Sunday morning started off with a 2-hour tour around the ancient Roman monuments starting with Circolo Massimo and ending up at the Pantheon. We passed through Circolo Massimo on our way to the meet up spot without giving the green stretch of land much thought but turns out it is a natural valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills that was used as a chariot race track seating over 25,000 spectators. Our tour guide, the ancient Roman art/civ professor at the study center, explained that this was where Romulus and Remus arrived after washing up on the shores of the Tiber and being taken in by the she-wolf. As they grew older they decided they wanted to create their city where they first began their lives and fought over which hill, among the two between which Circo Massimo lies, to build upon. Romulus advocated for the Palatine hill, killing Remus to have his way; thus, this is where Rome was born. Now the Palatine houses the ruins of the ancient palace that stretches all the way to the Colosseum and into the neighborhood of Foro Romano.

We made our way along Via di San Gregorio until the Colosseum loomed into sight and stopped at the Arch of Constantine. Apparently Constantine was super conceited and decided he was as important to Roman history as Hadrian, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius and stole reliefs from their monuments in order to decorate his own arch. Unfortunately half of the arch was under restoration and had scaffolds covering the facade, but the half that could be seen was impressive nonetheless. We then took a 90 degree turn to the right to find ourselves face to face with one of the most iconic buildings in the world: the Colosseum. It's funny to say, but it was slightly smaller than I had originally envisioned. We didn't get to go inside, but did learn that it has 80 entrances that were divided by class entrance, so the elite would go through the ones that led them closer to the center arena while women entered and discovered themselves in the nosebleed seats. Apparently there used to be statues standing in all of the arches on the upper levels, and we know this because of the engravings and reliefs found on the coins that were used as indicators to what entrance each person was to use. I can't wait to go back and explore the inside of the Colosseum soon!

The next stop on our tour was to the Foro Romano, the huge plaza which acted as the ancient city center, housing important government buildings, churches, markets, and meeting spaces. According to the professor the ruins that remain in tact all over the city are there thanks to a special Roman cement that was used which incorporated some sort of volcanic ash that hardened into a material more durable than stone. We also saw the forum of Julius Caesar and the temple dedicated to Venus. I found myself trying to envision what the area looked like in its full glory back before mass development transformed the area from green land to commercialized property, and I kept thinking that it must have been amazing to set foot in such an ornate and decorated piazza, especially if coming from the countryside in 55 B.C. if the crumbling remains are this magnificent today.

Following the path of the ruins, we ended up in front of the Capitoline Museums which I am determined to go to one of these weekends (one of the guys I met at the study center said it was amazing which makes me even more excited). We descended into Piazza Venezia and trudged our way in the rain until we reached a familiar site -- Largo di Torre Argentina. I pass this every day on my way to the study center, but didn't really know what it was. Turns out, they are the remains of four ancient temples and a theatre, and Julius Caesar was killed in the Theatre of Pompey... so basically we walk past the site of Caesar's death every day. WHO KNEW?! That's some crazy history right there.

Finally our tour concluded in front of the Pantheon, and having not been before I decided to take a step inside and was immediately taken aback by the sheer size of the dome. It looks rather small from the outside, especially because the piazza closes in so tight and diminishes the rotunda, but from the inside your eye follows the curves up to the top of the ceiling which has a huge circle cut out, so sunshine and rain come and go freely inside the building. I then focused my attention on the ornate decorations all around the circular structure which was also filled with statues and beautiful marble and granite. I'm sure I will be back to experience the magical feeling of looking up into the ceiling again soon. Overall the tour was very helpful in dipping my toes into the ancient history of Rome which colors everyday life without us even realizing. It's crazy to think that in a couple minutes walk from the study center I can be transported into the world of thousands of years ago, but it's a reality I am more than happy to take advantage of! I am excited to see more of the city and what historical riches it has to offer (I'm sure Wikipedia will be one of my best friends over the next few weeks as I make more discoveries around the city).