Day 2 - Rome, Italy - 10.01.12

 Buon giorno Roma!!!  This is the view across the street from our room.  Today's agenda: hit some of the hot spots of Rome....

First stop, the Pantheon!  An architectural wonder.  For information on the history of the Pantheon and how it was built, click here

The word "pantheon" literally means "temple consecrated to all gods"

The oculus is the main source of natural light, and the interior of the dome was possibly intended to symbolize the arched vault of the heavens.

A sculpture by II Lorenzone of St. Anne and the Blessed Virgin

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Raphael's tomb

 Egyptian obelisk - Bernini designed the elephant it's standing on

The Grand Hotel De La Minerva in Rome.  It's right next to the Pantheon and is a 5 star hotel.  NO, we did not stay here!!!

 Inside the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church

 This is the only Gothic church in Rome.  Simply stunning.

Like looking up into the heavens

Michelangelo's Christ the Redeemer 

Il Gesù church

 

Stained glass window at Ignatius of Loyola museum

Victor Emmanuel monument - made of white marble

Italian ruins

 The fabulous Colosseum

We were there around 6:00PM and the sun was beginning to set.  Gorgeous!

Looking through one of the archways at the very top.

 There are two spots in St. Peter's Square where the four colonnades appear as one.  An engineering marvel!

 One of my favorite nighttime shots of St. Peter's - Bellissimo!!!

I fell in love with this bulldog on the way to dinner.  Look how fat and adorable he is!

 
 Dinner time!

You guessed it, gelato for dessert!!!