Around Florence...

We finally ventured inside the Duomo and hiked to the top of it! It's 463 steps to the top (not to mention the way back down.) It was pretty frightening...the steps are barely big enough and quite curvy. But, that view from the top made it all worth it.

Literally, you can see ALL of Florence from up there. I need to go up there more often just to understand the layout of Florence.

Roomies

I spy Santa Croce

Father & Daughter

I was lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with Lisa's parents while they were here! We had a lot of good times - Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Lombardi for truly one of the best weekends yet (since I know you read this!) Hope you both had as good a time as I did!

Tarquinia, Cerveteri, Rome 2.26-2.27

On Saturday, we took a day trip to two ancient Etruscan cities to explore tombs with my Etruscans and Romans class. Unfortunately, the bus driver got lost, resulting in the cancellation of the third place we were supposed to go and turning the 3 hour ride into 4 hours. It really didn't even matter though because the two places we were able to see were amazing!

Tarquinia

This shows how high up we were - it was incredibly windy.

The tombs in Tarquinia were built up to look like little houses, but the actual tomb was underground. They were very plain inside, but had intricate frescos that resembled ancient egyptian drawing.

Cerveteri

This was easily my favorite of the two places we visited - kind of secret garden-esque. Our teacher lectured for a little and then let us loose to explore and climb. These tombs were really amazing - instead of being built up from the ground, they were carved out. So, the top of the tombs are where the ground used to be, and the Etruscans carved these tombs out of the solid bedrock. Some of them even look like they were built with separate blocks of stone, but this was done solely for looks.

Tons of cats everywhere!

These tombs went straight underground.

This is the inside of one - they carved beds for the bodies to sit! Some of them were very intricately carved, with pillows, pets, and hanging tools that could come in handy in the next world.

Lisa and me at the entrance to one of the tombs

I climbed on top of one of the biggest tombs!

From above

127 minutes! (not hours) I got my finger stuck in a hole of one of the tombs and had to cut it off.

Amazing tree

Carla inspires us to hug trees

Rome

After Cerveteri, I went to Rome with Lisa and her parents just for a little while. When we got there, we had dinner and then went to the Trevi Fountain and threw in a coin!

Pretty awesome hotel that we stayed in...not really what we're used to in Florence!

Went to the Vatican the next day...unfortunately it was really cold and rainy so there wasn't a lot we could do outside.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica

At the Borghese Gardens again - my favorite place in Rome!

Romaaa 2.18-2.19

Rome - another place in which I wouldn't mind living. It was so warm and sunny the whole time we were there which made our stay even more amazing. In Rome, you can just be walking along and you'll come across some kind of incredible ancient building/architecture/ruin, and I can see how it would never get old. I took a train early morning friday and stayed through saturday evening...wish I could have stayed longer and am looking forward to heading back in a month with my parents!

The Vatican/Vatican Museum

First stop was the Vatican Museum - this is the Belvedere Courtyard (Courtyard of the Pinecone) by Bramante. The ancient bronze pinecone fountain gives it the name.

The rotating bronze sphere at the center of the courtyard - really neat sculpture. It's not that I don't remember the name....it's really called "Sphere."

Lacoon and his sons

Belvedere Courtyard

Inside the Vatican Museum

Looking down the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museum - the walls were lined with old maps and the ornate ceiling seemed to go on forever.

Raphael's School of Athens painting

The Sistine Chapel (photography is VERY discouraged/illegal but luckily I am verrry sneaky.) It's got a lot of hype, but it didn't disappoint.

St. Peter's Basilica

It's even larger than the Duomo in Florence! It's amazing.

Outside the Vatican

Colosseum

Another one of those places that just doesn't disappoint. It's unbelieveably beautiful, I could have stayed and explored for the rest of the day.

my panoramic skills

The Ancient Walk

A walk through ancient Rome - we covered The Roman Forum, Capitoline Hill and the Pantheon.

Assorted ancient things

Pantheon

Rome has amazing food! I had pizza twice while I was there...which is a lot considering I was there for a day and a half. This one had zucchini and prosciutto.

And also...amazing gelato. Apparently there is a gelato place (not this one, another one that was down the street) from where Obama has gelato shipped to the US for his daughters. I'm going there next time.

One of the many fountains throughout Rome. Unfortunately I didn't make it to the Trevi Fountain but hopefully I will before I leave Italy!

Villa Borghese/Gallery - a gorgeous villa-turned gallery that was once the home to Pope Paul V and his incredible art collection. Unfortunately I was unable to take photos inside, but not only is the collection extensive, the villa itself and the architecture and interior is just amazing.

Right outside the Villa Borghese gardens - unbelieveably beautiful and seemingly never-ending. Unfortunately after I went to the Borghese Gallery there wasn't enough time for me to explore the gardens - I had to grab my train back home to Florence.

Another shot of the outskirts of the Borghese Gardens - wish I could have had a few hours to just explore.

Rome really is an incredible place - much more of a city than Florence and much larger. DEFINITELY not overrated!