#altar of the fatherland

[sinceyousawvienna]

[sourabha]

166th Kannada poem filmed at Altare della Patria (Vittoriano) in Roma, Italia

Always fun to take Kannada poetry beyond the borders of Karnataka! This poem is about a horse, by S. Manjunath, a man who died young, a man through whom a lot more poetry would have happened to us were he alive for a few more years. His free verse is so magnificent that in its depth and wonder that it can move purists of poetry who rant about strict metres, to silence. Our small tribute to a…

[suitelifeoftravel]

A Look at Rome's Capitoline Hill: A Walking Tour

Caffe Greco has become somewhat of a Roman institution, and I could not wait to order a cup of coffee, grab an outdoor table and people watch for a couple of hours.  A fellow American, standing in line with me when I ordered my cappuccino, leaned over and said that Italians look down upon ordering coffee after 11 o’clock in the morning.  The server did not seem to mind, so I handed him my money…

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Altar of the Fatherland, Rome, ITALY

[parthenopehasnograve]

View of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica from the "Vittoriano" monument, also known as The Altar of the Fatherland. Rome, Italy (©)

[theoihalioistuff]

Favorite obscure myth?

Don't really have a favourite. But I was recently thinking about Rhea wrestling against Eurynome, and that almost entirely lost myth sounds dope as hell:

"Pherecydes, again, who is much older than Heraclitus, relates a myth of one army drawn up in hostile array against another, and names Kronos as the leader of the one, and Ophioneos of the other, and recounts their challenges and struggles, and mentions that agreements were entered into between them, to the end that whichever party should fall into the ocean should be held as vanquished, while those who had expelled and conquered them should have possession of heaven". (Origen. Contra Celsusm 6.42 = DK 7B4 = Pherecydes fr. 4 Ancilla to the Pre-Socratic Philosophers)

"And he sang how first of all Ophion and Eurynome, daughter of Okeanos, held the sway of snowy Olympus, and how through strength of arm one yielded his prerogative to Kronos and the other to Rhea, and how they fell into the waves of Ocean; but the other two meanwhile ruled over the blessed Titan gods, while Zeus, still a child and with the thoughts of a child, dwelt in the Dictaean cave; and the earthborn Cyclopes had not yet armed him with the bolt, with thunder and lightning; for these things give renown to Zeus." (Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 1. 503)

"As he [Helios] shines on the Ophionides [descendants of Ophion] . . . ((lacuna)) the older gods [Titanes?]." (Callimachus. Aetia fr. 177)

"And thou, O brother, most beloved of my heart, stay of our halls and of our whole fatherland, not in vain shalt thou redden the altar pedestal with blood of bulls, giving full many a sacrificial offering to him who is lord of Ophion’s throne [Zeus]. But he shall bring thee to the plain of his nativity [Crete], that land celebrated above others by the Greeks, where his mother [Rhea], skilled in wrestling, having cast into Tartarus the former queen [Eurynome], delivered her of him in travail of secret birth, escaping the child-devouring unholy feast of her spouse; and he fattened not his belly with food, but swallowed instead a stone, wrapped in limb-fitting swaddling-clothes: savage Centaur [Kronos; reference to his union with Philyra], tomb of his own offspring." (Lycophron Alexandra 1191) he's worse than Nonnos

"For before Kronos and Rhea, Ophion and Eurynome, daughter of Okeanos, ruled over the titans. But Kronos overcame Ophion and Rhea overcame Eurynome, casting them into Tartaros. They ruled of the gods until they themselves were cast into Tartaros by Zeus when he took power." (Tzetzes on Lycophron 1191)

The most convincing theory I've read, in my opinion, is that Ophion and Eurynome are parallels of Okeanos (Ogenos for Pherekydes) and Tethys. Okeanos and Tethys are sometimes fitted into genealogies preceeding Kronos and Rhea as parents of the titans (Plato Tim. 40e), similarly to how Ophion and Eurynome are fitted into the succession myth. They are always banished to the river Ocean (save in Lykophron), to which Eurynome is always connected, being classified as an Okeanid by both Hesiod and Homer, who also makes her dwell there (Hom. Il. 18.394-405). Her watery association is also present in her sanctuary in Arcadia, where her xoanon had the form of a mermaid (Paus. 8.41.4-6). Nonnos still pictures Ophion inhabiting the ocean (Dio. 8.150-160), and the world-encircling river being imagined as a world-encircling serpent isn't too far-fetched, considering the orphic propensity for world-encircling serpents, and Okeanos' appearance in vase art. Perhaps a myth existed where Kronos and Rhea battled Okeanos and Tethys for the throne, but who knows. In any case all of this is just conjecture (fun conjecture though).

[eliza-styx]

The grand Kömsko (König/Gromsko) timeline & masterpost

The time has come to sum up the lore and history of the ship that stole hearts of many by complete accident and wormed its way into the subconscious of many Polish shippers in the cod fandom. This post is for you, if you wanna participate in our little cult but struggle a bit with realising what headcanons may be appropriate for Gromsko, if you’re not Polish yourself and some König ideas that we think make sense in relation to this ship.

It all started on the fateful day of December 9th 2022 when Ghostytoasty  made the most random joke that was exactly the snowflake needed to start an avalanche of events

It led to Orin pitching an idea of enemies to lovers story for these two and my own brainworms picked it up to basically draft the whole fanfic in the conversation, at which point Shiba promised to make art for, if I actually wrote it.

Well, two days later, a child was born, the very first Kömsko fanfic to be posted on AO3

Shelter Me

written by none other than me aka ElizaStyx with the beautiful cover art done by MizuShiba

And thus the ship became reality.

It gained interest on twitter with artists like @/620_ne1 and @/Capitan_LX among others posting their own fanart of the pair

Shiba, of course also kept creating more  beautiful art of the couple

Encouraged by the small cult that spawned amongst the people of the ghostsoap discord I started working on the sequel fic, a humorous and fluffy take on the pair dealing with being in love while also working for the rival factions

Carry You

meanwhile, Ghostytoasty got their own inspirational angst juices flowing and wrote a beautifully poetic MCD fic

The warmth that lingers as a shattered heart bleeds

Somewhere along the way, a side channel dedicated to Kömsko spawned in the discord and we begun to fill it up with the various headcanons and ideas that are now listed in a twitter thread by Capitan_LX but to sum up some facts to start your own juices flowing

Gromsko basic headcanons:

- born 11.11.1990, on the Polish Independence Day - brought up in roman catholic faith with very strict, religious parents and a younger sister we named Judyta, definitely was either an altar boy or sung in the church choir - wears a cross around his neck since childhood - history nerd, knows everything about history of Poland and will ramble all night long - has two music listening modes: Sabaton or Polish pop like Doda, hates disco polo - very patriotic, brought up basically brainwashed into believing in God, Honour, Fatherland above all else, had dreams of a winged hussar and that’s why he joined the army (but also dreaming of men, huh?) - struggled coming to terms with his sexuality because the catholic church teaches that homosexual love is forbidden, used to say very offensive shit in his youth but definitely had grown since then - swears in Polish even if he speaking in a different language - calling people idiots and other names is his language of love - never recieved gifts as a kid, cries every time König gives him something and  König keeps showering him with gifts - knows English, Russian and German but doesn’t let on just how much German he understands because König loves to whisper sweet things into his ear that he thinks Gromsko doesn’t understand

König basic headcanons:

- born 15.08.1994, on the day of Assumption of Mary which is obviously a big religious holiday in Poland - is an only child, brought up by a single mom who struggled to make ends meet and worked several jobs but would give up anything to care for him, though often was absent overworking herself - severely bullied in school for being tall, awkward and having no dad, called slurs - became a bookworm to escape reality into fictional worlds - keeps a journal of his thoughts and the books he read - daydreams a lot and in the evening writes down many stories that he daydreams about during the day in his journal but thinks they are silly and never showed anyone until Gromsko came around (Gromsko adores them) - his love language is gift giving and he will look for excuses to give gifts - listens to heavy metal and death or black metal, loves Rammstein - gets into Behemoth and other Polish metal bands because of Gromsko - brushes his teeth at least three times a day, never smoked because it’s bad for gum health - decides to learn Polish in secret so Gromsko doesn’t know he understands when he calls him names - will listen to Gromsko ramble about history all night long - anxious mess 24/7, has severe panic attacks sometimes but Gromsko knows exactly how to ground him and calm him down

[thegrapeandthefig]

"The gods belonged to the natural world and were therefore considered necessarily prior to the polis, even when new cities were founded in new territories. The assumption that the gods predated the community is made clear in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, where Leto stakes out Apollo’s claim to the island of Delos before his birth and promises the island a steady stream of worshippers bringing gifts and making sacrifice. Solon describes how he brought those once enslaved in foreign territories and led them back to Attika, “their fatherland, founded by the gods.” A fourth century decree from the Ionian polis of Kolophon acknowledges the same idea, recognizing that any change in the city’s boundaries required the approval of the city’s gods because they had inhabited the place first. […] the decree justified the city’s claim to its territory by asserting that the people received the city as a gift from the gods who dwelled in the land itself. According to such claims, a sanctuary was located in the natural home of the deity, whether in the city itself or out in the landscape of the city’s territory. According to this view, founding a new city required building temples and altars in recognition of the gods’ gift. The real history of city foundation, urban planning, and community development was of course far more complex, but cities, competing for status, inspired foundation myths that recognized the gods’ direct participation. Divine support justified claims to territory, and evidence of divine approval was a requirement for polis identity."

Susan Guettel Cole, Landscapes, Gender & Ritual Space The Ancient Greek Experience, University of California Press, 2004, pp. 37-38

[orthodoxadventure]

Finally comes the last day, usually called "Forgiveness Sunday," but whose other liturgical name must also be remembered: the "Expulsion of Adam from the Paradise of Bliss." This name summarizes indeed the entire preparation for Lent. By now we know that man was created for paradise, for knowledge of God and communion with Him. Man's sin has deprived him of that blessed life and his existence on earth is exile. Christ, the Savior of the world, opens the door of paradise to everyone who follows Him, and the Church, by revealing to us the beauty of the Kingdom, makes our life a pilgrimage toward our heavenly fatherland. Thus at the beginning of Lent, we are like Adam:

Adam was expelled from paradise through food; Sitting, therefore, in front of it he cried: 'Woe to me . . . One commandment of God have I transgressed, depriving myself of all that is good; Paradise holy! Planted for me, And now because of Eve closed to me; Pray to thy Creator and mine that I may be filled again by thy blossom.' Then answered the Savior to him: 'I wish not my creation to perish; I desire it to be saved and to know the Truth; For I will not turn away from him who comes to Me. . .'

Lent is the liberation of our enslavement to sin, from the prison of "this world." And the Gospel lesson of this last Sunday (Matt 6:14-21) sets the conditions for this liberation. The first one is fasting -- the refusal to accept the desires and urges of our fallen nature as normal, the effort to free ourselves from the dictatorship of flesh and matter over the spirit. To be effective, however, our fast must not be hypocritical, a "showing off." We must "appear not unto men to fast but to our Father who is in secret." The second condition is forgiveness -- "If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you." The triumph of sin, the main sign of its rule over the world, is division, opposition, separation, hatred. Therefore, the first break through this fortress of sin is forgiveness: the return of unity, solidarity, love. To forgive is to put between me and my "enemy" the radiant forgiveness of God Himself. To forgive is to reject the hopeless "dead-ends" of human relations and to refer them to Christ. Forgiveness is truly a "breakthrough" of the Kingdom into this sinful and fallen world.

More under the Readmore

Lent actually begins at Vespers of that Sunday. The unique service, so deep and beautiful, is absent from so many of our churches! Yet nothing reveals better the "tonality" of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church; nowhere is better manifested its profound appeal to man.

The service begins as solemn Vespers with clergy in bright vestments. The hymns (stichira) which follow the Psalm "Lord, I have cried . . ." announce the coming of Lent and, beyond Lent, the approach of Pascha!

Let us begin the time of fasting in light! Preparing ourselves for the spiritual efforts. Let us purify our soul; let us purify our body. As from food, let us abstain from all passion and enjoy the virtues of the spirit, so that perfected in time by love We may all be made worthy to see the Passion of Christ and the Holy Pascha In spiritual joy!

Then comes, as usual, the Entrance with the evening hymn: "O Gladsome Radiance of the holy glory. . ." The celebrant then proceeds to the "high place" behind the altar for the proclamation of the evening Prokeimenon which alwyas announces the end of one and the beginning of another day. This day's Great Prokeimenon announces the beginning of Lent:

Turn not away Thy face from Thy servant for I am afflicted! Hear me speedily. Attend to my soul and deliver it!

Listen to the unique melody of this verse -- to this cry that suddenly fills the Church: ". . . for I am afflicted!" -- and you will understand this starting point of Lent: the mysterious mixture of despair and hope, of darkness and light. All preparation has now come to an end. I stand before God, before the glory and the beauty of His Kingdom. I realize that I belong to it, that I have no other home, no other joy, no other goal; I also realize that I am exiled from it into the darkness and sadness of sin, "for I am afflicted!" And finally, I realize that only God can help in that affliction, that only He can "attend to my soul." Repentance is, above everything else, a desperate call for that divine help.

Five time we repeat the Prokeimenon. And then, Lent is here! Bright vestments are put aside; lights are extinguished. When the celebrant intones the petitions for the evening litany, the choir responds in the lenten "key." For the first time the lenten prayer of St. Ephraim accompanied by prostrations is read. At the end of the service all the faithful approach the priest and one another asking for mutual forgiveness. But as they perform this rite of reconciliation, as Lent is inaugurated by this movement of love, reunion, and brotherhood, the choir sings the Paschal hymns. We will have to wander forty days through the desert of Lent. Yet at the end shines already the light of Easter, the light of the Kingdom.

--Rev Dr. Alexander Schmemann: Great Lent - Journey to Pascha

[travelwithdebsi]

Day 19 - Rome (21.01.2023)

Today was my first real day in Rome. Yesterday I bought a 48-hour ticket for the metro and this morning I took the metro to „Closseo“ to see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and all the historical buildings around. When I arrived, there were so many tourists and also many vendors trying to sell their guided tours. There was no getting around them. One of them told me that there were no more tickets for today and I could only buy one for tomorrow or join the guided tour. But I just scanned the QR code for the online tickets and there were still some left. So I bought my ticket for the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the Platine Hill. I spent around two hours at the Roman Forum just walking around and admiring the buildings and the view. After that I went to the Colosseum to get my time slot.

Then I walked to the „Altare della Patria“ past the Forum of Augustus and the Foro di Cesare. The Altar of the Fatherland is so impressive and so beautiful - inspires me every time.

After that I wanted to see the Pantheon and get something to eat there. There was a demonstration at the Pantheon, but I could still see it. Then I got some pasta at a little pasta store that a girl recommended. After that, of course, an ice cream - delicious as always. Then I was back at the Spanish steps and saw the sun already setting. So I googled „best viewpoints“ in Rome and found the „Piazza del Popolo“ with the „Terrazza del Pincio“. It was so beautiful there. A band was playing live music and I watched the sunset for half an hour.

After getting back to the hostel, I decided to end my day with a gym session. I finally found an Italian city with my gym. Afterwards I got a slice of pizza and the guy there just gave me a second slice for free. So kind of him. The perfect end to the day.

[mytravelcsp]

Italy - Rome - City of Seven hills - P8

Altar of Fatherland – Rome, the City of Seven Hills, is not only famous for its ancient ruins and historic sites but also for its stunning architecture. One of the most prominent landmarks in Rome is the Altar of the Fatherland, also known as Il Vittoriano. This magnificent monument was built to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. Standing tall at Piazza Venezia, it…

[ourxcountryadventure]

Roman Holiday

July 28, 2023

“Rome. I will cherish my visit here in memory as long as I live.”

AUDREY HEPBURN - Princess Ann

Our plan on the first full day in Rome was to see as much of the city as possible. In order to achieve this goal and accommodate our various mobility differences and the soaring heat, we hired a private driver from Mary Roma. We had created a list of the top things that we wanted to see and sent it ahead to the company along with our start time and the driver was able to make am itinerary that made sense in the 6 hours we had scheduled.

Our driver, Fabrizio, picked us up promptly at 8:00 am and we started our tour at the Trevi Fountain. The fountain was being cleaned and the coins collected and so the fountain was not on. On the positive side of things, the crowd was not large at 8:00 am and so we were able to get up close and personal to the famous landmark to see the sculptures and take pictures. We stopped at a stand to buy a hat for Annie and a magnet for Julie and were lured into a patisserie for cornettos and maritozzo which Dad declared delicious. Julie opted for a plain cornetto and offered a bite to mom who grabbed a decidedly large percentage of the pastry and guzzled it down.

We loaded back into the van and enjoyed Fabrizio’s skill at manoeuvring through the narrow streets of the ancient city. We were often close enough to doors that we could have grabbed the door handle and the intricate dance between pedestrian, scooter and van was remarkable and horrifying all at once.

Next up, the Spanish Steps from the top. Beautiful! We saw the spot where Tom Cruise hopped in the yellow car and drove down the steps in the latest Mission impossible, Syl, Julie and Amelia walked down to the bottom of the steps and back up - finding out afterwards that our next stop was the bottom but making memories nonetheless. Poppa accepted a rose by a street peddler and had to be rescued by Jane and Fabrizio to get the man away from him. Julien was upset that I was not being nice and I was reprimanded soundly for my stern behaviour with the stranger.

The church was not open and so we were not able to visit.

Down the hill to the lower end of the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna. It is a lovely vista and we were able to enjoy it in relative calm with no crowd in the morning. We took a stroll down Via Condotti - the “it” street for designer stores in Rome (think Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton). The stores did not open until 10:30 or so and so it was window shopping only for us!

We left there and headed to our next stop but we were hijacked by Mom and Julie who were sitting with Fabrizio in the front seat and who had spied a Pandora store. So inside we went for a little retail therapy that took a bit longer than allowed for our itinerary which meant that the Borghese Villa became the Borghese Gardens which became just a drive by and not a stop. On the upside, we got some wonderful souvenirs and Syl discovered a beautiful church, Chiesa di Gesù e Maria, just down Via del Corso.

The funeral of Andrea Purgatori (thanks Google!) in Piazza del Popolo was making some excitement with heavy police presence and television crews filming the ceremony. We drove by the beautiful Piazza several times but didn’t stop. Hoping we can get back there tomorrow before we leave.

Our next out-of-the-car stop was at Altar of the Fatherland which was my favourite stop for the sheer beauty that surrounded us. We had a snack here at a tiny takeaway sandwich shop - to die for!

We saw the Coliseum and stopped for approx 45 minutes here to gasp at its beauty. There were thousands of others also there which made it very hectic. Annie and Syl walked around the entire structure which is massive and imposing and an incredible architectural masterpiece. Julien and I stayed with Amma and Poppa at a terrific spot to people watch and enjoy the views. Annie said this was her favourite site of the day.

Next up was a stop at the Pantheon and finally Piazza Navona where Fabrizio left us and where we found a great restaurant for a light lunch. This was on Mom’s bucket list - lunch in the Piazza and so we made it happen.

After lunch, Mom, Dad and Julien caught a taxi back to our vacation house and the rest of us meandered around Piazza Navona and then headed back on foot. The distance was set to be 3 km but a slight detour at Castel St. Angelo added another km or so as did Syl’s initial navigating where he only semi-partnered with Google maps. Along the way we walked around Castel St Angelo, saw the Canadian Embassy, crossed the Tiber River and viewed some beautiful streets and buildings. It was a long and hot walk and we were glad to get home for a siesta before dinner.

We decided that steak was our wish for dinner, and a quick search on Trip Advisor led us to Il Belli al Trionfale a short two blocks from our apartment. DELICIOUS! We feasted on deep fried meatballs and smoked carpaccio for appetizers and strip loins served with three salts and some with truffle fondue. They were served on a hot stone which allowed us to cook them to perfection.

Over dinner we discussed our thoughts of the day and determined that Rome has a ratio of Church to Gelatto Store to Piazza to Stolen Obelisk of 10:10:3:1.

A quick walk back and some time on the roof-top terrasse before bed.

List of Our Sites Experienced

Spanish Steps ☑️ 🚶‍♀️📷

Colosseum ☑️ 🚶‍♀️📷

Trevi Fountain ☑️ 🚶‍♀️📷

Pantheon ☑️ 🚶‍♀️📷

Piazza Navona ☑️ 🚶‍♀️📷

Roman Forum ☑️ 🚶‍♀️📷

Altar of the Fatherland ☑️ 🚶‍♀️📷

Castel Sant’Angelo ☑️ 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️

Basilica Papale di Santa

Maria Maggiore ☑️ 🚗

Villa Borghese ❌

Borghese Gardens ☑️🚗

➕Circus Maximus 🚗

➕ site of Julius Caesar’s Assassination 🚗

➕Home of Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, Villa Rosebery🚗

➕Piazza del Popolo 🚗

🚗 drive-by

📷🚶‍♀️pics and exploring

[umichenginabroad]

Sorrento Week 4.5: A Weekend in Rome

Ciao

This blog post is kinda late because I was super busy last week recovering from Rome and preparing for Venice as well as end of semester stuff but I had to write about visiting Rome because it's been one of the highlights of my summer so far!

After physics on Friday, our group of 7 met at the Sorrento train station to catch a train to Naples so we could catch a train to Rome. Because the platform number is only posted 20mins prior to departure, we ended up waiting around for a while until we could figure out where to board our train to Rome. The ride itself was smooth, but we were delayed getting into Roma Termini for unknown reasons. We then checked into our AirBnb and walked to get dinner which meant that we passed by the colosseum and forum. I couldn’t believe how big the colosseum was when I first saw it, it seriously took my breath away!

Various photos of the colosseum from our first day in Rome. It's hard to show just how big it is in photos.

The next day I got up at 5:30am and we left the apartment at 6:30am so we could hit all the major sites in Rome when there were less people. We first walked to the Spanish steps and then to the Trevi Fountain to take photos. The Trevi fountain was so much bigger than I expected it to be. I don’t think pictures will ever do it justice. 

The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain (which was absolutely stunning)

We then walked to the pantheon and were able to snag tickets for 9:30 so we grabbed breakfast and then waited in line to enter the pantheon. Because it’s a church, they’re strict about having your shoulders covered on entry and that you wear a longer skirt or shorts. Inside, there is gorgeous marble flooring and statues as well as the grave of renaissance painter Raphael. We then walked to Piazza Navona to take some pretty pictures.

The stunning Pantheon which houses the grave of the famous Renaissance painter Raphael.

After Piazza Navona, we passed by Largo di Torre Argentina (the site of Julius Caesar’s assassination) and walked to the Jewish Ghetto. The Ghetto has many reminders of the persecution faced by the Jewish community throughout history including Stolpersteine (brass plated stones placed around various european cities at the entry to buildings where holocaust victims lived). We then walked to the Altar of the Fatherland (which is a massive monument to the first king of unified Italy) and then back to the Spanish steps so we could eat at Pastificio Guerra where they give you a takeaway dish of pasta for only 4.50 which we ate on the sidewalk staring up at the Spanish Steps. We then walked back to the Airbnb to relax before grabbing dinner.

The site of Caesar's assassination (top left), Stolpersteine (top right), Jewish Ghetto (bottom left), Altar of the Fatherland (bottom right)

The next day we left our Airbnb at 9:45 to walk to a flea market and grabbed breakfast on the way. We found a place to store our backpacks so we didn’t have to lug them around the city and explored the market. Afterwards, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and some gelato before picking our bags back up. I then went to Palazzo Massimo, a palace that’s been converted into a museum about ancient Roman art including various sculptures, mosaics, and frescos. I couldn’t believe how vibrant the colors were or how intricate the mosaics were. Seriously, they were insanely detailed and in good shape considering how old they were. The statues included busts of famous emperors as well as some elaborately carved sarcophagi. If you have time, I recommend you check it out as the art was all insanely beautiful and it was an interesting glimpse into the variety of Roman art.

Various examples of the art in the museum including the crazy detailed tiles from houses of the Ancient Roman elite.

I met back up with my friends at Roma Termini where we boarded our train to Naples. Unfortunately for us, there were downed power lines so the train route was diverted and it added 45mins to our train journey so we were glad we hadn’t scheduled a later train. One thing to note about Italian trains is that I have yet to be on a train that isn't delayed by at least 20 minutes so factor that into your travel time.

Some panoramic views of Rome from the Altar of the Fatherland. I can't wait to go back and explore more museums in a few weeks!

I had a great time in Rome and I highly recommend that you visit if you’re able because you could even do it as a day trip from Sorrento (although it would be a very busy day). As for suggestions, I suggest booking places ahead of time as we couldn’t visit inside the colosseum because we didn’t pre-buy tickets and bringing a reusable water bottle (or saving a plastic one from the grocery store) as there are free water spouts all over Rome that have cold, drinkable water for free (a luxury in Italy). Also make sure to add buffer time to your travels (try to plan for a train that gets in at least an hour or more before the last train to Sorrento) because trains always seem to be delayed or have other issues and you want to make sure you can make any connections. Stay tuned for the next blog as I visited Pompeii and Venice this past week!

Ciao! Reganne Watts Aerospace Engineering Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[italiangiftsforyou]

Vittorio Emanuele II Monument ( Altar of the Fatherland ) Italy

[dougrobyngoold]

Roamin’ - Rome, Italy

A glorious day wandering the streets of Rome - there were so many people at all of the major attractions! However, we managed to enjoy everything and be appropriately overwhelmed. We started at the Colosseum - very impressive from every angle (we did not go inside, tickets were not available).

We also walked by the Forum - which is massive and contains so many different structures - it is mind-boggling that these structures are still standing!

Altar of the Fatherland or Vittoriano - a national monument built between 1885 and 1935 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy. It looms over the city at 81 meters in height, you can see it from quite a few locations throughout the city. It is free and once you go up the steps, you have to continue through the inside of the monument (foot traffic is one-way). There is an elevator to a terrace at the top of the monument, which you do have to pay for, we did not do this. I imagine the views are spectacular from there. 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at the base of the monument.

The Sacrifice by Leonardo Bistolfi at the monument.

The statue of Victor Emmanuel II - HUGE!

The backside of the Pantheon.

The Pantheon - a former Roman Temple (circa 126 AD), now a Catholic church.

Lunch was at a sidewalk cafe - Origano - everything was delicious!

After lunch, we went to Piazza Navona - it was beautiful, with a fountain and an obelisk sculpture:

The Column of Marcus Aurelius (erected between 180-193 AD), it is located in Piazza Colonna (pictured below). The frieze is an impressive spiral of images, if it were unfurled it would be 110 meters long.

The Trevi Fountain (pictured below) - stunning, but incredibly crowded. We were happy to get close enough to take a photo!

Our last stop of the day was Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. So many churches in Rome, none were disappointing.

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. 

Stained glass above the entry.

There were a multitude of confessionals available in a multitude of languages - we got a kick out of that.

Gilded mural in one of the domes.

Ornate cupola.

Marble and gold - elaborate altar area.

Quite a full day in Rome. The weather was warm and humid, we were happy to be heading back to our apartment. Tomorrow we will be spending another day in Rome - so much to see!

[wanderlustwayadventures1]

7 days in Italy

October 2017 Rome Florence Tuscany and Venice

We made our home base in Rome at hotel Rome Veneto Relais which was centrally located to all the major attractions and train station. Since we were doing day trips being close the train was very important. We also had to be able to walk around with a stroller so we picked the hotel for the location.

Day 1 October 16 Colosseum and top Rome stops

The Quirinal Palace is a historic building in Rome, Italy, one of the three current official residences of the President of the Italian Republic, together with Villa Rosebery in Naples and the Tenuta di Castelporziano, an estate on the outskirts of Rome.

Pantheon: One of the best maintained buildings from Roman times is the Pantheon. What function the building had in those days is still not clear, but the Pantheon was given to the pope by emperor Hadrian in 608.

Colosseo: Unlike many earlier amphitheaters, which had been dug into hillsides to provide adequate support, the Colosseum was a freestanding structure made of stone and concrete. The distinctive exterior had three stories of arched entrances—a total of around 80—supported by semi-circular columns.

The Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top. The Spanish steps represent figuratively and metaphorically the close relationship between the Sacred and the Eternal city, shown through the elevation and vastness of the monument. The longest and widest steps in Europe are also an important landmark in Rome as they host events and are home to Italian traditions

Piazza Navona: One of the most remarkable squares and best places to visit in Rome is Piazza Navona. The square therefore owes its elongated shape to its original purpose as a Roman athletics stadium.

Fontana do trevi; Famous for its intricate artwork decorated in the Baroque style, the Trevi Fountain has plenty of history and detail attached to it. Being one of the best structures remaining that showcase the skills in the ancient Roman's craftsmanship.

Rome landmarks: Monument of Vittorio Emanuele One of the most remarkable of Rome landmarks, the monument of the first Italian king Vittorio Emanuelle II, is located next to the Piazza Venezia square. The building is also called the ‘Altara della Patria’ – the altar of the fatherland – and commemorates the unification of Italy. Romans also use nicknames for it such as ‘typewriter’ and ‘wedding cake’. The colossal white building also contains a museum and the tomb of the unknown soldier, which is guarded by two soldiers

Day 2 October 17 Vatican City

Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It's home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. The St. Peter’s Basilica, or ‘Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano’ is the spiritual centre of the Catholic Church and residence of the pope.

Castel Sant’Angelo: Originally, the 2nd-century Castel Sant’Angelo, or Castle of the Holy Angel, was a mausoleum for emperor Hadrian. After archangel Michael appeared here in 590 and ended a plague, pope Pius II had a large bronze statue of the angels placed on top of the castle. The Castle of the Holy Angel was part of Rome's defences and offered a place where popes could shelter, as the Vatican was connected to it by a tunnel.

After a long day we made our PizzaRè was born in Naples, with over hundred years of tradition and experience in catering, offering hospitality, cordiality, merriment and good cuisine.

Day 3 October 18 Florence

Day trip to Florence we walked about 20 mins to the terminal for the speed train. Florence was about an hour away.

Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

Day 4 October 19 Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is the most popular park in Rome and is considered its green lung.

The Gardens cover an area of 80 hectares and were developed in 1606 by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who wanted to turn his former vineyard into the most extensive gardens built in Rome.

In the same period, the Cardinal commissioned the building of the Villa Borghese Pinciana to the architect Flaminio Ponzio; today this elegant building houses the Galleria Borghese, The gardens were completely redesigned in the naturalistic English style in XIX century and became a public park in 1903.

Access to the gardens is free. Perfect for a 3 year old to turn around while viewing amazing sculptures.

We stopped for some wine and prosecco at caffe del pinco, lovely Reaturant.

Day 5 October 20 Tuscany

We booked all day tour to Tuscany.

We visited Montepulciano which is a medieval hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy. Surrounded by vineyards, it’s known for its vino nobile red wine. The Torre di Pulcinella is a clock tower topped by a figure of the Pulcinella, a commedia dell’arte character. On the Piazza Grande is the 14th-century Palazzo Comunale, with a tower offering views of the surrounding countryside. Also here is the Duomo, with a huge triptych above its altar.

We made a stop at Abbazia di sant’antim. The Abbey of Sant’Antimo is one of my favorite religious destinations in Italy. It is so simple yet so stunningly beautiful — because of its simplicity. The church we see today was originally built in the 12th century.bIt’s old!! And it’s considered to be a masterpiece of Medieval architecture.

Our final stop Poggio IL Castellare were we had lunch and wine tasting!

The high quality of the wines produced in the Montalcino area was already known at the time of the Etruscans, who had developed active settlements on these small hills.

The name given to the company “Tenuta Poggio Il Castellare” brings us back to the historical roots of the place: the ruins of an ancient community with the remains of houses and towers on top of the hillock bearing the same name.

In Tuscany there are places that can tell you ancient stories. The Baroncini family already started producing wine in 1489. So, the business passed from father to son over 500 years and today, in Montalcino, Bruna and Samuele still produce wine, as if they wanted to prove that time cannot undermine traditions.

Day 6/7 Venice, Murano and Torcello Oct 21&22

We took a last minute trip to Venice booking an air b&b outside of the Venice which cost $75 for a night stay. To get to the air b&b we took the speed train to the Venice Mestre station. Then we took another the train to Quarto d'Altino. Which was 20 minutes was ride. The following morning we went to the station 5 mins away and took the train to Venice. When we arrived the Venice station we took a water taxi B line to the main attractions:

Piazza San Marco is the city's main public square and contains its most famous buildings such as St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Napoleon called it “the world's most beautiful drawing room”. Piazza San Marco is in the heart of Venice.

Palazzo ducale The Doge's Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice in northern Italy. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice. It was built in 1340 and extended and modified in the following centuries.

The Museo Correr is a museum in Venice, northern Italy. Located in St. Mark's Square, Venice, it is one of the 11 civic museums run by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia. The museum extends along the southside of the square on the upper floors of the Procuratorie Nuove

The “Ponte dei Sospiri” or “Bridge of Sighs” is an enclosed limestone bridge in baroque style located next to the Doge's Palace in Venice, Italy. It was commissioned by the Doge Marino Grimani, whose family coat-of-arms can be seen in the centre of the facade

Scala did Gigant Originally home to Venice's most powerful man, this Gothic masterpiece is one of the city's top attractions. St Mark's Basilica.

Venice: Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing. Discover some of the most famous islands of the Venetian Lagoon on this full-day boat tour. Travel with your guide through Venice Lagoon on a panoramic vessel and enjoy the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. glass-blowing demonstration with a glass master accompanied by a historical explanation of the craft.

Final stop Torcello. We Enjoyed a 1-hour visit to the island and visit historical landmarks such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Attila's Throne, the Devil's Bridge, and the Bell Tower. We where able to stop for some delicious tiramisu and espresso.

We then heading back to the Venice train station and took the speedy train back to Rome.

Day 8 Back to NY