Day 57.

It's getting hotter and hotter here. The local news warn elderly and young people that the heat may be too much tomorrow. Anyway, heat or not, we've been to Augustus forum today. I may mention that this is an area, strictly off limit to the public for those who don't know anything about it, constructed by Augustus between 42 and 2 BC. It was focused on a great temple to Mars Ultor, Mars the avenger, as it was vowed at the eve of the battle against the killers of Caesar.



The temple of Mars Ultor. It seems much larger from the forum floor where was meant to be seen than from the Foro Imperiale where you see it today.


Prossima fermata, station Bernini, fontana di Trevi, Bachita lato destro. Also known as 'closing in on the Bernini, Fontna di Trevi station, leave the train at the right side', this is the first Italian I ever knew. This picture is from the Piazza de Bernini where you find yourself when leaving the metro at this station.


A picture dedicated to bragging. Compare it with this shot fromday 10. Notice that I am at the ground level this time! (The other is still a better shot though)

Day 54.

It's getting hot here in Rome now. Very, very hot and it's lovely. anyway today have been spent at the Forum Romanum and we, among much else, visited the Santa Maria Antiqua church from the 6th century AD.


The peristyle of the vestal house, decorated with flowers. Beautiful.


A fresco from the Santa Maria Antiqua with the first depiction of the holy virgin and the child that we know of.