Up again early this morning as only two more full days left, where did they all go? This morning I am heading to the Catacombs while Jane atends to a little bit of retail therapy. Another healthy brekky (gotta have an eggs benny soon) and then a 20 minute walk to the Piazza della Repubblica where the bus leaves to get me to the Catacombs of St. Domitilla.Got there a bit early so crossed the road and popped into the minor basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri to have a look. An interesting facade to this building as it was designed by Michelangelo utilising the Roman ruins of the Baths of Diocletian which give it a very un-church like entry. Inside it is very good but different from other churches we have seen, and has a meridian line (sort of sundial) built into the floor at a much later date (1700's?).
After this off on the bus to the Catacombs which were very interesting. Just a shortish tour ( about 40 minutes) of the underground galleries (started in the second century) and a subterranean church without the bones of those in Paris, so not overly morbid. There are apparently a large number of catacombs in Rome with a few open to the public, this being the largest was most interesting and still with some sealed vaults that had not been broken or looted. (Photos courtesy of proprofs.com and domitilla website as none allowed to be taken)
It was then back on a bus back to the Repubblica to meet Jane for a slow amble back towards the Ritz via a number of streets we had not travelled before. Ended up somewhere near the Trevi fountain area and stopped at little place for a spot of lunch before finding a PIT (tourist information point) where we bought tickets for tonight to "Journeys through Ancient Rome"; a multimedia presentation at Foro di Augusto, recommended to us by Cristina.It was then time for a little siesta for Jane while I went out looking for some grates and knockers, a worthwhile pursuit.
When I returned we had a little vino and nibbles (meat and cheese of course) before heading to the end of the street to watch the presentation. Temporary seating had been setup overlooking the Augustus Forum and Trojans Market area and we received a receiver unit with very nice Sennheiser earphones for the music and commentary that accompanied the projected multimedia presentation onto the walls of the ruins. Just fantastic; a great experience and another of those little unexpected highlights that happen when you travel and take some chances.Only problem was the stupid woman in front with her iPhone that kept taking pictures with the flash on, only illuminating the fence in front and was very irritating; idiot!
When this concluded we had a leisurely walk around enjoying the evening before stopping for an evening meal and then back to the Ritz for a relatively early night as the long trip to Pompeii and the Amalfi coast in the morning.
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