You probably think we spent our entire week in Rome lolling about the garden at the de Russie.
Well, I'm not saying the thought didn't cross our minds...
But no. We were up bright and early on a Monday morning, and while we did have a lovely breakfast in the garden, it was a quick one. By the way, in Rome, they refer to oatmeal as "porridge":
But we had to be ready to go at 9:30 a.m. for our Rolling Rome golf cart tour. Our guide, Ilaria, was right on time, and off we zoomed.
I'd booked the tour via Viator on Tripadvisor at the suggestion of our travel agent, who said it was a must-do. She was right! Ilaria went head to head with the CE on matters of Roman history and culture for three hours (yes, my husband actually does think about the Roman Empire several times a week...) She was so knowledgeable and such a wonderful guide. Oh, and she navigated the crazy Rome traffic like a boss!
Among the highlights of our tour were a quick stop to nod at the Pantheon
on our way to peek inside the majestic Chiesa Sant'Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio.
Ilaria pointed out the faux interior dome. It absolutely looks 3D but it's just paint!
Jesuit artist Andrea Pozzo (1642-1719) was known for using the technique of quadratura to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on flat surfaces and this dome is considered to be his masterpiece.
A "peak" experience of the tour was a visit to Parco Savello, also known as Giardino degli Aranci (the Orange Garden) high up on Aventine Hill. This was a place we would never have known to go on our own. The park, surrounded by walls of a 13th century fortress, is lovely,
but it is the view overlooking the river that provides the WOW moment. See St. Peter's Basilica there in the center background?
We did a brief overlook of Circus Maximus, where preparations were underway for an equestrian event:
And then we paid a visit to Trajan's Column, where the CE and Ilaria had a long, gratifying discussion about all twelve Caesars. I guess it isn't just men who think about the Roman Empire...
Our three hours went by in a flash, and suddenly it was time for pranzo. Ilaria bid us a fond arrivederci dropped us off at a little place she recommended near our hotel on a cobblestoned strada. We replayed the morning's experience over proscuitto and risotto, a splash of Pinot Grigio and Cafè Americano's before heading back to - you guessed it - loll in the magical garden of the de Russie.
No comments:
Post a Comment