Travel Diary 10: Van did get her drink that day but not after we stopped at the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. The famous Spanish steps made up of some 135 steps leads to the Trinita dei Monti church at the top. At the base of the steps is Piazza di Spagna and piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top. Theres a light pink colored building on the right of the steps which is where English Poet John Keats lived and died in the early 1800s. Having studied his work in uni I wonder how much of his work would have been inspired by Rome compared to the English Romantic generation he was part of. We took a stroll to Trevi Fountain only to be disappointed that it was undergoing restoration. Trevi fountain made famous by the movie La Dolce Vita is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and probably the most famous in the world. The fountain is dry so you can see the coins that were left there by those who played along with the tradition of throwing coins. Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the Trevi – with your back to the fountain, throwing the coin with your right hand over your left shoulder – that will ensure a return to Rome. But thanks to popular culture and the influence of films shot here its said that you should throw three coins. throwing one coin means a return to Rome, a second coin means a new romance, and a third coin means marriage. The last time I was here I threw one coin probably why Im back and why the other two is still work in progress hahah! Unfortunately the fountain is dry so Van says I may have to try elsewhere ;-). We then stop at a nearby restaurant, settle in an outdoor table and had some of the best pastas and pizzas in Rome. I had a delicious ravioli pasta and picked on some of Van and Sergios pizza while they had a bottle of Italian white wine picked from over a thousand bottles from the restaurants cellar. After two hours of eating and reminiscing life back in Indonesia which included crazy lecturers, becak rides, mountain tours and food mishaps we walked to the Pantheon. It had just stopped raining when we left the restaurant so the streets were less crowded. It was already dark I got to appreciate the Pantheon differently. The pantheon is said to be the most preserved and influential ancient buildings of Rome. It is also said to be initially dedicated to the roman pagan gods. The architecture is probably the highlight of this structure. It is the most copied places of worship. Even Michaelangelo studied the pantheon before working on the Sistine chapel. It was built around 25BC and a testimony to mathematic and engineering genius. The dome, the largest made until the Renaissance, is set on a circular base. The dome is as high as it is wide: 142 feet from floor to rooftop and from side to side. The structure is made of a series of 8 intersecting arches that rest on eight piers. At the top, the oculus (eye), is the pantheons only light source and is almost 30 feet across. It acts as a sundial and casts shadows to give time. The floor has 22 holes in it and slants toward the edges to let the rainwater drain out through an old pipe system underground. The highlight of the Pantheon is probably that it houses the worlds greatest Roman column, spanning142 feet! After a hour reading and admiring this ancient building we finally strolled to my last stop for the evening - Piazza Navona. By far the most beautiful square of Rome even more so at night. By the time we reach, the rain had completely stopped but a cool but moist breeze lingered in the air. Musicians had returned to the square and the outdoor tables and chairs began to prop up again. The square was beautifully lit and its three fountains gleamed as travelers and locals stopped to take pictures. We walk across to the church of SantAgnese in Agone. It was built in 1952. You are not allowed to take photos inside so it was good to take a quiet moment without cameras flashing. I sat down and took in the beautiful work of art in this church. I felt a sense of peace and contentment. After twenty minutes I was ready to call it a night. We walked out of the church to find the piazza was livelier than before. The Piazza Navona is in the heart of Rome and the most busiest squares. Home to many outdoor cafes, restaurants and night clubs. Van feels rights at home here. Shes convinced Sergio to stay. I head start to the hotel to sleep :-)
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:02:39 +0000
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