome's second amphitheatre, almost unknown by tourists. The amphitheatre was built in the third century AD. It is said that when Constantine arrived to Rome his mother Helena brought the true cross of Jerusalem to the city. On this occasion Constantine erected a church next to the amphitheatre to honour the holy relics. The church and hotel which was formerly a monastery were built into part of the sessorian palace, an ancient residence that was owed by Helena. OOO interesting, I know!!
After leaving our luggage at the hotel we visited Ostia, the harbour city of Rome. Where buildings were in a good state of preservation. The topography and roman buildings were in a way similar as that to Pompeii and Herculaneum where we could experience and understand more. One itinerary highlight would be the entrance where we pass public buildings such as the two storey Baths of Neptune and Villa della Fontana with shops on the ground floor and living rooms above.
A Whole week in Rome flew by and by the end of the trip, the amount of knowledge I had of Ancient Rome had increased by far as did my belly :) The food was absolutely amazing!!!
Photos are up on my instagram @TijanaTovilovic
