Roman Holiday

Rome is such a beautifully photogenic place...full of bright colored buildings with shuttered windows and flower boxes, winding cobblestone streets, lively Plazas with stunning fountains, and architecture, art, and ancient ruins everywhere you look. The city feels more alive then anywhere I think I have ever visited.







I could have spent the entire time photographing the Tiber river that runs through the center of the city. The bridges spanning it are all adorned with sculptures, adorable light posts, and bricked arches that match the ancient architecture of the city.







The ancient sites and architecture are truly spectacular. It is so amazing to learn about the ancient history and civilization as you walk through the sites themselves. Cory loved seeing the buildings up close that he had studied and used for reference so often.







And of course, the art at the Vatican. Gazing up at Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel, seeing the enormous collection of marble sculpture, and the giant frescoes by Raphael was a special experience. I actually wasn't even that excited about visiting the Vatican beforehand - but the art there just absolutely takes your breath away (even if it is sometimes hard to see amidst the massive crowds that are shuffling through the narrow corridors).







No trip to Rome could possibly be complete without visiting a few of its staggering amount of cathedrals and crypts. The sheer size of St.Peters, the intricacy of some of the alters, the mind-blowing age of some of the buildings - and of course some of the totally bizarre and disturbing crypts (the last picture is of one in particular where they bury - and display - monks).







Of course the highlight for me was the food and Gelato. I have been cooking nothing but Italian food since I left! The best ice cream I have ever had in my life is the last photo - from a place near the Trevi Fountain called San Crispino. Try the Meringue.