FIRST FULL DAY in ROME

Our first full day in Rome

After a well deserved good sleep and a light breakfast, we ventured down the stairway. Opening the front main door we were confronted by the Campo de Fiori market. Sue wrote in the diary;

Out the apartment door.

“SENSATIONAL!!!

1 butcher, 2 fish stalls, complete with whole Marlin from which they cut steaks to order – and a great many veggie stalls. The quality and freshness of the produce was fabulous. Tiny aromatic wild strawberries, fresh as anything. A number of salad veggies I had never seen before – everything so fresh and inspiring to cook with.

And into the market place. This is what confronted us each morning.

I bought some produce to cook with tonight – warm salad with potatoes, fennel, beans with pesto and steak for us. I do however miss French bread.

This market is amazing in that it appears every morning and disappears for the mid-day lunching crowd.”

An unbelievable choice awaits you.

After returning to the apartment and filling up the fridge, it was time for a light snack and a cool beer before trekking off for our walk of discovery.

Our walk took us out of Campo de Fiori to the Piazza Navona where hundreds of years ago chariot races were held. Three beautiful fountains take central focus as you walk the length of Piazza Navona amongst the shops, cafes and street performers. Just writing about it makes me want to return.

 

The Pantheon - looking in.

 
As we wandered off down narrow laneways, not knowing where our walk would take us, we came out of a walkway to be confronted by Rome’s Pantheon. This temple of all Gods was designed by Hadrian and built on the foundations of the first Pantheon of 27-25 BC.

The Pantheon - looking out.

We just spent some down time absorbing this amazing structure before venturing on to be impacted with modern day Rome at the Piazza Venezia. Cars, motorcycles and scooters fight modern day duels with pedestrians – a pure scene of possibly organised chaos but I couldn’t see it. We had to just stand there and absorb what was happening around us.

An actual quiet moment at Piazza Venezia.

Largo Argentina sits in a depression, rectangle in shape while buses, cars and the locals pass by without a second glance. This historic site is home to what seems like hundreds of cats sunning themselves in the afternoon as we we passed by. Largo Argentina is the site of Pompey’s Theatre. Thought to have been built 300 BC, the site is a refuge for homeless cats as well as a visual museum of early Rome.
 

Scenes of Largo Argentina

From Wikipedia:

After Italian unification, it was decided to reconstruct part of Rome (1909), demolishing the zone of Torre Argentina. During the works (1927), however, the colossal head and arms of a marble statue were discovered. The archeological investigation brought to light the presence of a holy area, dating to the Republican era, with four temples and part of Pompey's Theater. Julius Caesar was killed on the steps of the Theatre of Pompey, and the spot he was believed to be assassinated is in the square.

Another well deserved beer was enjoyed in the Campo de Fiori, just out side our apartment doorway before taking a well earned rest after a delightful day’s discovery walk in Rome.

The Campo de Fiori at night - full of excitement

Just writing these memories make me want to return to Rome armed with an increased awareness of its history.