Day three in Rome has produced both fatigue, awe, and a sense of beauty in the city. When I woke up this morning I just knew that today was going to be a rough day. I was a new form of tired and I kept hearing the rather large and high pitched horn of the ambulances racing down the city streets at all hours. Today we walked (and rode a subway) to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Located in the northern portion of Rome, the Spanish Steps was the first stop on our trip.
A famous place seen in numerous movies, the Spanish Steps are not actually Spanish. The square itself is actually named that because the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican is a block or two down the way from it. Even more surprising, is the fact that the only French church in Rome sits atop the steps. The place is kind of like a melting pot of historical Europe. You’re in Italy, with a French Church in front of you and a Spanish Embassy a few doors down. How convenient. The area around the Steps is also a popular meeting place that has numerous high end stores and restaurants where people meet up to hang out or shop.
Next up was the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain was gorgeous. The marble statues, rocks and crystal clear water made the entire thing look majestic. This had to have been my favorite part of the entire day. The fountain is made of marble, and it features three main statues. The middle and main statue on the fountain is the Roman God Neptune (which is Poseidon for you Greek knowledgable people). Beneath him are a couple pegasus, mermaid looking people, and horses. To the left, there is a woman holding a basket, which is to represent the fertility of the fountain. To the right, there is a woman holding a snake to represent the longevity of the fountain. Historically, the fountain was put in place so that the people of the surrounding area, were able to get a clean source of water. In today’s day and age, tourists flock to take in the sight and to throw coins over their shoulder. Sometimes it can mean returning to Rome in good health, other times it can be whatever you wish it to be.
Overall, today was an amazing day full of sights, information, walking, and new things. I had a lot of fun and cannot wait until we get to see some more.
Ciao!