20240922 – Rome: Today was jampacked with all sorts of sites. And we went from quiet streets to mobs and hordes in the city center. Left hotel about 9:00 and got back around 4:30.
First stop was Coppede district. Wonderful architecture. Was a planned community from the 1920s. Each building different. Big fountain in central piazza. Really nice to wander around and look.
Next stop was Villa Torlonia where Mussolini lived for 20 years. The Torlonia family lived in a very eclectic house, the Casina, at this estate. Also, lots of fake ruins on the property. Mussolini had his own bunker there which we understand was decorated. Interesting estate for sure. Time for espresso and pastry.
From a relaxed atmosphere, we were dropped near the Spanish Steps and the zillions of people everywhere. Hard to walk through the crowds. On the way to the Trevi Fountain, Alfredo took us though a high-class shopping mall, down several levels, to see the ruins of the aqueduct that feeds the fountain. Then walked to the Trevi Fountain. Another zillion people. Worked around to try to get images through the crowd. Was fun to compare this experience with the pictures I had of when Marian and I were here in 1962.
Left the mayhem and walked to Santa Maria della Pace with its Raphael frescos. Next lunch at Da Francesco for a great meal. Then several blocks to get our tickets for the Pantheon. The area in front of the Pantheon was filled with people trying to get tickets or waiting with tickets to go inside. Hard to describe in these areas just how many people there were. Got in line and went inside. I had not been inside since 1962, and then there were not these huge crowds. Walked around taking images.
Back outside, the five of us met, walked to a nearby piazza and took Uber back to hotel. At 7:00 we headed to Taverna Angelica. This is a very special restaurant with unusual food and fun menu. Really recommend this place. While we ate, Alan provided us with some art history related to our visit to the Vatican tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be our last day for this adventure.
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