Rome-
Colisseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill

The Colisseum is one of those "must-see" sights of Rome. It was completed in 80 A.D.
for gladiatorial and other sporting games, and was the largest arena in the Roman Empire.
Pillaged during the Middle Ages for its marble and stone, what remains is still imposing.

Near to the Colisseum is the Triumphal Arch of Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor.

A bit further along is the Triumphal Arch of Titus, the Roman Emperor who conquered Jerusalem
(and whose soldiers are shown carrying off a great candelabra and other valuable items from the Jewish Temple).

These Triumphal Arches begin the Roman Forum, the name given to ancient Rome's "downtown" that held its
public buildings: temples, law courts, senate house, as well as many of its businesses. All are now in ruins.

In the Senate House (reconstructed in modern times) was an interesting temporary exhibit about the Emperor Nero.

On one side of the Roman Forum is the Palatine Hill, where the Roman Emperors had their palaces.
(In fact, we derive our word "palace" from this name of the hill where the emperors lived.)

On the other side of the Roman Forum is the Imperial Forum, an extension of the "downtown" made necessary
as Rome became the capital of its vast empire. Still standing from antiquity is the Triumphal Column of Trajan,
built to commemorate his conquest of Dacia (modern Rumania), seen in the center of the photo on the bottom left
and now topped with a modern statue of Saint Peter. Beyond the Imperial Forum are more "recent" structures:
a renaissance church (bottom left) and the Roman headquarters of the medieval Knights of Rhodes (bottom right).

 

Click here to see more photos from our time in Rome.