A G: Italy Day 1 - Rome Day 1 by Gordon, Baths of Diocletian 戴克里先浴场, Piazza Della Repubblica 共和广场, Trajan’s Column 图拉真柱，Piazza Venezia 威尼斯广场, Piazza Bocca della Verita 真理之口广场, Circo Massimo 马西莫竞技场

Friday, June 8, 2018

Italy Day 1 - Rome Day 1 by Gordon, Baths of Diocletian 戴克里先浴场, Piazza Della Repubblica 共和广场, Trajan’s Column 图拉真柱，Piazza Venezia 威尼斯广场, Piazza Bocca della Verita 真理之口广场, Circo Massimo 马西莫竞技场

First Night at Rome

~ Gordon

Colosseum

Circus Maximus

Colosseum

When we arrived at Rome, we got on an airport shuttle to Termini - the Central Train Station. Our hotel was 1 block away from Termini. It is a very good location with several major churches, baths, and most importantly Colosseum close by. We wandered off to go sightseeing. The first place we went to was a famous baths, Baths of Diocletian. Following was Piazza della Repubblica with the Fountain of the Naiads. We also found the Mouth of Truth, and passed by the Trajan’s Column.

Baths of Diocletian

Roman National Museum at the baths

The museum

Baths of Diocletian

Basilica of St. Mary of
the Angels and Martyrs

The Basilica

The basilica

Left: the basilica; Right: Baths of Diocletian

Basilica of St. Mary of
the Angels and Martyrs

The basilica

Baths of Diocletian founded in 298-306 AD, and named after emperor Diocletian. 1700 years passed, the once largest imperial bath is no longer in use. The ruins remain. Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs was commissioned to be made by Pope Pius the Fourth in 1561. The basilica was built on part of the ruin. Michelangelo made a start to the design of the basilica. Later, many other architects worked to add decorations and other important pieces. The basilica’s proper Italian name would be Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. However, for English convenience, you can just call it Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs. On the inside, there is a meridian line to measure when it is Easter.

Piazza della Repubblica

At the piazza

Fountain of the Naiads

Fountain of Naiads

The Piazza della Repubblica, built in 1887, was very cool with 2 quarter-shaped circle buildings and a cool Fountain of the Naiads in its center. The fountain was recently built, in the 1870s. You can’t deny the fact that the fountain has 4 sea nymphs. It used to be 4 chalk lions built in 1888. In 1901, they were destroyed and replace with 4 sea nymphes. The lake, the sea, the river, and the underground water nymphes. The lake is holding a swan, the river is stretched out on monsters from the river, The ocean is riding a horse, and the underground water is leaning on a mysterious dragon.

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

Back of the church

Front of the church

Piazza in front of the church

Bell tower of the church

San Pietro in Vincoli

Climbing uphill to
San Pietro in Vincoli

San Pietro in Vincoli houses Michelangelo's statue of Moses

San Pietro in Vincoli at day time

Michelangelo's statue of Moses

Mouth of Truth

At Mouth of Truth

The church where Mouth of Truth is kept

Piazza Bocca della Verita

Bocca della Verita is an Italian name for the Mouth of Truth. The Mouth of Truth is mainly famous for the movie Roman Holidays. It is also famous for a legend that a skeleton with a scythe cut off the fingers of lying children. The face is of the sea god Oceanus, and was most likely an ancient Roman sewer cap.

Trajan's Column

Trajan's Colunn

Trajan's Column

We also saw the famous Trajan Column. Can you believe it can fit down 2,662 people and Trajan is showed 58 times! There is 155 scenes just on it. The top is no longer Trajan’s statue anymore, but St. Peter.

Piazza Venezia

Circus Maximus

Colosseum at Night

Colosseum

Colosseum and Arch of Constantine

Arch of Constantine

Colosseum

Colosseum and Arch of Constantine

Colosseum

Rome day 1 was very cool with many historical attractions. Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels was very pretty with a lot of decorations on the inside and a cool line. The Fountain of the Naiads at Piazza Republica was great, so was The Mouth of Truth. We also visited some other highlights, the Piazza Venezia, Colosseum, Circus Maximus. My first night at Rome was awesome.