Rome Day 2 - The Forum, Collona Trajana, Monumento a Vittorio Emaneule II, Fontana di Trevi

We began our day at 8 with a wonderful breakfast at the hotel.  From there we took the #5 streetcar to Termini and caught the B train to the Colosseo and Forum.  We spent well over an hour in the Forum listening to a Rick Steves audio tour which guided us around the site.  From the Forum we headed to view Trajan's Column which commemorates Emperor Trajan's victories during the Dacian Wars.  It is now topped by a statue of St. Peter, apostle of Jesus and first pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

A Small Section of The Roman Forum

After the Forum, we walked to the Pantheon (temple of every god).  This is one of the most well-preserved buildings of Ancient Rome.  It was built as a temple for all the gods and completed during the reign of Emperor Hadrian about 126 AD.  It is capped by the world's largest un-reinforced concrete dome.  In the 7th Century it became a Roman Catholic church. Saint Mary and the Martyrs, and has been in continuous use as a church ever since.  This is one of the reasons the Pantheon exists today.  Like England's Westminster Abbey, Italian royalty, the rich and the famous find their final resting place in this ancient structure.  Raphael, the Renaissance artist is entombed there.

The Pantheon - St. Mary and the Martyrs Church

From the Pantheon, we walked to a more modern spectacular monument of Rome - the Victor Emmanual II Monument. Italians refer to Vittorio Emanuele II as the Padre della Patria (Father of the Fatherland).  He was the King of Sardinia and in 1861 after unifying the various political territories of Italy became the King of Italy.  The design of this monument to Victor Emmanuel II began in 1885 and the "Altare della Patria" as it is also known was completed in 1925.  The Tomb of the Italian Unknown Soldier stands at the base of platform upon which rests a huge statue of a mounted King Vittorio.  Inside the monument are busts and portraits of several renown Italian military heroes.

Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II

Tomb of the Unkown Soldier

Our next stop was the Fontana di Trevi.  Of course, we all had to pitch our coins in the fountain to ensure our return to Rome someday in the future.

Trevi Fountain

Coin Toss - Guaranteeing Our Return to Rome

From there it was a short walk to the Spanish Steps.  No, we didn't climb the steps as it was getting to be the end of a long day of hiking through Rome.  We'll try the view from the top of the stairs when we return to Rome.  We did take time to have our picture taken at the Fountain of Neptune.  Sailors always have to show respect for the God of the Sea.  We got a little gelato and then it was back to the hotel for a rest before dinner.  Italians eat later than Americans.  We didn't want to be falling asleep in our soup.

Spanish Steps

Fountain of Neptune

We went to the Il Tempio de Minerva for dinner as recommended by Carlo who checked us in at the hotel.  It was a short walk from the Donatello.  We were met at along the way by one of the restaurant staff who guided us down a side-street to the restaurant's front door.  The hostess and serving staff were very welcoming and efficient.  Carla ordered the Chateaubriand.  The rest of us had pasta dishes.  The wine was very good.  The various desserts were all made on premises and tasty.  Latte, gelato and Italian cordials brought our meal to a close.  A short walk back to the hotel ended the day.

Eating Well at Il Tempio de Minerva

Entertainment During Dinner