With such a short amount of time in Rome and a certain amount of geography to cover, we could only scratch the surface of all the Etermal City has to offer. We walked from the Galleria Borghese down to Piazza Barberini. From there we took a bus to Piazza Venezia and walked down past the Forum to the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine. The Colosseum was amazing. From there we took a bus over to the Vatican. The Pope's birthday had been celebrated the previous day, so Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square) was set with chairs. The Basilica was breathtaking and inspiring. The artwork (paintings, frescoes, statues and the like) were among the best we saw in Italy. We mailed several postcards from the Vatican Post Office before crossing the Tiber. We walked past the Spanish Steps on our way back. (Photos from St. Peter's are at the bottom.)

The Victor Emanuel Monument in the Piazza Venezia

Roman Ruins

More Ruins

The Forum

The Colosseum

Jeff

Michele

Inside the Coloseum

Bars - these were to keep the non-paying tourists out, not to keep the early Christians in

The Arch of Constantine

The San Angelo Bridge Across the Tiber

Michele

The Art Museum at "Castel Sant' Angelo"

Jeff

The Spanish Steps

Photos from St. Peter's Square and the Basilica

Jeff and Michele at the opening of St. Peter's Square

Inside the Square

Detail from the front of the Basilica

Inside the Basilica

"La Pieta" - Michelangelo carved this from a single block of marble. It is the only piece of artwork he signed.

One of the Popes who was laid to eternal rest inside the Basilica.

This is similar to what the Pope sees as he stands on his balcony addressing the throng gathered in St. Peter's Square. The Catholic Church's Jubilee 2000 celebration is bringing worshippers from across the globe to Italy for the year-long festivities. We saw a huge number of priests and nuns walking about.

A Vatican City guard

Some part of Vatican City still remain private.

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