Rome Post Script -- these are the photographic adventures on our three extra days in Rome. We revisited some places we had been and went to some new places.
Day One visits: St. John Lateran; Basilica di S. Clementi; The Colosseum, The Roman Forum
Day Two; St. Peter's, S. Ignazio, Piazza della Porta Maggiore, S. Croce in Gerusalumme, S. Prassede
Day Three: Piazza del Populo, Cerasi Chapel, S. Maria del Popolo, Capitoline Hill, Senators' Palace, Basilica Di S. Pudenziana
JT### always refers to a page citation to Judith Testa's very informative book, "Rome is Love Spelled Backward".

The Papal coronation actually takes place here at St. John Lateran. It is the Rome Cathedral and the home of the Bishop of Rome. It was a quick three-stop metro ride for us, but involves an elaborate procession from the Vatican for a new Pope. JT91. Here and St. Peter's were the only churches where our tripod was ruled out of place. I had to find a ledge in the back to get the bean-bag interior above. These were tricky to do since it was necessary to eliminate moving persons in the foreground. Note the stone statues lining the interior. One of them had a face-like image on it and it resembled a similar mask we saw on a statue in St. Peter's.

I believe this is part of the ceiling. The guide there explained that this was like an autograph since it was a resemblance of the sculptor. Could this be the same here?

After visiting St. John Lateran, we walked up Giovanni in Laterano toward the Colosseum, but we decided first to visit Basilica di S. Clementi. It was hard to find since its exterior in totally unspectacular. But inside, we were rewarded with a spectacular experience. The top layer shown below is a medieval church built in the early 1100's, but after paying a small fee, one can tour the lower levels.

The beautiful interior of the top level of the Basilica. Below is an enlargement of the unusual "living cross" from which grows a vine symbolizing the redemptive power of Christ. The center photo is the ceiling fresco of S. Clemente.

The second layer,seen above, was only discovered in 1857 when Fr. Joseph Mullooly, the abbot of S. Clemente, determined from the architectural style that another older church must be below. This one dated back to the fourth century.

But the picture to the far right and below depicts the astonishing third layer of S. Clemente which dates back to the first century, A.D. walking through this space is simply fantastic. It clearly represented the level of Rome at the time of Clemente. These are the Mithraic rooms which are part of the Roman house of Titus Flavius Clemens. It burned to the ground in 64 A.C. in the fire that Nero tried to blame on the Christians. You can hear and see water rushing in the lower level, either from a spring or the remains of an ancient aqueduct. There is so much more to this exciting and rarely visited place not discussed here but fully described in JT 109-117.

This ruin-type landscape was here in 1992 as well.

These were the only two photos we took this time.

We took these two pictures in 1992 when we toured Rome last. I'm not sure if they are brown from age or if there was a serious drought in that year. We took the tour of the interior of the Colosseum then and were told all about the floor that used to be here, and how those compartments were for the wild animals that came out during performances to eat the poor persons in the show. I guess there is no real evidence that they tortured Christians. I read that recently, they put on a modern show here with a new floor. I hope they cleaned up the act a bit.

We tried to enter the forum at the entry point described in JT, but failed. This is an over arching view of the forum taken near the road.

What's left of the Temples of Saturn and Concord.

What remains of the Temple of the Deified Caesar, built in 31 B.C. The three column is what's left of the Temple of the Castores.

The Arch of Septimius Severus on the right. The low platform on its right is the Rostra where orators would preach. This is the origin of our word "Rostrum".

The left and

right detail on the arch.

This is Via Sacra, or Sacred Way.

A very interesting brickwork, eroded over the years.

The Arch of Titus, which was built to commemorate the defeat of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Detail of Arch of Titus showing the spoils of Jerusalem.

Detail on the other panel.

Exiting the Roman Forum walking back to the colessiem.

Arch of Constantine

And so, we finish Sunday, DAY ONE of our extension. That picture on the left is one Judy Testa probably never saw. It is the sparkling new addition to the train, Bus and Metro station and was done just for Jubilee 2000. We have some other pictures of the lower level which is a gigantic mall. We have the pictures despite a security guard telling us that taking pictures in the station is not allowed. Now, I can understand places like St. Peter's, but a Train Station? Come ON!