Posted by The Eternal city is always worth revisiting as there is so much to see and do again and so much that has not being explored by us yet. Arriving early is always challenging but we had arranged to dump our bags after the previous guests had left the apartment at 10.00am so after a few hours in the cafe below waiting and we were off into the 34 deg heat to find some shade and cool interiors. the Apartment was located in the Piazza Navona/Pantheon area so really in the heart of old Rome so as walking is our preferred way of getting around it served us very well.
Just arounf the corner at 11am and The Pantheon was packed and considering the last time we were here was 16 years ago with no crowds and free entry this was a shock but as we had visited the site three times before we did not need to go inside. It was then off along the shady sides of street to the Palazzo Altemps for the National Roman Museum but of course there were ample churches to visit along the way which are always worth a visit as you never know what you might find.
The Church above was a lovely find, san Luigi dei Francesci near Piazza Navona was a light filled Baroque church with a fantastic ceiling fresco and beautiful measured alter presentation. The Museum was a new one for us and it was truly amazing with its small footprint but big delivery into antiquity. Plenty of big heads, busts and bums with amazing ceiling frescos and sarcophagus reliefs that were truly extraordinary in detail and emotion.
After more heat dodging we found a roof top resturant nearby in the Ponte area which afforded us a great view ov er the roof tops, domes, Campaniles and the vast variety of Roman edifices. Meal was nice and the three women behind us were a scream and we had a funny chat with them.
