A day and night in Rome

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The 141 foot unsupported span of The Pantheon is larger than the cupola at St Peter’s.
It was the world’s largest freestanding dome until 1960 when it was eclipsed by the Superdome in New Orleans, but I think one should also consider the Haghia Sofia in Istanbul which is now an elliptical dome 31 metres by 33 metres and with a height to its crown of 56 metres from the ground, and the dome of the church of Santa Maria in Mosta, Malta built between 1833 and 1860 based on the Pantheon and its diameter of 39.6 metres is exceeded only by the Pantheon (43 metres) and St Peter’s in Rome (42.1 metres). However the parishioners of Xewkija on the island of Gozo, part of the Maltese archipelago, claim that their church has a bigger dome than Mosta’s, although the Gozitan Rotunda has a smaller diameter (25 metres) it is higher and has a larger volumetric capacity. So whose is ‘biggest’ is a moot point.
However back to the Pantheon




The circular hole in the roof is called ‘The Oculus’.



The rientranze are the recesses in the wall.
Formal Christian tombs were often misaligned with the architecture so they could lie facing east so that is why some seem misplaced.

Sheila inside the Pantheon





Another view of inside the Pantheon

A view of the outside on the Eastern side of the Pantheon



Adam had a head of steam up now and we wandered along in his wake until we came to the Tiber River and I was fascinated to find that we were only a few hundred meters from the pedestrian bridge across the Tiber to the Castel Sant’Angelo; (Angels and Demons by Dan Brown).




The next few photos are of the Castel Sant’Angelo and the mammoth bronze angel with his sword pointing directly downward to the exact centre of the castle where Dan Brown claimed the ‘illuminati’ would meet.






Adam, Rosalind and Sheila crossing the pedestrian bridge







Adam then strode off westwards mentioning over his shoulder that St Peter’s was not far away. As we went along the road to St Peter’s Adam also mentioned that on the way we had crossed the borders of two countries i.e. Italy and the Vatican City State; though I believe that there is still some debate about the status of the Vatican City State and its relationship to Italy.

It was still very warm and although some bottles of water helped we were keen to sit in the shade, except Adam who was trying in vain to convince one of us to join the long queue to get inside St Peter’s rather than just stay in the square.

Following are pictures of St Peter’s Square and St Peter’s




















Rosalind and Sheila’s legs were aching by now and Adam and I agreed that we should get a taxi back to the hotel; on the journey back we realised just how far we had walked.
When we got back to the hotel Sheila decided to have s short nap while I went to the roof of the hotel to get some rooftop views of Rome and inside the hotel lobby.








With the roof of the Pantheon just about in the middle of the picture





The Victor Emmanuelle Monument

















After taking these pictures I joined Sheila for an afternoon nap. We met up with Adam and Rosalind for drinks at 1900 before Adam and Rosalind had to meet a colleague of his for some drinks after which Adam and Rosalind would join us for a late dinner before a ‘good’ sleep prior to driving down to Positano. After a quick drink we took a taxi to a hotel near the Piazza Navonna. We walked to the Piazza Navonna and agreed that we would all meet at 2045 by ‘The Four Fountains of the Four Rivers’ fountain by Bernini. Adam and Rosalind went off to the hotel where they were going to meet his colleague, while Sheila and I wandered around the Piazza Navonna looking at many ‘poor’ paintings on sale in the Piazza, observing the vast array of different nations walking around during the balmy evening and watching the ‘hawkers demonstrating their multi lit helicopter toys that flew off spiral sticks to heights of twenty to thirty metres to be caught as they came back to earth. As the sun disappeared these toys became even more colourful with their flashing lights contrasted by the night-time sky. I must admit I was a bit tempted, but sanity or old age prevailed and I did not buy one.
Surrounding the piazza are many open air restaurants which quickly filled with tour groups as dinner time approached. We were pleased that our plans were for a later meal and we would not be lumped in with a loud tour group. Sheila and I just wandered along a few narrow streets that led off the piazza in search of a drink to help pass the time and quench our thirst. We found a small wine bar that had a sign outside stating, ‘English was spoken’ so we decided that it would represent the easiest option. It turned out that the bar was owned and operated by an American chap who did in deed speak passable English.

However we when asked for a “lager with a dash of lime” we were given an Italian ale with lemon juice in it. It tasted fully as awful as one would expect, we did drink it to quench our thirst, but did note that as the only non Americans drinking in the bar we were the only ones not provided with the advertised ‘free nibbles with all drinks’.
We meandered back to the Piazza Navonna and sat on the wall around the fountain. While we waited for Adam and Rosalind I made friend with a Boxer dog who was being exercised, on reflection it would have been best to make friends before he had a drink from the fountain and not afterwards, as my trousers became soaked in water and drool.
An Italian chap came and sat next to Sheila on the other side from me and was talking about his studies in Berlin. We had read warnings about being approached by bag snatchers who posed as students and Sheila clasped her hand bag tightly to her as she continued to let him talk. The ‘student’ seemed genuine to us and I hope that he was and he only suffered some slight suspicion from us.
Adam and Rosalind turned up at the appointed time and we wandered off in search of a tourist free restaurant, it was not too difficult and we were soon establish in a small out door restaurant that offered a pleasant menu and a quiet table.
Adam had Tuscan beef with seared vegetables, Rosalind and I had Pasta Carbonara while Sheila settled for a Ravioli with egg plant and buffalo cheese.
We all were feeling a bit weary after dinner and to a taxi back to our hotel and were in bed by midnight.
Sheila awoke at early having slept well asking, “Is it five thirty or six thirty?”
I turned on my light and checked my watch “five thirty my love!”
We met Adam and Rosalind at 0900 in the roof top restaurant for a huge breakfast and left the hotel at 1000 heading for Napoli and Positano.

To be continued