The Sicily-Rome Tour is over. But on the next day Jeff and I went on the Guided City Tour in Rome. Perfect weather and lot of surprises waited for us

And... as the City tour was at the end of the motorcycling tour so we had not to be at 4 pm at the welcome briefing - we had time!!!!

we run into the Rome marathon. All roads were blocked, no busses but also no traffic in the streets.

First stop was a coffee at the Ducati cafe

Piazza del Campidoglio - the surrounding Palazzi created by Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarotti in 1536-1546. It is now the seat of the City government.

from there you overlook the Forum Romanum - a rectangular forum surrounded y the ruins of several important ancient goverrnment buildings. It was for centuries the center of Roman public life: the site of triumphal processions and elections, the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, gladiatorial matches and the nucleus of commercial affairs.

We walked along the Via dei Fori Imperiali. This avenue was built by order fo Fascist dictator Mussolini in 1924.Its construction entailed the systematic demolition of over 40.000 square yards of one of the most densely populated areas of Rome. The Via dei Fori Imperiali completely changed the landscape and character of the heart of Rome. and sliced the Forum area in two pieces.

At the end of Via dei Fori Imperiali - the Colosseum.

the largest Amphitheatre in the Roman Empire, the greates works on Roman architecture and engineering, largest amphitheatre in the world. 22 BC , inaugurated in a 100 day long celebration, film set for the "Gladiatior", 80 entrances, 4 for the upper social levels. The Colosseum seated 50.000 spectators, it was the blue print for all our modern stadiums. The spectators could leave the building in 15 minutes.

San Pietro in Vincoli - Michelangelo`s Moses

we did a detour to San Pietro in Vincoli. The original Moses of Michelangelo is placed there -  wonderful.

No line, no entrance fee!!!!!

Seated in a serious attitude, he rests with one arm on the tables, and with the other holds his long glossy beard, the hairs, so difficult to render in sculpture, being so soft and downy that it seems as if the iron chisel must have become a brush. The beautiful face, like that of a saint and mighty prince, seems as one regards it to need the veil to cover it, so splendid and shining does it appear, and so well has the artist presented in the marble the divinity with which God had endowed that holy countenance. The draperies fall in graceful folds, the muscles of the arms and bones of the hands are of such beauty and perfection, as are the legs and knees, the feet being adorned with excellent shoes. It`s touching!

Trevi Fountain - located at a junction of three streets - in Italian tre vie = Trevi

 Largest Baroque fountain and one of the most famous fountains in the world.The backdrop of the fountain is Palazzo Poli.

 Largest Baroque fountain and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

In January 2013, it was announced that the Italian fashion company Fendi would sponsor a 20-month, 2.2-million-euro restoration of the fountain; it will be the most thorough restoration in the fountain's history

2015 - no water yet, but restoration done - shining white stone, beautiful!!!!

Jeff threw a coin in - so for sure he will come back to Rome.

Film set for Fellini`s "La Dolce Vita"

these guys were funny

Pantheon - one of the best preserved of all Roman buildings, 2000 years old, still the world largest unreinforced concrete dome. Inside the Pantheon, amongst others - the tomb of Raphael.

Be had another beautiful lunch just in front of the Pantheon.

Castel Sant`Angelo

commissioned by the Roman Emmperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. Later used by the Popes as a fortress and castle and is now a museum.

Yes we know people in Rome - we met Bonni and Jim at the Vittorio Emanuele Bridge

Saint Peter - no lines!!!! all the tourist have been at the sunday morning Angelus pray of the pope. Normally there is 1 km long line! Jeff was easy and so I talked him in to go in and up the dome

Wonderful!!!

Vatican City is the smallest inernationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population. Saint Peter`s Square is a massive platza located directly in front of the Basilica. At the center of the square is a 4000 years old Egyptian obelisk, erected at the current site in 1568. Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the square almost 100 years later.

The Swiss Guard

The Pieta of Michelangelo - we were both overwhelmed

No line!!! so we went up the Dome

sunset  high above Rome - you can see the monument of Vittorio Emanuelle, the Colosseum and even the Pantheon

The Vatican Gardens

the dimensions of the sculpted figures standing on top of Saint Peter are tremedous

Thanks Jeff for a wonderful day - I hope you enjoyed it.

we met the rest of the group, who extended there motorcycle tour in Rome, for dinner at Campo dei Fiori. The slow food restaurant "Grappolo d`Oro" was our pick for a last delicious meal in Rome.

Thank you all - have a safe travel and keep in touch.

Ursula