Baroque Piazzas
La Video del Giorno. Rome is a city of Piazzas. Many are creations of the Baroque city planners.
Largo Argentina
il Video del Giorno: Largo Argentina. In the heart of historic Rome is this wonderful excavation of four temples dating to the Republican era (6th to 1st centuries BCE). It also has been identified as the location of the the assasination of Julius Caesar. Last year it was opened up to public access on elevated walkways. We can't wait to check it out.
Santa Maria Maggiore
il Video del Giorno. While visiting the church of Santa Maria Maggiore we encontered this pilgrimage choir giving an impromptu concert.
Rome Traffic - from the bus
Il Video del Giorno. Traffic in Rome: from a bus near Santa Maria in Cosmedin and the Circus Maximus. We're nearly home (in Rome)!
A Column of Flowing Chocolate
Continuing our theme from yesterday, here is Venchi's column of flowing chocolate in the Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. Hand me a cup, please!
Venchi's Chocolate Waterfall
Venchi (VEN-key) is an Italian chocolatier that has been making this delicious confection for over 100 years. Its shops provide inviting creative displays like this chocolate waterfall in the Venchi shop on the Via del Corso in Rome near the Spanish Steps.
A little late, but this is how Romans celebrate the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29. Fireworks at Castel Sant'Angelo.
Rome: Hor Far is Far?
Roma Domenica: A Blog About All things Roman.
Pat is a walker. In fact he walks every day. I find it hard to walk if I don't have a destination and a purpose. I LOVE to walk in Rome. There it is easy as every corner is a destination of wonder and surprise. That means I basically go into "training" before each of our trips. The historic center of Rome is really not that big and I have walked from one end to the other many times - sometimes for pleasure and others out of necessity. Once I got caught after the public trnasportation shut down which meant a night time trek across the city. It was great! Even though the individual distances are not that far- for example walking from one end of Piazza Navona to the other - it can add up throughout the day. So ... our standard is be ready to walk three plus miles each day. Not necessarily all at once but having stamina is important. Then there are the hills. As one gets ready to travel to Rome it is good to be reminded Rome is built on seven hills. You need to be able to walk UP several flights of stairs because sometimes there just isn't any other way to get from the bottom of the hill to the top. If you're prepared Rome will be one of the best experiences of your life.
A Christmas in Rome
Roma Domenica: A Sunday Blog about all things Roman. An interesting aspect of our Intelligent Adventure Travel tours are the friendships that are forged. Kristine Krummen first went to Rome with Matt when she was one of his Purdue University students. She then returned with Matt and Pat after they founded Intelligent Adventure Travel. Joan Conklin is an experienced world traveler but liked her Rome adventure so much she came back two more times! Kristine and Joan met in Rome and developed a travel friendship. Kris even visited Joan at her home in Canada. Together they traveled to Rome for Christmas 2021. They are our guest bloggers this Sunday. The video is a compilation of their travel photos. Buon Natale!
Joan writes:
Rome Christmas Memories
There is almost nothing as sensual as the Eternal City - Rome at Christmas. The variety of sights sounds and tastes will fill you with a desire to never leave or to return again and again.
As you walk the streets you will hear the chanting of choirs from the doorways of churches, the calling of waiters enticing you to eat in their winterized outside patios, and the bubbling of fountains.
Three thousand eventful years in this remarkable city dances in the bedazzling holiday lights. It is as if the streets of Rome are trying to compete with the stars in the night sky. The candlelights in the churches offer a space for quiet meditation and reflection while the bustling streetscape is vibrant with holiday shoppers under a festooned ceiling of holiday street lights. The smells of Italian Panettone may entice you to enter a bakery for a taste of this egg-rich bread with the tall dome shape that reminds you of the dome of St. Peter’s or the Pantheon. These joy-filled sensations will be complimented by rich coffee, gelato or a feast on Boars Head. Christmas in Rome is magic!
Kristine writes:
It is going on a year ago that the return trip to Rome finally came to fruition. COVID had put a damper on everyone’s travel plans,
Oggi a Roma! Today in Rome! Loving Roman fountains
Oggi a ROMA! Today in Rome! Well not Rome exactly. A day trip by train to the hill town of Tivoli and magnificent Villa d'Este.
