Today we landed in Rome after a long day of travel. This trip is to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday and today is his actual 70th birthday.

We got here mid-morning, made it through customs, had a driver to take us to the hotel, dropped our bags in the one room that was ready, and headed out to see some sights.

On the drive into Rome we passed by the Pyramid of Cestius. This was built as a tomb for Gaius Cestius, a magistrate, about 18-12 BC. At the time it was built it would have been outside of the city itself as tombs were forbidden within the city walls at that time. At some point the tomb was plundered, but there apparently are some frescoes inside.

We also drove by Palatine Hill. This is where many of the Roman palaces were located.

Our hotel is located a few blocks from the Colosseum, so that is where we walked to. I can’t imagine how impressive that must have been back when it was all complete and was the largest structure around. As it is today, it is still so impressive. Construction was begun in 72 AD and the original structure was covered in a marble facade. It could hold 50,000 in its original state, but up to 80,000 after various renovations. At one point it was even modified to hold water for naval battles! It was used for gladiator fights up to 435 and animal hunts until at least 523. It sustained damage in fires and earthquakes over the years, but an earthquake in 1349 caused the outer south side to collapse. People used the stones to build other structures around Rome. The marble facade was melted to make quicklime. The pockmarks seen in the stonework today is where people hacked out bronze clamps that had held the stonework together.

Birthday boy

Mom and dad

Here we are

We went by the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument. This is a large building built in honor of the first king of the unified Italy. It is supposed to be a neoclassical interpretation of the Roman Forum with columns, stairs, fountains, etc. We have had tour guides in the past describe it as a big wedding cake.

Victor Emmanuel II National Monument

Random Fountain

We did more walking around, heading over by the Roman Forum, which is an area with a large number of ruins of important buildings. This was the center of Roman government and also a marketplace. This one, roughly rectangular area, has so much to see. Across the street is Trajan’s Forum. This forum was built (completed in 112 AD) to commemorate Trajan’s conquest of Dacia. Only small portions of this remain. He also erected Trajan’s Column for the same reason a year later. It has an impressive bas relief of the war that is still very clear. This column is 98 feet high and has a staircase inside going up to a viewing platform. The original statue of Trajan disappeared in the middle ages and was replaced by a bird. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V replaced that with a bronze statue of St Peter, which is the statue which remains there today.

Roman Forum

Roman Forum

Seagull on a statue along the forum

Trajan’s Forum

Trajan’s Forum

Trajan’s Forum

Trajan’s Column

Trajan’s Column

Trajan’s Column

We did have to take an afternoon nap, but then we headed out for dinner. Paul and I took mom and dad to a restaurant we had eaten at on a previous trip. It is right next to the Colosseum with a great view of it. We then walked around the Colosseum with it all lit up. It was not crowded at all. We also walked around the Arch of Constantine, which is a triumphal arch put up by the Roman Senate in 315 to commemorate Constantine I’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. We were tired, but managed to see a bit more than we thought we would.

Colosseum at night

Arch of Constantine

Colosseum at night