Italy - Day 3 (Roma)

Our final day in Rome was spent touring “Ancient Rome.” We began with none other than the Coliseum! I learned that it is actually called The Flavian Ampitheater. It was constructed in 80 AD and used for contests between gladiators, slaves, and animals and could seat 55,000. The Romans were genius at engineering and building – it only took 10 minutes to fill the Coliseum. During the 100 days contests of fighting between people and people, animals and animals, and people and animals, 2,000 men and 7,000 animals were killed.

Right next to the Coliseum is the Arch of Constantine. The triumphal arch was built in 315 AD to celebrate Constantine’s defeat of Maxentius, a victory that resulted in the conversion of the Romans to Christianity.

We then explored The Forum – the epicenter of Ancient Rome. We climbed Palatine Hill and saw the emporer villas, as well as the House of Augustus and Flavia, the temple of Julius Caesar, and the House of the Vestal Virgins.

Story of how Rome got its name: There was a cave on the hillside of the Forum where brother Romulus and Remus suckled on a she-wolf and were raised by a shepherd. The brothers wanted to build a city but disagreed on the location. As a sign from God, 12 white vultures flew over Romulus’s location and only 6 over Remus’s, which led Romulus to kill his brother and build his city, Roma.

As we walked around Rome more, we passed Trajan’s Column. It was cool to see the real thing because I got to see the plaster of it at the V&A in London

We then spent the afternoon visiting 3 churches.

San Giovanni in Laterno. This is the cathedral of Rome and is significant for its beautiful Baroque architecture.

Scala Santa. This church is said to contain the stairway that led to the balcony of Pontius Pilate, where Jesus was tried before the crucifixion. Pilgrims come from all over the world to climb the Holy Staircase, as tradition dictates on their knees.

Santa Marie Maggiore. Pope Liberus found snow on August 5^th 352 AD following a dream in which the Virgin Mary directed him to build a church. So the tradition is that every August 5^th rose petals fall from the church ceiling. This church is also home to (supposedly) the manger in which Jesus was born.