13.11.10 Vatican & Rome

great weather today. first stop, into another country - the vatican city.
the Vatican Obelisk & St. Peter’s Square.  long queue to enter the Basilica.

the Vatican Obelisk

St. Peter's Basilica

at St. Peter's Square

the majestic columns

the swiss guards on duty

inside The Basilica.  it just looks familiar (yes, you watched the movie angels & demons right?)

you watched the scene from angels & demon.  well, below is actually the tomb of St. Peter.

Michelangelo's Pietà is one of the Vatican's best known artworks

the dome of the Basilica

next stop, The Colosseum.  read about in books, saw in on tv but seeing the real thing it just feels (different).

the wonder of history

the Arch of Constantine (Italian: Arco di Costantino) is a triumphal arch in Rome, situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. It was erected to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312. 

The Supreme Court of Cassation (Italian: Corte Suprema di Cassazione)

View of Tiber River on Ponte Umberto I

afternoon its free & easy time to explore.  walking towards the pantheon.

pretty buildings around the historical sites

Yes, this is the Pantheon. The Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" but informally known as "Santa Maria Rotonda."

The Pantheon's dome with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. It's still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.

At Piazza Venezia, we see The Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II) or Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) or "Il Vittoriano" is a monument to honour Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy, located in Rome, Italy.

Next stop, we are at Piazza Navona

Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune).

this is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or "Fountain of the Four Rivers"

this is the fountain whereby the assassin drops the fourth cardinal, Cardinal Baggia, weighted down, into the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Film - Angels & Demons).

enjoying the evening atmosphere of nice food, nice weather, nice view & street musician.

btw, you can actually give a big note to the musician and tell he will give you a change for the difference. you don't have to pay exact! i don't think this will work in Singapore.