Travel in Southern Italy｜Rome

This is my first time to go to Rome, but I am familiar with another Rome in the books I have read, in the movies I have watched, in the Serie A matches, and in many imaginations that have nothing to do with reality...

When the plane landed, I saw the city walls of Rome and the houses on the hills through the window. It was like walking into the scene of a grand performance. The real Rome made me feel a bit far away.

Most of the streets in Rome are narrow. Walking on the stone road, you can see a variety of scenery, so my companions and I used our own steps to measure this "beautiful city".

During our stay in Rome, we almost wandered the streets of Rome on our feet. There are so many attractions in the city that you can find a famous attraction almost every step of the way. This is undoubtedly Rome's respect and preservation of its long history and monuments. Sometimes, the best protection is use.

Let’s first talk about some of the main scenes in the movie “Roman Holiday”.

At the Travi Fountain, also known as the Trevi Fountain, you can see the tide of people everywhere, noisy and lively. I finally squeezed into an empty seat and sat by the pool. I turned my back to the fountain and held a coin in my right hand. After making a wish, I threw it back into the wishing pool from my left shoulder. The first wish must be left to Rome: I hope to come to Rome again in my lifetime.

A little further from the Trevi Fountain is the famous movie scene - Piazza di Spagna, where my goddess Hepburn sat on the steps eating ice cream. Opposite the square is Rome's famous luxury shopping street. The main color of the steps, white, originally gave people a refreshing feeling, but like the Trevi Fountain, the crowds of people and the scorching sun above made me dizzy. It seemed that I had to pay the price for being exposed to the scorching sun for several hours while watching the National Day military parade this morning. I could only find a restaurant near the square that was sheltered from the sun and drink a cold drink to calm my nerves.

I went to the Mouth of Truth after visiting the Colosseum on the first day. Unfortunately, the gate was closed when we got there, so many tourists had to take photos of their visit from a good location outside the iron fence.

I think if there was no Roman Holiday, if there was no Hepburn who was so beautiful, this place would not be as famous as it is now.

After checking into the Mouth of Truth, we wandered along the east bank of the Tiber River. The Tiber River is the third longest river in Italy, running through the entire city, dividing Rome into two, meandering from north to southwest.

The river bank is covered with sycamore trees, which gave us a moment of respite after walking under the scorching sun all day. Walking slowly along the river for a while, we came across a small bridge and took some photos. My companion also bought some handicrafts from a stall. Looking at the slowly flowing river, Rome shows its peaceful and leisurely side.

Then I unknowingly turned into the Campo de' Fiori, a lively place with the smell of fireworks. Because there is a statue of Bruno standing in the middle, it adds a little historical sadness. There is a band singing rock music in front of the sculpture at sunset. The classical sculpture and the sound of electric guitar are intertwined, which suddenly gives people a sense of trance. If they were not hungry, they might have listened for a long time.

After passing through the Campo de' Fiori, we arrived at Piazza Navona within a few steps. It is the most beautiful square I have ever seen in Italy. The outline of the square is a broad oval, with three famous fountains - two of which were designed by the famous architect Bernini, namely the Moorish Fountain at the southern end of the square and the Four Rivers Fountain in the center. The Poseidon Fountain at the north end, these three fountains are also the reason why Piazza Navona is so famous.

There are many tourists on the square, and a row of restaurants and cafes on the side are bustling with activity. Street performers are scattered throughout the square. Some are playing musical instruments, some are dancing to MJ spacewalk, some are painting with various materials, and some are breathing fire. There are those who are popular with fire hammers, and those who blow soap bubbles to entertain children...

The night in Rome came late. It was already past nine o'clock after dinner, and darkness really enveloped the earth. At this time, my companion proposed to see the Pantheon under the night.

Under his guidance, I saw it while walking through the cramped streets. Behind it is an ordinary cylindrical building, and in front is a Greek temple similar to granite. When you walk around to the square in front of the temple and look at it from the front, you will see that it is like a huge stone hitting the heart with a clang, and then it falls into silence.

It's a pity that the temple is closed. The steps of the fountain in the square are filled with rows of people. Some are drinking wine, some eating food, and some just sitting. They are talking and laughing. , everything was so relaxing and comfortable, so we joined in. Looking at the ancient and mottled appearance of the Pantheon in front of me, if I hadn't rushed back to watch the Champions League final, I would have really wanted to buy a bottle of wine and chat and sit there for a long time.

When you walk in the maze-like cobblestone streets that are rich in history, you should give yourself to the city and let it lead you to discover your own things that cannot be missed, bump into a small square, encounter a small church, or encounter Delicious food that will surprise you...

Colosseum

The Colosseum is a place that I always miss before traveling. I rushed to see it in the afternoon of the day I arrived in Rome. From a distance, the outer wall looks like a big circle, divided into four floors. You have to look up to see the top. The lower three floors are all round arches and pillars of the same color. The top floor seems to have only small rectangular windows. It looks like the entire building. The building seems to be a complete piece.

Only the first and second floors of the arena are open to visitors. First, they walked a small circle on the first floor, and then climbed up the fixed stairs to the second floor. Standing on the second floor, you can see the entire interior of the arena: it is full of ruined wall foundations. It is actually a ruin, and a large part is still under repair.

Walking to the outer wall, I saw the ancient Triumphal Arch of Constantine standing alone outside the arena, like a lonely old man telling people about the glory and glory of the past.

To be honest, I am still a little disappointed. There is a gap between reality and imagination. Standing in the bustling square, I looked at the ruined wall and the lonely stone gate, which are now only used by tourists from all over the world. In front of these ruins, we are just a belated dust of history.

On my way home on the second night, I passed the arena again. By then, the surging crowds of tourists had long receded, and the night was getting darker. Looking at the arena at night, it seemed a bit fragile, standing there lonely. At this time, the lights in the venue had turned on, and it showed a different scene.

Pantheon

We visited the Pantheon twice, once at night and once during the day. However, only at noon does the circular opening of the Pantheon's huge and extraordinary dome bring the midday sun into the temple and shine on the ground.

The Pantheon is not very conspicuous from the outside, but if you pass through the two sixteen-meter-high bronze doors, the most shocking scene in the entire history of ancient Rome or Western architecture will appear in front of you:

A huge dome covers the top of the head, and the magic is that there is a hole in the sky above the dome. The midday sun passes through the hole to form a huge light pillar, which is cast on the entire Pantheon, painting a dramatic light and shadow. At this time, an indescribable sense of beauty will arise from the bottom of my heart.

I think if at night, a bright moon shines in the sky, and the moonlight passes through this hole and slowly moves in the dark and silent Pantheon, as if it wants to wake up the gods sleeping in the temple, what will it be like? What a wonderful picture!

ancient roman ruins

The ancient Roman ruins and the Colosseum are on a joint ticket, right next to each other. In comparison, I prefer the ancient Roman ruins.

The ruins of various ancient Roman buildings are erected here. They are scattered over a large area and can be seen almost everywhere. They seem to be specially decorated with this ruins. There are a few stone pillars here and broken walls there, carrying the dust of the past, quietly. Standing in a big pit.

Look at the entire ancient Roman Forum from a high place, then close your eyes, and imagine that a prosperous ancient Roman city appears in front of you. There are countless people here who are crowded all day long, each with their own joys, sorrows and joys. , each has its own joys and sorrows.

Looking down, there is a tall stone wall with three huge arches embedded in it. A performance stage is being built under one of the arches. There are more than a dozen rows of seats in front of the stage. Modern music is playing on the huge speakers. At this moment, the past and the present are wonderfully blended. Together, I looked up and saw a rainbow hanging among the blue sky and white clouds in the distance...

The eternal sun shines on the Eternal City. Actually, think about it, how can there be eternity? Looking at the ruins of the ancient Roman period, dilapidated and still standing tenaciously, I think this is enough!

There are countless large and small churches all over the city of Rome. On the first day we packed up our bags in Rome, the first place we went to was a church - the Holy Cross Basilica in Jerusalem. It is said that the church contains famous and controversial relics, including two crowns of thorns, a nail and three small fragments of the cross carried by Jesus. Next, we went to the Basilica of Laterano, which is not far away. The latter one is even more majestic. It is the official cathedral of the Archbishop of Rome (the Pope) and one of the four grand basilicas in Rome. It enjoys the reputation of the Catholic Church all over the world. The title of the mother church.

Vatican City

St. Peter's Basilica

The most shocking thing is undoubtedly St. Peter's Basilica. Since there was no charge, people lined up in St. Peter's Square waiting to enter. Standing in the square, even if you are not a Catholic believer, you will be shocked by its spectacular shape and grand momentum.

The huge square is like a key, surrounded by semicircular stone pillar corridors on both sides, as if open arms are embracing the square. In the center stands a towering obelisk, with the shape of the cross that crucified Jesus on the top. There is a beautiful fountain with splashing water on both sides.

After entering the church, people seemed very quiet. I think everyone was shocked by the sight in front of them. It was huge, and a strong religious atmosphere could be felt in the entire space, which filled the hearts of everyone who entered the church. Wrap it up.

The interior of the church is in the shape of a cross, and the intersection is the center of the church. Underground at the center is St. Peter's tomb, and above ground is the pope's altar. Above the altar is a tall and towering bronze baldachin, and above the baldachin is the circular dome of the church.

The area around the dome and the entire top of the church are covered with beautiful patterns and reliefs. The sunlight shines into the church from the dome, adding a bright and warm color to the dark and solemn hall.

There are three eye-catching treasures in the church. In addition to the bronze baldachin and bronze throne designed by Bernini, there is also Michelangelo's sculpture "Pietata". They are undoubtedly exquisite and shocking artistic treasures. .

Of course, St. Peter's Basilica is much more than these three treasures. There are many altars on the left and right sides of the church. Most of the altars have a huge oil painting or mosaic in the middle. Some altars also have the Pope's coffin placed under them.

There are many small halls on both sides, each of which is decorated with murals, reliefs and statues, each of which looks to be of fine quality.

Due to the rush of time, I had to catch a train to Naples in the afternoon, so most of the artworks could only be glimpsed. I didn't even have time to climb up to the roof of the church to get a panoramic view of the square. However, even if I saw a small part, it was enough. Shocking.

Vatican Museums

Before visiting St. Peter's Basilica, we queued up to visit the Vatican Museums early in the morning.

The museum is located in the Vatican, the smallest Catholic country in the world. It is one of the largest museums in the world. It is located to the north of St. Peter's Basilica. It was originally the papal palace and was later converted into a museum.

The museum is very large. Whether you are interested in Western art or not, I think it is definitely worth spending a few hours to see it. A layman like me (who has only read a few books about art by Jiang Xun at best) read it with great interest, which was an eye-opener for me.

In addition to being collected by the Holy See, which was the center of power in ancient times, some of the collections here were donated by members of the sect. Mainly composed of works of art, most of which are left over from the Renaissance. Michelangelo's "Genesis", "The Last Judgment" and Raphael's "School of Athens" and other masterpieces are collected here.

What cannot be ignored in particular is the Sistine Chapel, which is a place that visitors to the museum want to see because it houses two of the world's most famous art masterpieces - Michelangelo's giant dome frescoes "Genesis" and "Creation". "The Last Judgment". There were several staff members in the chapel who maintained order and prohibited photography. Unfortunately, they were unable to capture precious images.

The last thing worth mentioning is the spiral staircase not far from the exit. It is also a unique scene. It is a must-visit place.

National Day military parade

So we walked up the opposite hill and found a place where we could clearly see the flag hanging in the arena. After a while, several planes suddenly roared past at low altitude, spewing smoke in the green, white and red colors of the Italian flag. Unfortunately, my reaction was too slow and I didn't have time to take the picture I wanted.

After watching the flag-raising ceremony, we rushed to Piazza Venezia and managed to squeeze in a good viewing position on the street facing the square. Under the scorching sun, I watched the various formations in the military parade walk across the square in an irregular manner. In the end, it was a coincidence that we saw the Italian head of state riding in a special car and driving towards our street under the guidance of the cavalry. He waved to us at the corner. The military parade also reached its climax with cheers.

A magical half day

Watch the Rainbow Parade

Originally, on the afternoon of June 8, we were going back to Rome from Amalfi to stay one night before returning home, so we didn’t have any specific itinerary planned. Unexpectedly, when my companion checked the information, he happened to coincide with the annual Rainbow Parade in Rome.

The big parade passed by the train station near our residence and ended at Piazza Venezia. The whole journey was about 4 kilometers.

Tens of thousands of people walked in the streets, with colorful flags and slogans flying. Not only Italians, but also people from other European countries, with banners and flags printed with their country's name or words. There were also more than a dozen large floats carrying men and women in costumes, like a carnival. They were free and unrestrained, cheering and singing all the way, attracting many tourists and citizens along the way to stop and watch, and some people were deeply affected and joined in.

Concert at St. Andrew's Basilica

In the evening, after watching the Rainbow Parade, we planned to take a look at the Castel Angel at night. On the way, we accidentally passed by the San Andreas Basilica and walked into the church. Unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the door and saw a cardinal praying from a distance, his solemn and holy voice was awe-inspiring.

Then I saw a brochure saying that The Georgia Boy Choir was holding a concert here today. Later, I learned that the choir is one of the world's famous music groups, enjoying a high international reputation and being as famous as the "three major children's choirs in the world" generally recognized by the international music industry. I am really lucky.

And I also really want to hear the sound of the pipe organ with my own ears, because it is the largest, most expensive, widest range and most difficult to play musical instrument in the world. When the music sounds, it seems to come from outside the sky. The soaring high and low serenity seem to penetrate the soul. However, the feeling of the choir's singing is not as strong as that of the pipe organ.

Ponte Sant'Angelo meets religious activities again

As soon as we arrived at the Ponte Sant'Angelo, we encountered a religious activity (it's really full of character, and you can see activities everywhere). Rows of religious people stood neatly and walked across the Ponte Sant'Angelo. Unfortunately, I didn't know much about Catholicism. , I don’t know what kind of grand ceremony it is. I checked that the next day is Pentecost, and I don’t know if it has something to do with it.

Castel Sant'Angelo illuminated by night lights exudes a ghostly yellow color, and a few faint blue clouds in the distant sky are lightly dotted, bringing some quaint colors to the night.

There are several bridges in the castle leading to the old city, the most famous of which is the Ponte Sant'Angelo, known as "the most beautiful bridge on the Tiber River" and an important scene in the movie "Angels and Demons". In fact, the Ponte Sant'Angelo is more famous than the Castel Sant'Angelo because of the twelve statues of the Holy Angel on the bridge. It is said that two of the statues of Holy Angels are the works of the famous master Bernini. Unfortunately, all we see are replicas.

On the way back to the hotel, I saw several homeless people sleeping on the ground on the street. It was a bit incompatible with the image of the city, but they didn't seem to shy away from it.

Thinking back on what I saw and heard in the past half day, various groups of people’s pursuit and persistence of their own beliefs, and society’s openness and tolerance for human freedom, I couldn’t help but think deeply. However, this aspect is too serious and does not conform to the purpose of this article. No more details.

Rome is a city living in history, a real stone city. Entering it is entering history, and no words can compare with it.

The only regret is that there are so many attractions in Rome, which made us run away almost all the time during our time in Rome. I walk more than 15 kilometers every day, and my companions even more so, so I don’t have any free time to find a restaurant or cafe in a favorite place, have a leisurely drink, slowly appreciate the scenery, and integrate myself into the place. In a landscape.

I hope everyone can find another side of life during travel.

If Rome is history, religion, and the accumulation of thousands of years of culture, then Naples is two words - life!

Please read the Naples chapter of Traveling in Southern Italy