A day of fountains, churches, musical interludes, cats AND at last, the Pantheon is found

Thursday Jan 23, 2014

The grande tour continues.  This time a map is used to help ensure a more successful day.  The "Guide" is determined that she will provide a more productive sightseeing experience.

First stop the Trevi Fountain, after a quick check withe the Tourist Information office that we were on the right track.  It is the fountain of "Three Coins in a Fountain" fame from the movie Roman Holiday.  Legend has it that if you make a wish and toss a coin into the fountain you will return to Rome.  The name comes from "Tre" meaning 3 and "Via" meaning road, three roads meet at the Trevi Fountain.

Trevi Fountain

Coins are tossed!  Will they return??

At the fountain Cheryl and I got caught in the trap of the "complimentary" flower gift - we were both handed a rose "for you lovely lady", then were asked for a donation.  Bill indicated he would pay for both of them.  This prompted the giftor to give Cheryl 2 more roses "We have a live one here".  Cheryl now has 3 roses, Bill gives the giftor 1 Euro.  He apparently did not appreciate this as he promptly took back two of Cheryl's roses!!

Second stop was St Ignatius of Loyola Church, one of the top five churches to see.  It is most famous for it's fresco ceiling.

Third stop the Pantheon - today we found it, thanks to a map, and the excellent preparations of the "Tour Guide"

In front of the Pantheon

The dome showing the occulus

As viewed from the back

Now a little lunch.  We ate lunch on the plaza of the Pantheon.  It was Rheaume and Cheryl's first al fresco meal in Rome, hopefully the weather will improve and we will have more.  We were fortunate to be able to listen to a guitarist who was playing in the square in front of our restaurant.

Al fresco lunch outside the Pantheon

Guitarist adding a musical note to our luncheon

Next stop Santa Marie Sophra in Minerva church.  I love this church for two reasons.  First off, from the outside this does not appear to be a church, only the small sign to the right of the door gives it away.  And secondly, it has the greatest base for an obelisk out front, that I have ever seen.  It's and elephant.

Santa Maria Sophra in Minerva

Ceiling of Santa Maria Sophra

Finally it was time to make our way home, but we had one more stop to make, next to our bus stop.  The Cat Sanctuary.  At the site of an archaeological excavation is a private Cat Sanctuary.  They rescue stray and injured cats in the city.  They currently have about 250 felines in their care,  The animals are nursed back to health, spayed, neutered and generally cared for by a group of volunteers who do all this with donations received.

Site of the Cat Sanctuary

One of the many residents of the Sanctuary

Now it is off to home to make a big pot of soup for supper and then get an early night.  By all accounts it was a good day