the place accentuates the
magnificently preserved ruins
of an ancient civilization.
Climbing all the way to the
top of Palatine Hill is no small
endeavor, but once you get there
the city spreads out before you,
beautifully displayed with the
Forum at your feet. Standing in
the ruins of a settlement that
dates back to the 8 th Century
B.C., we wandered through a
landscape still bearing the traces
of its regal history. For centuries,
from the rule of the Emperor
Augustus, an opulent palace
stood at the top of Palatine
Hill. What remains, serves as a
reminder of the lavish lifestyle
of the Ancient Romans, a fallen
but not forgotten civilization.
Among the expansive layout of
the palace, with its crumbling
walls and fallen columns, my
son ran and played, trying to
get a close-up look at Rome’s
distinctive Rose-Ringed
Parakeets. They filled the air,
occasionally landing for an
instant on a stone wall or a patch
of grass. Such a beautiful and
unexpected sight.
With visions of gladiators
dancing in my head, we made
our way to the Colosseum. This
experience served as a classic
example of my tendency to
underestimate the size of a
place based on other peoples’
pictures. In an effort to see
the top, I pulled a muscle in
my neck that I didn’t even
know I had. Unfortunately, we neglected to do any research on ticketing and reservations before showing
up, so we were unable to tour the area where the gladiators were kept. Although we thoroughly enjoyed it,
our visit didn’t last long. We had a friendly and knowledgeable guide who shared information about how the
Colosseum was the centerpiece of Ancient Roman life. A place which was once the site of battles to the death,
roaring crowds and raging lions is now eerily quiet. Tourists wander around taking selfies where emperors
once sat in consideration, a defeated gladiator’s life hanging in the balance. After exploring on our own for an
hour or so, unhindered in the dappled sunlight, we meandered in the direction of another memorable meal.
Angie!
OCTOBER 2018
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE |
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