Mystery Destination: Rome

As it turned out, Rome was the destination for our long weekend. Actually, the Eternal City is a perfect destination for us, since it combines history, culture, and good food! Needless to say, we also appreciated the chance to escape the Scandinavian snow and experience temperatures well above freezing. Not that it was particularly warm by any means, but after a month and a half of winter, even temperatures about 10 Celsius/50 Fahrenheit feel great.

JA had booked a nice hotel right next to Pantheon in the center of the city, and after we had found our room and left our bags there, we went out for dinner at a cozy restaurant close to the Trevi Fountain. Italian pasta dishes somehow taste better when served in Italy…

Friday, we first took a peek inside the Pantheon, before we went out to explore the Forum Romanum, and the Palatine Hill. The sun was shining, the grass was green and the place was not crowded so we had a great time exploring the historic sites. We also passed the Colosseum, Trajan’s Forum with its famous column, as well as other antique sights. In the afternoon, we were at the Piazza di Spagna with the famous Spanish steps and the Piazza del Popolo before we visited the Augustan altar of peace, Ara Pacis. After a full day of sightseeing, a nap was totally needed before going out to dinner. At dinner, we had the pleasurable company of Stian, a friend of JA’s who is currently studying in Rome, as well as Stian’s wife, Cam, who were visiting him this weekend.

Saturday, we spent a lot of time at the Vatican Museum, including the Sistine Chapel. Fortunately, there were no big lines either for the Museum or for the entrance to the Basilica of Saint Peter’s itself, since it was out of season. However, even on a Saturday in January there were quite a lot of visitors inside the Sistine Chapel with its amazing frescoes by Michelangelo. The big Christmas Nativity scene on the square had for some reason not been taken down yet, which we found a little odd.

Sunday morning, we went to the service at the Anglican Church in Rome. It was very high-church with the works, including the burning of incense, which I found surprisingly pleasant. After church and lunch, we had time for an expedition to the Basilica of St. John Lateran which is the official seat of the bishop of Rome (the Pope) and thus the official mother church for all Catholics. Unfortunately, the baptistery which supposedly is built where Emperor Constantine I was baptized in 337, was closed, so we didn’t get to see that. Even worse, it was raining quite heavily, so we headed back to our hotel to get the bags and get on the train to the airport. On our way to the hotel the sun was shining again, and as we passed the Trevi Fountain we did not miss the opportunity to take some pictures. We did not, however, throw any coins in it, even though according to legend that would ensure us a return to Rome. Coin or not, I am sure we will come back.

You can see a few more pictures from the trip by clicking on the photo below:

Rome, January 2010