Day 4- 12/8

Today we started with mass at THE MAIN ALTER AT ST. PETER'S BASILICA!!!!!!!! IT WAS AMAZING.

 

Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, ordered the building of a basilica on Vatican Hill. The location was symbolic: this was the place where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, was buried in 64 A.D. A small shrine already existed on the site but it was replaced by this new church, completed around 349 A.D.

The building itself is truly impressive. The largest church in the world, it has a 218 meter long nave. The basilica's dome is the world's largest measuring 42m in diameter and reaching 138 meter high. The interior, which includes 45 altars, is decorated by many famous artists. Some of the most important works in the church are the Pietà by Michelangelo, the papal altar by Bernini, the Throne of St. Peter - also by Bernini - and the Monument to the Stuarts by Canova.

 We also climbed to the top of St. Peter's Dome to see the best view of Rome (all 551 steps). 

The Swiss Guards

Near the entrance of the Basilica you will probably encounter some of the famous Swiss guards. Since 1506 when Pope Julius II invited Helvetian soldiers to join the small Vatican army, they have been the guards of the Vatican and the pope in particular. All entrants to the army must be Swiss, Catholic and they must take the oath of loyalty to the Pope. This oath is taken May 26th, to commemorate the sacking of Rome on the same day in 1527 when Swiss guards protected Pope Clement VII during his escape to Castel Sant'Angelo. Of the 189 guards, only 42 survived.  

The first stopafter that is the Sistine Chapel. It will be very crowded and the hall leading to the Chapel will also be wall to wall people. Watch out for each other and make sure your money, bags and wallet are being carried safely.

After spending half the day At St. Peters we went on a trip around rome seeing the major sites.

The Circus Maximus was occasionally used for events such as processions or gladiator combats, but on most days only chariot races were held here. The races themselves were wildly popular with people fanatically supporting one of the four factions: red, white, green and blue representing summer, winter, spring and autumn respectively. Bets were laid on one of the factions and supporters of the different factions often clashed, sometimes resulting in deaths among the spectators. The last race at the Circus Maximus was held in AD 549, almost a millennium after the first races were held at this location. Today only the layout of the original circus can be seen in what is now a large grassland. Most of the original structure has been used as building material for medieval and Renaissance constructions.

The Roman Forum was so looted for building materials during late antiquity and the Middle Ages that there appears, at first sight, to be little left. The Roman Forum was not simply the core of an ancient city; for many it was the centre of the universe. From the birth of the empire under Augustus in 31BC, and for nearly 500 years thereafter, Rome ruled most of what we call the civilised world. From Scotland to the Sahara, from Gibraltar to the Euphrates, the Roman Empire was in control. It ruled from here, these five acres controlling the known world, setting in place legal and military systems, and giving the word ‘forum’ to our language as a place of debate, discussion and decision. It was to the Forum that Julius Caesar moved his residence in 45BC. It was the main marketplace, the business district and the town hall. It was the seat of government and the law courts.

The Circus Maximus was occasionally used for events such as processions or gladiator combats, but on most days only chariot races were held here. The races themselves were wildly popular with people fanatically supporting one of the four factions: red, white, green and blue representing summer, winter, spring and autumn respectively. Bets were laid on one of the factions and supporters of the different factions often clashed, sometimes resulting in deaths among the spectators. The last race at the Circus Maximus was held in AD 549, almost a millennium after the first races were held at this location. Today only the layout of the original circus can be seen in what is now a large grassland. Most of the original structure has been used as building material for medieval and Renaissance constructions.

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was so looted for building materials during late antiquity and the Middle Ages that there appears, at first sight, to be little left. The Roman Forum was not simply the core of an ancient city; for many it was the centre of the universe. From the birth of the empire under Augustus in 31BC, and for nearly 500 years thereafter, Rome ruled most of what we call the civilised world. From Scotland to the Sahara, from Gibraltar to the Euphrates, the Roman Empire was in control. It ruled from here, these five acres controlling the known world, setting in place legal and military systems, and giving the word ‘forum’ to our language as a place of debate, discussion and decision. It was to the Forum that Julius Caesar moved his residence in 45BC. It was the main marketplace, the business district and the town hall. It was the seat of government and the law courts.

We also went to the Trevi fountain, Th Piazza Novana andThe Spainish Steps.

Off to Assissi, Bye for now.

Declan