Once outside, we passed by the giant Egyptian obelisk (that once sat inside the Circus Maximus), and

Still weary from a big day of sightseeing yesterday, we awoke today for our second day of touring in Rome. Everyone was excited after the impression Rome left on us yesterday, and so we again loaded up our cameras, filled our canteens, and hooked up our radios cruising tips (an essential item when touring in Rome) before boarding our coach for the morning.
After only a few minutes on the coach, we made our first stop for the day the Circus Maximus. This ancient stadium is said to have had capacity for between 150,000 250,000 spectators, who would come to watch the chariot races, gladiator contests, athletics, plays, religious ceremonies, and even executions. It is also thought that in this very site, most of the early Christian martyrdom occurred here. At over 600 metres in length and 120 metres wide, it would certainly have been a site in its day.
At this point the rain returned, so we made our way back to the coach for the next stop the Altare della Patria. Called the wedding cake type writer by the locals, this huge structure was completed in 1925 in honour cruising tips of Victor Emmanuel (the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century), and today is also a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the world wars. Nearby we also saw Trajen s forum and column a huge 42m column cruising tips with over 2500 images carved into it.
At this stage the heaven s really opened cruising tips up, so under the cover of umbrella and rain jackets, we made our way to the first church for the day The Church of Jesus. We arrived at the church one person cruising tips short, and remained so for the rest of the day. So far in Rome, we ve lost one per day, but found them every afternoon! Easy to do in Rome. Built during the 16th century, this was the first, and considered the mother church of the Jesuit order. What we had come to see here were two very interesting statues. The first was a statue depicting the churches victory of the pagan religions of its day. The second cruising tips however, and relevant to our tour, was the treading down of the reformers Luther, Calvin, Zwingli by the church for their heresy. While history attests to the truth of the first, I think the statue of the second is far more optimistic.
With the sunshine back out in force, we made our way back into the streets, crossed cruising tips the famous Tiber river, and stopped for lunch (admiring the parallel parking along the way). A few gelato s later the coach arrived, and we were now on our way to the famous Catacombs of Rome.
Throughout the city of Rome there is reported to be over 900km of tunnels under the city, where from as early as the first century, Christians began to bury there dead. The soft clay under Rome made for easy tunnelling, and in many places the tunnels are four levels deep. The ones we were at were 12km in length, and contained the remains of over 100,000 people. The air was incredibly cool as we entered the tunnels, and there was a certain creepiness about walking past the graves of untold dead. Thankfully after 30 minutes we all came out alive!
From there we now made our way to one of the most important sites for the protestant reformation the Scala Sancta the stairs ascended by Martin Luther himself in 1511, and where he is said to have had the revelation from God that would become the turning point of his life. The stairs are said to be the very ones from Pilate s praetorium, and are to this day ascended by the faithful on their knees, who believe they will be absolved of sin and win merit with God by the climb.
Once outside, we passed by the giant Egyptian obelisk (that once sat inside the Circus Maximus), and entered into the St. John s Baptistry said to be the place the emperor Constantine was baptised into the Christian cruising tips faith. The baptistry itself appears to be a giant marble bathtub, meaning if Constantine was baptised here, he went all the way under!
cruising tips Outside cruising tips again, but only next door to the baptistry, we now entered into a church thats calls itself the ecumenical cruising tips mother church , and is the official ecclesiastical cruising tips seat of the Pope himself The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. One of the unique feautures of this church are 12 huge statues of the disciples of Jesus, that as far as statues go are awesome. Much like St. Peters this church contains many huge shrines, and is covered with exquisite frescoes, on the walls and ceiling. Its one of those churches that just makes you want to sit and stare for a while!
It was now time for our final stop of the day. We were all quite tired, but our guide Judy assured us it was worth it and boy was she right.  We now made our way to the Basilica of St. Pauls outside the wall. Built over the traditional site of Paul s tomb, this basilica was in the last century almost completely rebuilt, after almost burning down in 1823. (giving it a very modern feel) Inside this massive basilica is a unique feature portraits of every pope who has every been. At this stage there are only 7 spaces left wonder if that means something!
Enjoying your history pics about Rome! Can feel you re loving it Ben- it s an amazing cruising tips place isn t it! Hope you had a wonderful Sabbath. Glad the sunshine reappeared, makes for easier traveling. Love mum xx