Ancient Rome and start of tour

 Saturday October 8

Since today is the start of the Rick Steves tour, I didn’t want to do too much!  I just walked about 20 minutes to the ruins of the Imperial Forums, the Roman Forums and Palatine Hill.   Most of the ruins are about 2000 years old, but there was a large cistern for holding water that dated back to the 6th century BC.   It was super sunny so I used my hat, but 1/2 way thru the day I broke my sunglasses- yuck.   I thought I was super lucky jumping in on a guided tour of the Emperor Augustus house (he was born 63BC), but to my surprise, it was in Italian.  Part way through, I turned on the microphone of my Google translate app and was able to catch some of what they were saying.  

At 4, I met up with the rest of the tour group.  After a short meeting, we walked the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome.  This is how Google describes the neighborhood   “ Colorful Trastevere is a funky, bohemian area that clings to its centuries-old, working-class roots. It's known for traditional and innovative trattorias, craft beer pubs and artisan shops, as well as simple B&Bs and budget hotels. From the pre-dinner passeggiata (promenade) until late, a young crowd buzzes around Piazza di San Calisto and Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, the site of a gilded, mosaic-filled church.”  It is the nice way of saying an old party town.   It was very colorful!   We did see the old church which the tour guide said that some Christian’s say was the first actual Catholic Church in Rome.  Dinner with the group was fun and just a basic getting to know you time.  After dinner we wandered the streets, sat at a funky rooftop bar, then called it a night.   

I liked this stone face thing. It was just sitting in the pathway in the ruins on Palatine Hill.  

6th century BC cistern 

House of Augustus on Palantine Hill. Augustus was born 63bc. His mother was the niece of Julius Caesar, and this home has the best preserved Roman walls on the planet (sounds a bit dramatic, but that is what it said) with 2000 year old frescos that are still vibrant. 

Temple of Antonio’s Pius and Faustian in the Roman forum. Ad 141

Me on the top of Palatine hill overlooking the ruins in the Roman forum. 

Ruins with the modern day Victor Emmanuel monument in the upper right hand corner.

Ruins of a several story 2000 year old market place called Trajans market.  Lower levels were stores and upper levels were most likely professional offices. 

Roman forum ruins 

I couldn’t go a day without posting yet another very tall column!   This one is Trajan’s column.

An Island on the Tiber river 

4th century AD - catholic church.  Supposed 1st church in Rome. Basilica di S. Maria in Trastevere

Same church

And again

Tour group

Wandering the town.