THURSDAY 
ROMA

One of the streets spoking out from the Piazza del Popolo is the Via del Corso.
Somehow I don't think a real leatherneck would be shopping here.
Inside the Basilica dei Santi Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso. You can't swing a dead cat in Rome without hitting a church.
The fresco on the ceiling is called Fall of the Rebel Angels by some bloke called Giacinto Brandi.
St. Olav, the martyred king of Norway, has a chapel dedicated to him.
The first of the obvious tourist spots of the day was the Spanish Steps. You may know this from the movie Roman Holiday. Or not. It is an old movie.
I read a while back that the city had made it illegal for people to sit on the steps and eat. I guess that is something people liked to do. I saw some people eating things but I didn't see any police action.
At the top of the steps is the Church of Santissima Trinità dei Monti. I think that translates to the Church of the Saint of Three-Card Monte.
The Via Fratina.
The Column of Marcus Aurelius in the Piazza Colonna. It has a spiral relief that depicts ol' Marc's victories in war.
The remaining wall of the Templo Adriano or Temple of Hadrian. It's kind of neat how the surviving wall and columns built in 145 C.E. were incorporated into a 17th century papal palace which is now occupied by a bank. Old and new coexisting together.
Obvious tourist spot #2: The Trevi Fountain, one of the most famous fountains in the world. It is located at the end of one of the ancient aqueducts that brought water into the city.
And the birds enjoy it too.
When in Rome you must enjoy a gelato. It is mandatory.
So I did. Here is my banana gelato cone.
Obvious tourist spot #3: The Pantheon. But at this hour of the day it is packed so I didn't go in. I left that until later in the trip.
Not far from the Pantheon is the Piazza Navona, a large open public space. It is located at the center of what was the Stadium of Domitian. Once there were gladiators performing here. Now it is filled with artists.
The Fountain of Neptune.
Silver Linings Playbook in Italian is The Positive Side.
The Chiesa di Santa Barbara dei Librari looks like it was squeezed in between a couple of buildings.

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