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Rome, Italy 2010

Here are photos of Rome only, but other galleries cover the rest of our first European adventure to Florence, Venice, Nice (France) and Paris. There is a lot of impressive detail in the ceiling artwork of the Vatican, so be sure to move your cursor to the right side of the large photo and select "original" to appreciate them fully.This gallery focuses on structures because that is a lot of the preserved history of Rome. None of the indoor photos were taken using a tripod-they are not allowed. I used a small bean bag and held it to a pew, rope stanchion or wall, and many shots were totally free-hand held such as all of those inside St. Peter's Basilica. This was a walking tour of ancient Rome with an ambitious schedule. There was often no time to brace the camera against any object, so I took multiple shots in succession to try and get a clear one. (Placing the shutter on two second delay and holding your breath helps steady the camera.) Lighting was often quite dim, and some of the totally hand held exposures were 1/5 second in duration at ISO 400. No Rome churches were on the Globus tour schedule except St. Peter's Basilica. The other church photos, and all of the night exposures, were done on side journeys my wife and I conducted by ourselves based on prior research, or were pointed out in passing by our tour guide who thoughtfully catered to my interest in the Church's interiors.
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  • Colosseum

    Colosseum

  • Ancient Roman ruins near the Victor Emmanuel Monument. What is that dome in the background?, Why, it's the Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano, of course--but I am sure you knew that.

    Ancient Roman ruins near the Victor Emmanuel Monument. What is that dome in the background?, Why, it's the Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano, of course--but I am sure you knew that.

  • Victor Emmanuel Monument, a massive marble structure erected in honor of the Italian leader who was the first Italian king when the diverse provinces of the region were united into the country of Italy in the mid 1800's. It has been sacastically tagged as the "Wedding Cake" by skeptics who were upset at its cost, size, lavish use of superb marble, and the fact that it covers (rather permanently) a big section of ancient Rome not well explored archeologically.

    Victor Emmanuel Monument, a massive marble structure erected in honor of the Italian leader who was the first Italian king when the diverse provinces of the region were united into the country of Italy in the mid 1800's. It has been sacastically tagged as the "Wedding Cake" by skeptics who were upset at its cost, size, lavish use of superb marble, and the fact that it covers (rather permanently) a big section of ancient Rome not well explored archeologically.

  • Plaza de Repubblica, 3 blocks from our Hotel Mediterraneo. It frames a Kamikaze traffic circle like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, although not quite as frightening.

    Plaza de Repubblica, 3 blocks from our Hotel Mediterraneo. It frames a Kamikaze traffic circle like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, although not quite as frightening.

  • Santa Maria Maggiore Church, 2 blocks from our hotel. The impressive exterior is upstaged by the artwork inside. This is a World Heritage site constructed during the reign of Pope Sixtus from 400 to 432 AD.

    Santa Maria Maggiore Church, 2 blocks from our hotel. The impressive exterior is upstaged by the artwork inside. This is a World Heritage site constructed during the reign of Pope Sixtus from 400 to 432 AD.

  • North entrance to Santa Maria Maggiore church

    North entrance to Santa Maria Maggiore church

  • One of the 12 foot high cast doors to Santa Maria Maggiore Church, north entrance

    One of the 12 foot high cast doors to Santa Maria Maggiore Church, north entrance

  • Prayer room in Santa Maria Maggiore. Click on photo and select original size for more detail.

    Prayer room in Santa Maria Maggiore. Click on photo and select original size for more detail.

  • Santa Maria Maggiore Church

    Santa Maria Maggiore Church

  • Santa Maria Maggiore Church

    Santa Maria Maggiore Church

  • Santa Marie Maggiore Church

    Santa Marie Maggiore Church

  • Santa Maria Maggiore Church

    Santa Maria Maggiore Church

  • Santa Maria Maggiore Church

    Santa Maria Maggiore Church

  • Santa Maria Maggiore Church

    Santa Maria Maggiore Church

  • Ice cream shops were everywhere-occasionally less than 100 yards apart. Gelati, as it is called, is homemade style, a bit icy and extremely cold. Every bite is packed with flavor, free of preservatives and gums, and every bit as good as the legendary Blue Bell ice cream of Texas.

    Ice cream shops were everywhere-occasionally less than 100 yards apart. Gelati, as it is called, is homemade style, a bit icy and extremely cold. Every bite is packed with flavor, free of preservatives and gums, and every bit as good as the legendary Blue Bell ice cream of Texas.

  • Original entrance to the Vatican-no longer used.

    Original entrance to the Vatican-no longer used.

  • Some of our Globus tour buds are shown here as we entered the Vatican. August 2, 2010

    Some of our Globus tour buds are shown here as we entered the Vatican. August 2, 2010

  • Oval ceiling frescoe in the Vatican

    Oval ceiling frescoe in the Vatican

  • The endless detail and quality of the art work in the Vatican is astounding.

    The endless detail and quality of the art work in the Vatican is astounding.

  • St. Peter's Basilica- perhaps the most awe-inspiring room I have ever been in.

    St. Peter's Basilica- perhaps the most awe-inspiring room I have ever been in.

  • Vatican

    Vatican

  • Vatican ceiling designs are beyond words.

    Vatican ceiling designs are beyond words.

  • Vatican ceiling detail.

    Vatican ceiling detail.

  • Vatican ceiling

    Vatican ceiling

  • Untitled photo
  • Vatican ceiling

    Vatican ceiling

  • Vatican ceiling

    Vatican ceiling

  • Hall of tapestries-Vatican. As was often the case, I was lagging behind my tour group, shown here.

    Hall of tapestries-Vatican. As was often the case, I was lagging behind my tour group, shown here.

  • Vatican ceiling

    Vatican ceiling

  • Vatican ceiling

    Vatican ceiling

  • The Vatican has many rooms. All are palacial in decor.

    The Vatican has many rooms. All are palacial in decor.

  • Vatican- a front porch like no other.

    Vatican- a front porch like no other.

  • Vatican porch ceiling

    Vatican porch ceiling

  • entrance to St. Peter's Basilica

    entrance to St. Peter's Basilica

  • Sanctuary in St. Peter's Basilica

    Sanctuary in St. Peter's Basilica

  • Huge dome of St. Peter's Basilica

    Huge dome of St. Peter's Basilica

  • The arena-sized scale of this wondrous hall is hard to grasp. Click on the original size photo and notice the pencil-thin black lines on the left parapet and inside the dome below the huge windows. These are full size handrails. The blue letters around the base of the dome are 7 feet high, according to our special Vatican tour director. Moving several steps barely changes the perspective angle of the top of the dome.

    The arena-sized scale of this wondrous hall is hard to grasp. Click on the original size photo and notice the pencil-thin black lines on the left parapet and inside the dome below the huge windows. These are full size handrails. The blue letters around the base of the dome are 7 feet high, according to our special Vatican tour director. Moving several steps barely changes the perspective angle of the top of the dome.

  • The altar

    The altar

  • super wide angle view

    super wide angle view

  • Extremely detailed side chambers compliment the main hall of the Vatican.

    Extremely detailed side chambers compliment the main hall of the Vatican.

  • No surface in the Vatican has escaped special treatment.

    No surface in the Vatican has escaped special treatment.

  • This is a different oval dome than the previous photo.

    This is a different oval dome than the previous photo.

  • Vatican side chamber

    Vatican side chamber

  • Front of Vatican from main Plaza

    Front of Vatican from main Plaza

  • Arch of Constantine in front of the Colosseum

    Arch of Constantine in front of the Colosseum

  • Ancient ruins of the Forum

    Ancient ruins of the Forum

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    Victor Emmanuel Monument, a massive marble structure erected in honor of the Italian leader who was the first Italian king when the diverse provinces of the region were united into the country of Italy in the mid 1800's. It has been sacastically tagged as the "Wedding Cake" by skeptics who were upset at its cost, size, lavish use of superb marble, and the fact that it covers (rather permanently) a big section of ancient Rome not well explored archeologically.
    Plaza de Repubblica, 3 blocks from our Hotel Mediterraneo. It frames a Kamikaze traffic circle like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, although not quite as frightening.
    Santa Maria Maggiore Church, 2 blocks from our hotel. The impressive exterior is upstaged by the artwork inside. This is a World Heritage site constructed during the reign of Pope Sixtus from 400 to 432 AD.