Looking back through my posts, I missed publishing what I saw during my first full day in Rome. I think I was getting carried away with covering off my night life. Ha!

Enjoy!

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My last few days in Rome were unforgettable. During my self-guided tour of Rome yesterday, I hopped on the metro and got off at the Colosseum stop – which is really strange, to take a subway (relatively new) to the Colosseum (older than time). The feeling I got stepping off the train and going up a few steps to the street, and seeing this HUGE historical symbol RIGHT THERE was pretty unbelievable.

Colosseum - Rome, Italy

I think I spent 2hrs inside, just walking around. There was a lot of construction/re-building going on, so parts of the Colosseum were closed off to visitors. I think it’s crazy how long it has been there for. You don’t see buildings like that in North America, that’s for sure. It was also pretty surreal knowing how many lives (and animals) were lost on those grounds during the time it served as entertainment for the Romans.

Inside the Colosseum - Rome, Italy

When I left the Colosseum, I ventured up to Imperial Forums and the Forum of Caesar, and saw the ruins. A lot of the building have begun being restored, but most of it is just rubble. There are displays in front that depict how the building looked previously. These buildings were built around 100AD, so they’re almost 2,000 years old! Incredible.

Forum of Caesar - Rome, Italy

From there, I continued my walk around Rome with stops at the Trevi Fountain, which was VERY different in a sober state and during the day. I found a gelato shop in the Piazza, so enjoyed a gelato as I sat and stared in marvel at the Trevi Fountain. Again, seeing what was carved out of a side of a building, was truly a sight to see.

Trevi Fountain - Rome, Italy

I spent a fair amount of time in the Pantheon,taking in the size of the Church. It was pretty interesting to see the large hole in the top of the roof, and the light shining in. I just walked around, looked at the monuments, did some people watching. Then I sat outside in the square, and just enjoyed the beautiful February weather.

Pantheon - Rome, Italy

Pantheon - Rome, Italy

Like any tour of an Italian city, I also stopped in a number of churches, saw some more fountains, ate more gelato, and walked the streets.