10/11/2013
Our day began with a 6:45 am wakeup call and a 7:30 am breakfast. The fun started when we were informed at 9am that our awesome bus driver, Ivano, was not able to drive right up to our hotel. This meant that we got to drag our luggage up the hill to meet the bus in a better location. After this quick exercise we were bused over to the catacombs. There we were given a brief tour of about one fiftieth of the catacomb tunnels. Many of the notches that we observed were cleared out and some were brushed with dirt. As a group, we stuck pretty close to our knowledgeable guide. After resurfacing we took the bus to see Saint Peter’s Basilica. On the way in we were accosted by beggars, their look of disgust when we refused to give was saddening… Saint Peter’s Basilica was awe-inspiring considering that it was rebuilt after a fire burned the whole church down (marble burns?!). From the basilica, we bused and then walked to take in the sight of the Pantheon. The dome is made of one piece of cement and Raphael’s sarcophagus is here!?!!! As a group, we went to enjoy some gelato (mango, hazelnut, limone, coffee, etc.). YUM! After gelato we went on a pilgrimage to see the Trevi Fountain and then walked up the Spanish Steps. Our last leg of the day involved taking a train from Termini Train Station to make our way Florence.
Our day began with a 6:45 am wakeup call and a 7:30 am breakfast. The fun started when we were informed at 9am that our awesome bus driver, Ivano, was not able to drive right up to our hotel. This meant that we got to drag our luggage up the hill to meet the bus in a better location. After this quick exercise we were bused over to the catacombs. There we were given a brief tour of about one fiftieth of the catacomb tunnels. Many of the notches that we observed were cleared out and some were brushed with dirt. As a group, we stuck pretty close to our knowledgeable guide. After resurfacing we took the bus to see Saint Peter’s Basilica. On the way in we were accosted by beggars, their look of disgust when we refused to give was saddening… Saint Peter’s Basilica was awe-inspiring considering that it was rebuilt after a fire burned the whole church down (marble burns?!). From the basilica, we bused and then walked to take in the sight of the Pantheon. The dome is made of one piece of cement and Raphael’s sarcophagus is here!?!!! As a group, we went to enjoy some gelato (mango, hazelnut, limone, coffee, etc.). YUM! After gelato we went on a pilgrimage to see the Trevi Fountain and then walked up the Spanish Steps. Our last leg of the day involved taking a train from Termini Train Station to make our way Florence.