Our first full day in Rome was pretty special. For the first time since 1985, Rome was covered in a blanket of snow. The entire city shut down, and there were crowds of Romans and tourists alike frolicking in the cold, wet slush. It was hard not to enjoy the playful mood, but it WAS a bit jarring to see palm trees covered in snow!
Thankfully, some outdoor sights and several churches were open, including the structurally stunning Pantheon. Abby (a former architect major) could speak of the structural brilliance of this building, but I just thought it was cool, especially with the sunlight streaming through the hole at the top of the dome.
The ruins at the Roman Forum (adjacent to the Colosseum) were incredible to study as well.
I knew that the Vatican Museum had an impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts, but I didn't realize that Rome has it's own humble pyramid located at the junction of two ancient roads just outside the city walls.
We also spent a fascinating 45 minutes touring the catacombs of San Callisto, where over a half million Christian souls were buried from 200-500 A.D. We were again witness to the many remarkably preserved frescoes and tombs that are located on 4 floors underground across a 60 acre space. Several early popes and Saint Cecilia were buried here, but were later moved to St. Peter's at the Vatican to protect the bodies from barbarian raiders.
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