We've now seen a protest and a parade there, and traffic not move at all. Luckily, we caught a bus to the train station. They had some breakfast, before we got on the metro to Piazza Spagna. We then somehow had to walk to the Borghese Gallery, and didn't really know how to get there. We eventually ended up in the Villa Borghese, before making our way to the Borghese Gallery.
It's a pretty nice and straight forward walk to the museum actually. We got in line, our reservations went through no problem, and we had to wait a few minutes before entering. We started at the picture gallery, because everyone starts on the bottom where more of the famous works are. There was some cool stuff, the highlight up there was probably a portrait of Pope Julius II by Raphael, or his Disposition painting. After we cruised through the top, we went to the bottom floor. Here there is a bunch of famous Bernini statues and stuff. Some cool stuff were like the Rape of Persophone, these ancient Gladiator floor mosaics, and the room dedicated to Caravaggio paintings. His David and Goliath painting is amazing, dark, gruesome, and it looks like Hugh Jackman was beheaded. I also like his painting of Saint Jerome in his study, the skull in the painting is just so dark.
After this, we went to Piazza Spagna, and walked up Via del Corso to find some place for lunch. We ended up at some Osteria Gusto that got insanely packed as soon as we ordered. It was pretty much all Italians, so I guess it was off the beaten path. It was good, but a little pricy compared to Trastevere. After this, we went to the Ara Pacis so I could finally see it. The Altar of Peace is one of Emperor Augustus's crowning monuments, and it's been rebuild twice since the 20th century, after Mussolini had it re-constructed. I've studied the piece before in art history, but it was really cool seeing it in person. It's a very bare museum, but you're only there to look at one piece, and the piece is really nice to look at.
We walked up the street to Piazza del Popolo after, to see the Obelisks/Fountains, but the main reason we went there was to look at a church that was still on siesta break. So I still haven't seen those famous Caravaggio's or the Chigi chapel yet.
David and Jeremy were done after this, and took the metro to the train station to catch a taxi home. Julian and I decided to go exploring a little bit more. We went to the Santa Maria della Concezione first, to look at the insane Cappucin Crypt. It's one of the craziest things you'll ever see, just a bunch of monk skeletons/bones decorated to form chapels, and other creepy stuff. It's crazy when you can still see the skin on some skulls, but there is thousands of different monks bones on display there. One of the most awe inspiring things you'll ever see.
After this, we went to the San Giovanni in Laterano basilica. It's the former papal residence, and one of the big 4 churches of Rome. The whole roof is gilded with gold, and the it has some crazy statues of all the apostles. It was a really dope museum, and I got to see all I wanted there including the former bronze doors of the Roman senate.
I got to see the Scala Scanta too, or the holy steps that Jesus Christ once walked up before he was presented to Pontius Pilate. Here, pilgrims must walk up the steps only on their knees. I of course am no pilgrim, so I all did was watch.
After this, went to the Trevi Fountain again, where at least this time it wasn't dumping.
We then walked to the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, and it closed as soon as we got in for service. So I still can't get a good picture of the altarpiece of Saint Catherine of Siena. We walked to Piazza Navona, so I could look for another church featuring Caravaggios, but we got lost for a good 10 minutes trying to find it. By the time we got there, the church worker had already closed the side where the Caravaggios were. So I was 0-4 on Caravaggio paintings in churches today
...My feet are in loads of pain from all the walking, but it's whatever, I passed out as soon as I made it to the apartment though. After this, we walked to some restaurant with Birra in the title for dinner, and I had some nice pasta along with some German Beer, 'Dab' mixed with strawberry syrup. It wasn't bad, and it was a satisfying end of the night. Still haven't really gone out and explored the bar scene here, since we're so tired, but at least we're making use of the cheap neighborhood restaurants. Arriverdeci.
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