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| Roman Forum from Capitoline Hill |
We had our first official Roman meal at da Vittorio a Trastevere of pappardelle, artichokes and sausage all in a cream/cheese sauce. My mouth is watering again!!! It served us well as an energy source for our trek across the Tiber. We walked across the Tiber Island (the only island in the Tiber in Rome) where once stood the temple of Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Today there is still a hospital and basilica on the island. As it was a day of exploring for us, we had no specific plans. Crossing the Tiber we first walked around and then to the top of the Capitoline Hill. Here sits the Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo. As well as museums and statuary, the hill top gives one a beautiful view of the Forum. I discovered an interesting fact about the Campidoglio design. Pope Paul III commissioned Michelangelo to design the piazza, which was to be Rome's civic center, so that it faced away from Rome and toward Vatican City.
Down the back side of the hill, we walked the length of the Forum toward the Colosseum. The last time we were here we could view the entirety of the Colosseum down the length of the via dei Fori Imperiali. Today, not so much. Large, high and very ugly walls block access and advertise where to buy tickets. We did walk down and then returned on the other side of the street to look into Trajan's Forum and his very impressive column.
The sunset was beautiful as we left Rome, crossed the Tiber and reentered Trastevere. A little shopping for breakfast, and we were home again. See evidenced of our day here.
