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Today we visited all the ruins – Forums of Augustus Temple to Mars, Temple to Minerva, Market of Trajan, Trajan’s Column, Basilica of Ulpla, Templa of Venus, the Arch of Titus, and the original complete senate as it was because another building was built around it for centuries. Under Palantine Hill was the Temple of Romulus where legend says a kindly wolf suckled Romulus and Remus and founded Rome. We drove out the Appian Way – the original Roman Highway – 16 foot wide – to the Tomb of Ceciua Metalla and then to the Catacombs of St. Calixtus. We had a 45 minute tour down in, through the many chambers, tombs and alters where mass is still said. There were old oil lamps and writing and symbols etched in the walls. The swastikia is much in evidence as a one time Roman cross. The catacombs cover 20 acres, contain approximately 350,000 graves, including some 20,000 martyrs (each signified by an oil lamp on the tomb) We drove east 20 miles to the town of Tivoli and went through the Villa d’Este known for its many beautiful fountains. Over 40 fountains of all kinds in the gardens. Then to Hadrian’s Villa - the winter estate of Emperor Hadrian and was, at one time, three fourth the size of Rome itself. Exhausting day!
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