The rise and fall of the ancient Roman Empire are eternal and dazzling moments in world history. The classic quatrain "all roads lead to Rome" has touched countless people's yearning and yearning. In order to test the truth, I chose to start from the foot of Mount Vesuvius in Naples to erupt my love for this country of human civilization.
Naples is the largest city in southern Italy and the site of the famous Pompeii. It is also the center of the city that records the history of Italian opera and pie culture. Although I couldn’t fully appreciate the charm of Naples after a short stay of a few hours, the experience of walking through the streets was enough to feel its cultural rhythm immersively——
Here, there is an ancient city and castle embedded in the mountains and rivers;
Here, there is a bustling downtown where merchants gather;
Here, there is the hustle and bustle of the city with singing voices;
Here, there are fragrant delicacies...
The warm sunshine passes through the gaps between the houses to form beams of light, which are looming in the narrow streets. Sometimes, the breeze blows through the clothes and bedsheets drying outside the window, dancing like a chord of light and shadow, playing A beautiful afternoon symphony unfolded.
Naples is a place where the cultures of the north and south of the Mediterranean meet. Although the city's appearance is occasionally slovenly, a kind of harmony oozes from the chatter and laughter between people of different skin colors and races. When I first arrived in this city, I immediately felt that I was unfamiliar. Become familiar. At the second-hand grocery market near the train station, I saw a strange vegetable called "artichoke" for the first time. I couldn't help but ask the female stall owner what it was. She didn't know much English, so she called a black friend beside her to tell her. I explained that although we didn't fully understand each other in the end, we still wished each other acquaintance with each other with a smile.
Naples is like a big stage where the opera of life is performed.
Rome is a very rich city. History, art, culture, monuments, fashion and luxury spread in every corner of the city. Walking on the streets of Rome is like walking through a history textbook in middle school. Walking into the majestic and bloody Colosseum, the silence echoes with the hoarse shouts of the gladiators. The grievance-filled souls of slaves are buried in the grandeur, but its greatness makes every visitor unable to help but feel proud. I sigh and pray for all the lives drowned in the torrent of history. Some people say that the Colosseum is a monument to ancient Roman architecture, while others say that the Colosseum is a cemetery for slaves in ancient Rome. But today, the Colosseum has become a totem created by artists. Surrounded by street performers with unique characteristics, they use oil paint, chalk, and spray paint to depict the temple in their hearts every day, expressing their reverence for the artistic gifts left by their ancestors.
The loneliness during the journey may be the prelude to a romantic encounter, just like the Roman Holiday that Princess Anne spent with Joe - imagining turning their backs to the Trevi Fountain and throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain, promising to return. Roman wishes; throwing another one promises a romantic love; throwing in the third one indicates that perfect love will become a reality. Then sit leisurely on the big steps of Plaza de España while tasting sweet ice cream and waiting for the encounter of love. If love comes in time, you can ride a motorcycle with your lover through the Piazza Venezia and blow a kiss to the statue of the great Victor Emmanuel II; in the evening, you can climb to the top of the Vatican Church Enjoy the panoramic sunset over the city of Rome with Peter's Basilica.
However, reality arbitrarily tampered with my plot and directed another version of Roman Holiday——
When I walked out of the central station, I was immediately attracted by the three-dimensional textbook-like Roman city in front of me, and my mindless passion surged through my body. Just as I was walking through Piazza Venezia, I was suddenly chatted up by a black man enthusiastically. He also gave me a bracelet and an elephant pendant, saying that this was a blessing from a destined person and could not be refused, which made me instantly think that the people of the world had been united. Bringing beauty to the world is such a blessing! However I was wrong! Because thanks and gifts in return cannot be exchanged, only money is the hard currency to receive this blessing! He also pointed at the groups of black people wandering around the square and said that those were his "compatriots" who had not eaten for several days. This naked threat wiped out most of my passion. I obviously did not meet his expectations when I took out 1 euro. When I took out 2 euros, he showed an increasingly greedy expression, which aroused my anger. In desperation, he picked up the pendant and 2 euros and left angrily, but I looked at the bracelet left on my wrist and couldn’t laugh or cry. It was my first souvenir of Rome!
However, the plot was still going on, and I was stopped by a blond girl on the way. She kept saying hello to me in Chinese, Korean and Japanese. At first, I tried to break her passionate offensive with silence, but she persisted in saying hello in other words. Hanyu told me a story about anti-drug fundraising, trying to conquer my sympathy. In view of the fact that the generosity that the black brothers taught me before did not fully represent my own kindness, this time I only used 40 euro cents to resist this beauty’s request and the credit card machine in her hand. Perhaps this is also a taste of experiencing Rome - the suffocating feeling of love, resentment, affection and sorrow that fills the air.
Finally, we arrived at the Trevi Fountain. It seemed that the tourists here were more turbulent than the fountain. The enthusiasm for throwing coins was completely replaced by admiring the exquisite Boli Palace and the statues of gods in the pool. The constant blaring of the tour guide’s speakers in my ears was simply overwhelming my brain. Close early. Although it is already evening, groups of tourists are still coming here, and it is said that tourists who come here every day throw up to three to four thousand euros in coins into the Trevi Fountain, including three of mine today. There are indeed too many people, so many people that I have no intention of queuing up to try a GELATI ice cream. Without ice cream, I sat on the steps of the Plaza de España and naturally I couldn’t wait for the favor of love. However, looking at the romantic lovers cuddling on the steps under the moonlight seemed to warm my lonely heart. .
Since there is no chance of an affair, don’t live up to this beautiful night. Take a look at the shining jewelry, luxurious and gorgeous fashions, and exquisite handicrafts in the windows on both sides of the street, showing off the extraordinary temperament of the city of Rome under the light. !
Walking through the brilliance of Rome at night, you unknowingly walked into the Vatican, a country within a city. Standing in the center of the square, you gazed at this building that brings together the wisdom and art of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and other great masters. In the creation of St. Peter's Basilica, I feel more and more the European Renaissance art's pursuit of perfection in humanity, order, and proportion. Even the white doves crossing the sky are showing straight lines.
Although the Vatican is the smallest country in the world, it is the center of Catholicism in the world and the residence of the Pope. It accepts the respect and worship of more than one billion Catholic believers around the world. There is no cultivated farmland or mining in the 0.44 square kilometers of land. It only relies on leasing, investment, banking, tourism and donations from believers around the world to live a wealthy and peaceful life. The Vatican has a permanent population of less than 1,000 people, the vast majority of whom are clergy. There is no army. In addition to police, administrative officials and diplomats, there are only dozens of civilians.
If you have the opportunity to come to the Vatican to experience the prosperity of this small country, remember to check the opening schedule of all places in advance to avoid being turned away everywhere, and you won’t even be able to get a homemade Vatican stamp!
Although the experience in Rome was not perfect, the memory was profound enough. Next stop is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Come with me to verify the acceleration of gravity in the physics textbook.