Rome - Sunday 5th April: Il Centro

Pantheon

We first walked past the Pantheon while a church service was being held, with very dramatic chanting. We came back later so that we could go inside.









http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Pantheon.html
http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/pantheon.htm
http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/pantheon.htm

Piazza Navona We walked through here a few times and had dinner (Spaghetti Carbonara then Tiramisu) at Bar Navona that night, tempted in by a Howard look-alike (from the Nationwide advert). A large beer turned out to be very large, and I didn't realise how much 1/2 litre of wine was for one person either! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Navona http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Piazza_Navona.html http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/piazzanavona.htm http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rome/renaissance_and_baroque/famous_squares_fountains/piazza_navona_square/piazza_navona_square.htm

Trevi Fountain We walked past here a few times during the day and then again on our way to dinner on the last night, when I stopped to throw in a few coins. I stopped for pistacio, meringue and mandarin ice cream nearby at Il Gelato di San Crispino, which is supposed to be the best ice cream in Rome. It was good ice cream! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevi_Fountain http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/trevi.htm http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/trevi.htm http://www.rome-tour.co.uk/trevi_fountain.htm

Capitoline Museum During the hottest part of the day, we wandered through the museum, looking at heads without noses and statues without heads, among other things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitoline_Museums http://www.museicapitolini.org/ http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-capitoline-hill-and-museum.htm

We then walked along the Tiber and across the Island of Tiberius, back to our hotel for a brief rest. and change of shoes. Spanish Steps We walked past the crowded Spanish Steps, approaching it through streets full of designer shops. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Steps http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/spanish_steps.htm

Villa Borghese

We finished the afternoon with a stroll through the park, round the lake, watching the terrapins sunbathing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Borghese_gardens
http://en.villaborghese.it/
http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/villaborghese.htm