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We left our Airbnb in Rome and headed for the airport to pick up our car. Record Go is a rental company that is off the airport property but there are several that are. We took the shuttle that arrived in 10 minutes, a collective for all the other car companies off property. We quickly made friends with the car rental agent until, yes, you know, the insurance issue came up. We had found our own insurance and because he wasn't going to get the commission on the sale he soured on us quickly. In the end, we headed off and found our way to the highway. We took the toll road just to get us started but on the way we figured out the libres.
We are now in Tarquinia. Sunny and on the coast we will spend today and tomorrow exploring. Some not so good news, Pisa and Florence are experiencing severe flooding. After writing this post I will send a message to our hosts in Pisa to see what they say and take that with a grain of salt along with our own weather reports.
Our last day in Rome we headed to the Pantheon. Now that we have the hang of the metro service we feel much more comfortable moving around and discovering other areas on our walks.
Today the Pantheon stands pretty much the way it has been over the last 2000 years. It had suffered to complete destructions once 80CE and again in 110 CE. Both times it was rebuilt. The outside portico is original and has never been changed. This is said to be the best preserved of all Roman antiguities.
It was a center of worship for the 12 Roman gods (Juno, Vesta, Minerva, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercurius, Jove Neptus, Vucanos, Apollo) until the Christians came along and kicked them out. A tough act to follow considering I can see the planets. Since then, it has been used by the Roman Catholics and now holds mass on Sundays.
The picture of the dome isn't complete. They have the center of the Pantheon cordoned so you cannot really get underneath it. However, it is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the entire world. Hard to believe there is no reinforcement and it has held up for almost 2000 years. The oculus or hole in the dome is the only source of natural light. That was included in the architectural design when it was built. Sunrays enter and can also be used as a sun dial during certain periods of the year and day. Rain also enters and when it does, that design was also included. As you go from the center to the walls of the Pantheon, you can feel a slight slope which allows water to drain off and it holes in the floor.
I could go on but to see the construction and realize that the dome has continued to remain without falling and the simple fact that it all looks as if it was constructed in the last 200 years leave you awe struck. We sat there for an hour after walking around and admiring the marble work, statuary and the paintings. It's fun to listen to people speculate and we also googled many questions we had.
We heard some girls speaking English behind us and we asked them some questions one being where they were from. They said they were from America. I told them, that's a pretty big place. They didn't get it but after more conversation they said they were from Ohio!
People rarely look at the back side of things and you would be surprised what you will find. Here at the Pantheon there are bits and pieces of the architecture that have fallen off over the years and are stored in the back.
We stopped by a couple of churches nearby. We like to wander where we shouldn't be and this is what we found hidden in a back vestibule. It is kind of a mixed message 😅
Enjoying a coffee along the way.
We will return to Rome on April 2 for six nights. I contacted the Airbnb we stayed at and because it is high season the price soared. They were willing to negociate the price and we are happy with that. It is a place we feel comfortable with and it seems to be very well located.
Another good tour I am enjoying your vacation.
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