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of the most amazing relics of the he Basilica of Saint John Later- ancient time such as a 13th cenan is the first of the four Basilica’s tury cloister and San Giovanni and the first church in Rome. It in Fonte, which is an is known to be the “mother� of ancient baptistery. all churches in Rome and the cathedral of Rome and of the y first feeling when I enworld. The church was built in the tered the church was the power 4th century by Constantine the that was given to those in need. Great and inside it contains some The main backing of the church
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where the ceremony was held, was covered in gold as well as the ceiling. The first of its kind. What better way to start of my book with the first church of Rome. This is just the beginning of the wonders in Rome. Keep reading and fill with joy as the realization begins.
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The inside of the church was
beautiful with a lot of golden colors and with some of history’s greatest shrines such as the tomb of St. Jerome, relics of St. Matthew and pieces of the holy crib. I know for most of you that have not yet been to Rome might find this to be boring, but to actually be able to stand in the presence of such wonders and to be able to put your hand on these historical monuments is so much more amazing than I could ever describe.
The last thing I want you
to go and see when in Rome is underneath the church. A museum where Roman remains are kept and narrow pathways are shown to a greater extent.
The Basilica of Santa Maria
Maggiore stands on the site of a temple that was dedicated to the goddess Cybele and is the largest of the 26 churches in Rome thats dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Along time ago the church had two other names; 1st was St. Mary of the snow and 2nd was St. Mary of the crib before they finally decided on Santa Maria Maggiore.
The church had a beautiful wide
stable build with many statues on the front, side and back at the top of the church. Upon entering the church on the right side was a statue of Phillipo IV, as I entered I was told that the church is one of the four elements namely “fire� that runs
along the old ages of Rome.
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St. Peter’s Square has to colon-
nades, otherwise known as the circular pillars that surround the square. They were built by Bernini between the years 1656 and 1667 and resembles “two arms embracing humanity, welcoming others to the church and to show them the way”. The width of
The Basilica of Saint Peter and
Saint Peter’s Square is where the heart of the Catholic churches lay. It is known as the Vatican City, where the Pope is chosen after waiting 15 days after the death of the last Pope, before standing in front of St. Peter’s Square where millions of people await the new Pope that have been chosen.
this glorious feature is 340 meters/ 1050 feet wide and 140 statues of saints are sculptured above for the thought of looking over us.
I never thought that I would
ever be able to witness the Vatican City, or even come close to the inside of the church itself. The feeling of happiness and realization came across my face the first moment that I walked into the church and saw what history had brought us into the modern day of life. The gift of life and love of the church of St. Peter is what kept me wondering and staring
beasts had fought as if it were a festival.
There were many answers
given to my question on the architectural perspective of the Vatican City. The outside of the church was again built by that magnificent marble and also the pillars and statues that surrounds saint Peter’s Square. The inside of the church caught me he church is known as the big- by surprise on how massive each gest and greatest Catholic church and every part of the church of all in the entire world. The had been constructed in. The reason the name is given as the height of the church had been Basilica of St. Peter, is because of around 118 meters/ 370 feet and Peter being crucified around the the width was 64 meters/200 feet. time 67 A.D. during a spectacle It had 120 altars of which about where slaves, gladiators and wild 27 of them where dedicated to the
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Virgin Mary. The construction of this unbelievable structure began in 324 and most of it had been finished within 5 years. The ceiling of the church was mostly gold and had paintings all over to establish the stories that we know of today.
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at this unbelievable sight. The thought was unreal to know that all the hidden facts about our history originated from this spectacular palace.
The mightiest Catholic church
on earth, and I believe I could say so myself the moment I set foot onto holy ground within the church. I will treasure what I have witnessed here in Rome. The Vatican City truly is one that will be remembered forever.
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The Colosseum is most probably
one of histories greatest memories in which gladiators had to fight for their survival against so called “monsters� ruled by men in the ancient times, which is actually animals to us.
In 70 A.D. the construction of
the Colosseum began and ended or finished in 80 A.D. This massive structure in its prime was able to seat more than 50,ooo spectators for the 100 days of games, of which many animals and gladiators were killed throughout the years.
The way they developed the floor
or battlefield as we come to say, is made out of wood and covered by a ton of sand. Beneath
the floor were many passageways and cages that kept the animals in order. The start of a fight in which case the gladiators arrive first and the animals were brought up from underneath the battlefield with an elevator controlled by hand. The colosseum is one of my all time favorite things of history that I wanted to see, and the feeling of actually being able to walk where many gladiators and Emperors have in the past were indescribable.
A few words on the architectur-
al side of the Colosseum: The outer side of the Colosseum is built with travertine marble which is a magnificent white stone that Michelangelo used for many of his sculptures.
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The inside of the Colosseum was built mostly out of brick and soft rock and therefore over the years with earthquakes and such, had crumbled into whats left of it today.
This immense structure is over-
ting. The emperor had his own entrance to the Colosseum and whelming the first time you see it, but truly beautiful. Its elliptical only he decided the fate of the form gives us the feeling of power defeated gladiator by a certain way he had shown his hand and respect when one stands inside the Colosseum and look out in front of the people. I would from where the emperor were sit- definitely say that this structure
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is to be my greatest memory of Rome and the Roman History as we know it.
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The water that runs through he Fountain of Trevi is one the fountain comes from Saof many amazing sculptures in lone Springs about 19 kilomethe city of Rome, resembling the ters/11.8 miles from the city of god of the sea and the Tritons Rome. that guide the ancient horses, of The Aqua Virgo or better which they say some were calm known as “Vergine” is the and others being agitated just like only aqueduct that provides the sea. Rome with water without The fountain’s design was made hesitation throughout the by Nicola Salvi and ordered into Roman times.
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This is one of my favorite places to
visit because of its beautiful view and also because of the legend that goes around saying that if you throw a coin into the water of the Fountain of Trevi, you would come back to Rome one day.
This fountain is also the largest
ever created and in Italian it is Pronounced as Fontana di Trevi coming from the word “Trivium” meaning a three streets meeting point where the three rivers flow and meet at this monument.
construction by Pope Clement XII in 1732. The fountain took about thirty years to complete and only finished by 1762.
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The Sistine Chapel is a mag-
Moses and Christ’s birth and the 3rd was the Christian era thereafnificent work of art and I felt ter. Michelangelo chose the 1st era honoured to be in the presence as being the theme of his work of such an amazing creation. and as some of us have witnessed, The walls of the Sistine Chapel were he truly is a magnificent paintbuilt between 1475 and 1483 for er and one of a kind. Pope Sixtus IV by Giovannino De’ Dolci. The painting of the Sistine Chapel was done by Michelangelo between 1508-1512 and as most of us do not know, Michelangelo was actually forced into painting the Sistine Chapel by Pope Julius II.
After he had finished the paint-
ing he wrote a poem describing the agony he had gone through in those years painting. The three era’s that Michelangelo painted were the 1st being before the ten commandments were given to Moses, the 2nd between
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The Pantheon was built as a
dedication towards the 12 gods by MarcusVipsanius Agrippa. The first thing I noticed about this structure was the story of Zeuss and his son Hercules. The story only a myth, but as we wonder about the 12 gods of the Roman time, some would say Zeuss actually lived.
The original Pantheon was
built in 27 B.C. and was destroyed 80 A.D. Years later the creation of the new pantheon realized in such a unique way that many have not yet understood the purpose for it. The only purpose most had found was for people that do not praise the Roman gods and therefore could use the Pantheon for their own to whomever they choose to pray.
There are still stories that are
being told about the opening at the top on the inside of the Pantheon. Some say it resembles the gods such as Mars and Venus, but others say it resembles the heavens above and thus we would never know the truth.
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