Rome, the Eternal City

Yes, eventually we went on a short vacation, to Rome - our 25th trip to this fantastic city. And, we stayed in the same pensione as we did when we were archeology students, long time ago. The hotel is completely renovated and modernized and a great recommendation now (see below)! We just drifted along, mostly in the city, with two excursions: first, to Albano Laziale//Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) and Lago di Albano by train, and, second, to the Via Appia (by bus). Also, for the first time we attended a soccer game of AC Roma - which was great fun! - in the old Olympic Stadium. We ate a lot of ice cream and pizza, visited new markets and walked a total of about 75 miles in six days!

Following a couple of impressions without a whole lot of comments:

The Ara Pacis, "grave site"/altar of Augustus in a fantastic modern building of Richard Meier:

Aventino (Giardino degli Aranci) with a view towards St. Peter and the Capitolio:

The historic City Center with Circo Massimo, Fori Imperiali and Mercato Traiani



Some fountains - Fontana di Trevi as the most famous one:

Museo Barracco, Pantheon and Piramide


Piazza Navonna - an antique racetrack - and the Spanish Steps with Trinità dei Monti (it's forbidden to sit on the steps now!)


Mercati and food:

The Via Appia Antica (312 a.C) with some of the villas and gravesites there:


Roman neighborhoods: Testaccio and Trastevere:


Less idyllic, more touristic: Il Vaticano:

Soccer AC Roma:


Lago Albano:

And our hotel in Via Flavia - Hotel Nuova Monaco, a real good deal in a metropolis like Rome: clean, safe, moderately priced, in a historic palazzo in a typically Roman neighborhood, walking distance to old town. Operated by the same family since 1983 and recently renovated and modernized, rooms with TV, WLAN, A/C, fridge and coffee-maker for Euro 50-80 depending on season and day!!!