Colosseum, forum, palatine hill, catacombs, basilica st Clemente

Hello everyone!

We woke up today to pouring rain and were scared it was going to ruin our day! But the weather held out with only a little rain today :)

We started off our day with a colosseum tour. Once again we were the only people which was fantastic! We had a really nice guide who was very informative. Because we were on a tour we got to go in usually off limits areas - the underground areas where gladiators and animals were kept and ran out from and the very top part where the women sat. Both very interesting and the only people in these areas!!! The colosseum is sadly falling apart an very grimy because stupid Mussolini built a road right next to it, but they're restoring it but by bit at the moment so hopefully that keeps it going a bit longer. The tour also went to the roman forum and the palatine hill which were interesting too.

Afterwards we had a look round the outside of the colosseum and then caught a train to piazza barberini where we met another tour for the same company! This one was of the catacombs about 20 minutes outside of Rome which are 2000 years old and are still being excavated after 200 years of searching. The first popes are buried here and it was amazing to walk down underground and see everything. Then we were taken to basilica st Clemente which is a 12th century basilica built on top of a 4th century basilica built on top of a 2nd century pagan church built on top of 1st century houses!! Rome used to flood a lot and also have lots of fires so people used to just build on top on the old ruins. Then finished up at a capuchin church made of bones (like kutna hora in Czech republic last trip)

Meant to say too, before that tour we went to the trevi fountain. As we turned the corner I closed my eyes bracing myself for the scaffolding I was expecting to be covering the whole thing. NOT ONE BIT!!!! And in sunshine with blue skies and not too many tourists. Who told me not to come here in winter again?!?! Was absolutely amazing. Can't imagine what summer Is like, was crowded enough today and all the people selling stuff everywhere are doing our head in. Think there'd be ten times more of them in summer!!

We had a lovely dinner I had carbonara and then we shared the best tiramisu I've ever had for dessert! Had a quick look at Trevi and the Spanish steps at night too.

Another tiring but great day!!!
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox