Day 7 : Rome Italy (20 June 2008)

After rushing to get there from St Peter’s Bascilica to the Roman Forum for the start of the Guided Imperial Tour at 14:00 we were tired.  We were also hungry because there was no time to buy food before the tour started.

We met our guide in front of the Roman Forum.  He was very interesting and said: “Follow zee guide, Contiki” when he wanted us to follow him.  He told us interesting stories about the history of the buildings and the people that built them.  It was very warm and we tried to stand in the shade every time he moved to the next building.

The Forum consists of ruins of ancient buildings of Rome. It is amazing to think that parts of buildings from 2 000 years ago can survive.  I only knew a little about the Roman history and found the stories told by our guide fascinating.  (Although I had trouble concentrating due to the heat and hunger)

Basilica Aemilia















The oldest basilica at the forum was built in 179 BC to provide a sheltering place for businesses.  A fire destroyed it in 410 AD.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
The Temple was built in 141 AD by emperor Antoninus Pius to honor his deceased wife Faustina. After his death the temple was rededicated to both Antoninus and Faustina.

Temple of Vesta

The sacred eternal flame of Rome was kept in this temple.  The Vestal Virgins, who had to serve for 30 years, protected the flame.  They had to stay virgins during that time or else they were buried alive.

Temple of Divus Romulus

This circular temple was built in the 4th century AD.  It survived due to its incorporated into a church.  The large bronze doors are the originals.

Arch of Septimius Severus

The triumphal arch was built in 203 A.D. to commemorate the victories of emperor Septimius Severus in Parthia.  The arch is 23m high and 25m wide and has three passageways. 

Arch of Titus
 
 
 
 
In AD 79 Titus became emperor of the Roman empire. He died just two years later, in September AD 81. Emperor Domitian, Titus's brother and successor, built the Arch of Titus that same year both to honor his brother and to commemorate the victory in the Jewish War.

Read more of the trip to Europe in 2008:
6.         Day 3: Munich Germany
7.         Day 3: Munich Germany Cont
8.         Day 4: Austria
9.                  Day 5: Venice Italy
10.               Day 5: Venice Italy Cont
11.               Day 6: Rome Italy
12.               Day 6: Rome Italy Cont
13.               Day 7: Vatican City
14.        Day 7: St Peter's

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eyewitness Travel Guides – A Book Review

Image
  Last month I wrote a book review and I enjoyed it.   Today I want to share some more of my favourite travel books.   DK Eyewitness Travel Guides I bought my first travel guide in 2008. I was planning a trip with my friend Lelanie to London and Europe.   While planning the trip I bought the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Europe and I paid R 282.00 for it.   Except for my university textbooks, this was the most expensive book I have ever bought for myself.    We were doing a Contiki Tour and visited 7 countries.   I studied the information in guide the about the cities we would visit.    I made lists of places I want to see and then looked for more information about them.   In the end I did not take the guide with me (the 800 pages was just to heavy to carry along) but packed all my lists to use.  At Departures at Cape Town Airport in 2008 My second guide was for the same trip.   The Eyewitness Travel Top 10 London traveled with us.   We stayed in London for 4 da
Read more

Daar’s ‘n hoender wat ‘n eier nie kan lê

Image
   Weather vane on the VGK Church in Carnarvon    This photo made me think of a song we used to sing as kids.    It is a traditional Afrikaans song about the rooster on top of the church. The words of the song and its translation: Daar’s ‘n hoender wat ‘n eier nie kan lê There is a chicken that cannot lay an egg Daar’s ‘n hoender wat ‘n eier nie kan lê There is a chicken that cannot lay an egg Daar’s ‘n hoender wat ‘n eier nie kan lê There is a chicken that cannot lay an egg Dis die haan wat op die kerktoring staan It’s the rooster standing on the church tower Dis die haan, Dis die haan It’s the rooster, It’s the rooster Dis die haan wat op die kerktoring staan It’s the rooster standing on the church tower More about all the churches and other buildings we saw in Carnarvon in the next post.
Read more

Dutch Reformed Mother Church, George

Image
One of my favourite sights in George is the white Dutch Reformed Mother Church with the beautiful Outeniqua Mountain as background.   I have many memories of visiting this church: On a history class trip when I was about 10, for a art class when I was about 13, for my cousins wedding in 2004, for her baby’s christening a few years later and many other times.   But most of all I like seeing this church every time we drive through town.   The cornerstone for the church was laid on 14 April 1832.   Slaves were used for some of the building work like the digging of the six-foot deep by five-foot wide foundations.   Due to financial problems it took 12 years to complete the church and it was consecrated in 9 October 1842.  The church is a National Heritage Site. On 13 September 1905 disaster struck when the church tower collapsed.   The wood rotted from water damage and lead to the walls weakening.   After a lot of rain for two days the tower collapsed.   The tower was reb
Read more