marisrislikessparkles: Back to Old Rome! (But Different)

Today was a spontaneous day. We went back to Old Rome, and while we were walking to Saint Peter's prison, I found my ride.

We went to Trajan's Colunm and Trajan's forum. The clash of ancient and modern Rome is kind of funny, because part of the forum has been converted into apartments or office space or some thing, so there are lights coming out of an ancient building.

The column has a series of reliefs carved into it that depict the victories of the emperor Trajan of Rome.

We also found ourselves right next to the military museum. It was really impressive. And the architecture was on point!

Around Trajan's market and forum are other Roman ruins. It's right across from the Coliseum and on the other side of the Roman Forum.

We also went to the place where Saint Peter was imprisonned.

Travel tip

We didn't get to explore as much of the prison as I would have liked. The audio tour is free, but it was okay. It told us less about Peter and more about he history of the building and surrounding area. It was really dramatic, almost over the top. It's right next to the military museum, which is mostly free as well. You can climb up a bunch of stairs to get a good view, and there is also a cafe on the same level. For €7 per person you can take an elevator to the very top of the building. We didn't, but the view from the level we were at was nice.

After that we saw the Pantheon!!! It was commissioned and also partially designed by the emperor Hadrian, originally as a pagan temple. Now it's a Christian one. It is huge and super cool!!!

The square things are called coffers, and they used to be line with bronze, but now the bronze exists as the Baldacchino of Saint Peter at Saint Peters Basilica. The hole at the top is called an occulus, and it was designed to line up with the sun. Also, it doesn't get wet when it rains because the rain doesn't fall vertically. It's pretty nifty.