Anna's Adventures in Oxford: My first few days in Rome

Ciao tutti! I've been in Rome the past few days. I finished up the term about a week and a half ago, and spent a week doing some thesis research and preparing for my 5 week stay in Rome.

I'm in Rome primarily for an internship with an organization that does diplomatic work and research on international relations. But I have had plenty of time to do some sight seeing as well! Here I will describe my first few days, and I will update again soon when I can.

My first day here I got to my apartment and met up with my friend Victoria, who stayed with me my first few days. Our first day here we went to the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano. It is a 12th century basilica, built on top of a 4th century basilica, built on top of the house of a Roman nobleman. We got to see all of the different levels and it was incredible. Sadly, I wasn't allowed to take pictures around the basilica.

Museo Nazionale

Rome's abandoned cat sanctuary

Me near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum

The Rome marathon happened my first weekend here

The arch of Constantine

The Colosseum

The next day Victoria and I visited the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Although I went to the Colosseum when I was 16, it was still breathtaking. It was particularly interesting to see the area that would have been under the floor/stage (perhaps I have just seen the movie "Gladiator" too many times...)

Me inside the Colosseum

Colosseum

Under the floor of the Colosseum.

After the Colosseum we went to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum. The Palatine Hill is one of the most ancient parts of the city, with recent archaeological findings determining that people have lived there since around 1,000 BC. Emperors Augustus, Tiberius, and Domitian had palaces there. Palatine looks over the the Forum, which is essentially ruins of ancient government buildings. The various buildings in the Forum were built from around 497 BC to 312 AD.