A trip to Europe would be incomplete without at least a two-day stop in Rome. The city, with its awe-inspiring churches and magnificent castles, is an architectural and artistic paradise. Here are the best places to visit. It is extremely easy to get around if you have a Roma pass.
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The Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel:
The Vatican Museum:
The Vatican Museum is the 5th most visited museum in the world and houses works of the greatest artists of the renaissance period. The museum is home to the largest collection of christian art. There are more than 50 galleries with works ranging from medieval and religious to the more recent
modern art. The most important of these are the pinacoteca, the room of maps and the Raphael rooms.
The Sistine Chapel:
The Chapel is the official residence of the Pope and is the venue of the papal conclaves. The Chapel was decorated mainly by Michaelangelo with additional works by Botticelli, Roselli and others. The main wall has Michaelangelo’s most famous fresco ‘The Last Judgement’. The last judgement is unique in that Jesus is portrayed as a beardless and handsome young man, and all the figures in the painting are naked.
The left wall has scenes from the life of Moses and the right has the corresponding scenes from the life of Christ. These panels were painted by Botticelli, Raphael and others. The roof was painted by Michaelangelo and depicts the creation of the world and mankind, and later on, the fall of mankind from God’s grace. The ‘Creation of Adam’ and ‘The First Sin’ are the most famous of these works.
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St.Peter’s Bascilica:
The Bascilica is the most important church of Christiandom. It is said to have been built atop the tomb of St.Peter ‘The Rock’. The apse and the altar designed by Berenini are noted for their unconventional styling.
One of Michaelangelo’s most famous works ‘The Pieta’, is displayed here. Touching the feet of the sculpture of St.Peter which is also in this church is supposed to bring good luck. This is among the most important pilgrimage sites of Christians around the world.
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The Pantheon:
The Pantheon was originally built as a temple to the Olympians. Hence, the dome of the original structure has an occulus to allow the rays of the sun to enter the temple. The dome is the largest unsupported structure in the world. The Pantheon also houses the tomb of the great master Raphael Santi and a monument to Emperor Emanuel.
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Basilica of St.Maria Maggiore:
No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this church. It is the first and largest Marian church. It is the oldest pilgrimage church of Rome. The mosaics on the walls show scenes from the life of Moses and Christ. The stained glass windows in this church are breathtaking in their size and
beauty. The altar here is similar to the one in St.Peter’s basilica and was also designed by Berenini. Berenini’s Tomb lies below the altar.
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Via Condotti:
This is the fashion street of Rome. The street is lined with boutiques of designers like Gucci, Armani and Prada. The Caffe on this street is famous for being frequented by the likes of Keats, Shelly and other artistes.The street ends in the Piazza del Spagna (the Spanish steps)
In Rome, there is no struggle for dominance between the past and the present. The ancient and the modern coexist harmoniously, each enhancing the beauty of the other. Rome is the story of Mankind.
About the Author: Eleanor is a writer and blogger. Learning how to blog profitably is what makes her trips around-the-world a reality – as it does for many other infopreneurs. You can learn all about it at the InfoProfitz blog at http://www.EzineMarketingCenter.com/blog/
