A Visit To Italy
Wish you were here. Today, I am in Rome, Italy some 5,000 miles from home.
We arrived Tuesday and spent the day trying to stay awake, acclimate to the time zone which is five hours ahead of us, visiting the Pantheon, built some 2000 years ago and has the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
Many buildings in the United States have similar domes including the United States Capitol, Jefferson’s home, Monticello, and even our own Monticello Bank were inspired by this building. We also did a requirement when you travel to Rome, throw three coins in Trevi Fountain which is said to guarantee your return to Rome. It has worked for me.
We enjoyed our first pizza near the beautiful Piazza Navona which was a racetrack during the Roman Empire. Wednesday, we attended the mass held in St. Peters Square with Pope Francis speaking to the many thousands. Afterwards we toured St. Peters Cathedral. Today we will tour the Colosseum, the Forum, Capitoline Hill, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Mamertine Prison.
Mamertine Prison is not on most lists of places to visit in Rome. Two men who were imprisoned there were the disciples, Peter and Paul. They had both come to Rome to support the new Christians who were in constant conflict with the Roman government. To get to the prison, you must walk down a flight of narrow stairs into a dark, wet room. Peter is said to have baptized other prisoners with the water of a spring that sprung from the floor. You can still see the bubbling water.
Tomorrow we travel about three hours south to Sorrento, with the most gorgeous scenery. The winding mountain road clings to the edge of cliffs that overlook the azure Mediterranean Sea. From there we will tour the ruins of Pompei and if there is enough time and the weather holds out, a ferry ride to visit the Isle of Capri.
Hopefully you can travel to this country some day. The richness of the volcanic soil produces delicious fresh vegetables and lemons as large as grapefruits. And did I mention the pizza? YUM
Be home soon, JJ