Wow what a day! We are out in good time today and by 9.30 we are heading for the nearby station Due Ponti. Just 5 stops (which is just as well as the train was full and Tilly insisted on being picked up) and we arrive at our stop Flaminio and exit the station right onto Piazza del Popolo where amongst the construction works it looks as though they are preparing for a large event…..
From here we make our way up to Terrazza Del Pincio to enjoy breathtaking views across the city….
Continuing through the gardens with busts at every corner and some seemingly forgotten old buildings alongside others still cherished….
We make our way to Villa Borghese which I spend a while going around in circles looking for until I realise it is the name of the parkland rather than an actual building and there we happen upon the Temple of Aesculapius, a young woman is singing and playing the harp as a beautiful accompaniment to the boats floating by the Temple….
All the way are elevated views of the city carrying on its normal day….
We are grateful for this relatively peaceful hour of so wandering around the parks as we join the madness of the city below and approach the Spanish Steps….
Next up and equally as congested, without a chance of getting close is Trevi Fountain – in both cases Tilly has needed carrying through the crowds to prevent her getting squashed and from completely freaking out…
For a bit of a break from the crowds we walked to the nearest Hop on Hop off Big Bus stop (having purchased a 24hr ticket – which actually was a bit of a waste as we only did one small trip, choosing to walk the rest) and managed to secure the last seat upstairs in time to get an almost birds eye view of the amazing Colosseum….
Palatine Hill and Circus Maximus….
Before we alighted at the next stop to get a closer view of the remains of the Theatre de Marcellus and from there we walked up to Piazza del Campidoglio to look down on the reclamation site of the Roman Forum….
Passing by the Altare Della Patria, we started our walk through a series of cobbled alleyways winding our way through the city as a few minutes of light rain added a shine to the cobbles….
Arriving at the Pont Sant Angelo crossing the Tiber to Castel Sant Angelo….
And ultimately into the incredibly busy St Peter’s Square in the Vatican City…..
Crowds of people hoping for a Papal Address were queuing to get into the paid area, cheapskate that I am I took some photos and we left the crowds to it, enough business for us for one day, as we crossed the Tiber and made our way back to station and home….
An amazing day and experience and luckily the wet weather forecast stayed away. One tired pup put herself straight to bed when we got back!!!…
Today’s stats:
- Miles walked – 10
- Train – £2.98
- Bus Tour – £24.67
- O/N – £25.00
