Chris & Kelly's Travel Adventures

While the lead photo bears a resemblence to the Colosseum, it is in fact much smaller and called Teatro Marcello (a theater found near Circus Maximus).

We spent this afternoon discovering a different section of Rome and found it generally more political than religious.  

The photo of the monument above is called the Alter of the Fatherland.  It has the nickname of Wedding cake due to multiple layers and its many many columns.  This monument also holds the tomb of Italy's unknown soldier.

While the church in the picture below is attractive, if you notice the column on the right side...this is Trajan's column.  It was built as story telling sculpture to describe the Trajan victory during the Dacian Wars.  The story is sculpted in a spiral wrapped around the column.   Very cool to look at, but I imagine a little difficult to read unless you are a giant or a bumble bee.  :)

While skirting the edge of the Roman Forum we came to Campidoglio.  This set of stairs, and square at the top were designed by Michelangelo.  The stairs are shallow and wide, but still quite a climb.  In the middle of the square is a sculpture of Marcus Aurelius on a horse.  Also at the back of the square is a fountain with 2 huge reclining figures. 

Teatro Marcello

This is Temple Maggiore or also called the Great Synagogue.  It is located in an area that was known as the Jewish ghetto.  Jewish history in Rome is not a nice one.  While I cannot give you many specifics, I can tell you that the Roman power did not want them there, so dedicated a part of the city... known for filth, flooding and generally being a undesirable place to live...for them exclusively.  As in later history (the holocaust) they were forced to live in a walled and locked section, wearing identifying marks and gave them no rights as citizens.  

Many years later, as Italian citizens the walls and gates were torn down and this Great Synagogue was built as a testament to their freedom.  It has a unique square shaped dome with beautiful rainbow colors.  There is a main floor with what looks like wooden desks (side chapels and balconies are for women, as Orthodox- men and women must sit separately and Chris was required to wear a yarmulke or kipper (head covering) in respect. 

It had a wonderful museum in the basement where we got to see ancient scrolls, jeweled mantles (which cover the Torah) and elaborately embroidered cloth. 

Dinner tonight is a restaurant known for its hand made pasta...and she made it right in front of us the entire time.  We enjoyed some mushrooms, peppers, carrots, zucchini and also green olives stuffed with meat and deep fried, also a nice big bowl of pasta carbonara.