ITALY 2023 : 9/21/2023 ROME: Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo, breakfast Coromandel, Piazza del Popolo, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna, Victor Emmanuel Monument, pool time, dinner Tonnarello

Today we have a full day. Drop off some laundry at hotel reception. Then it's breakfast. Our hotel calls a taxi for us. Cost 15.20€/$16.32.

Coromandel. Breakfast. I made a reservation for 9:15 am. It's a cute place. Most tables are inside but I think I did see at least one table outside by the door. Extensive breakfast menu. Richard gets caffe Americano and I get the Amalfi which is a citrus green tea. I also order Sole which is a juice of pineapple and grapefruit with mint. Off to a good start as the tea and juice are terrific. Richard enjoyed his coffee. He orders spinach and cheese omelette with a side of toast. I decide on the French toast. It's 2 slices-brioche bread-and in between are sliced bananas, blueberries, and a few raspberries and blackberries. Topped with powdered sugar. Comes with maple syrup. It is delicious but it's just too much for me to finish. One slice with the fruit on the top would have been better. Cost 39.50€/$42.42. Excellent service. Great food. Only downside is that it's so far from our hotel. Taxi is pricey. We have a short walk to where we can get a taxi.

Walking to get a taxi

Piazza del Popolo. This was not my intended stop for today but at the taxi stand area we ran into a guy who had called for a taxi. He was willing to share it with us. Since this area was on my want to visit list I made an adjustment in my plans and decided to go. I do want to visit the church Santa Maria del Popolo which is located in the Piazza del Popolo. I can't remember what our share of the taxi was. This is an oval area. There is an Egyptian obelisk in the center. Twin churches are here-Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. Also here is the church I really want to visit-Santa Maria del Popolo. The guy who shared the taxi with us tells us how to walk from here to the Spanish Steps which we'll do later.

Porta del Popolo

Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Designed by Carlo Rainaldi. He also designed this churches' twin Santa Maria in Montesanto. Focal point for the piazza these churches are symmetrical but their domes are different. This church has a circular dome and the other church has an oval one. I decide to pop into this church. It's small but lovely. Then we walk over to Santa Maria del Popolo. It appears closed? The outside is nothing special but this church oozes with splendor. Andrea Bregno, Pinturicchio. Bramante, Bernini. Caravaggio masterpieces-The Conversion of St. Paul and The Crucifixion of St. Peter. The Chigi Chapel designed by Raphael. So much more. OMG! I stop at the open Da Vinci Museum next to the church and I'm told the church is closed for restoration! Then upon further investigation I find a sign stating this church will be closed from 9/18 until 11/2024! I am really bummed by this because we could have visited this church on 9/17 after our tour of Domus Aurea. If only I had known this! So we walk around the piazza a bit and head for the stairs to walk up to get to the road that will take us to the Spanish Steps. Some nice views on the way. It takes us 35 minutes to walk!

Twin churches

Santa Maria del Popolo church

Closed for restoration!

Stairs leading up to the road we walk to get to the Spanish Steps

View of the Piazza del Popolo from the upper road

Spanish Steps. Links church Trinita dei Monti with Piazza di Spagna. Straight sections, curves, and terraces-dramatic and distinctive. Longest and widest staircase in Europe. There are 135 steps and 3 different terraces referring to the Holy Trinity. The top of the stairs near the Egyptian obelisk has a beautiful view. Designed by architect Francesco de Sanctis. Completed in 1726. Named because in the 17th century the Spanish embassy was located on the square. Popular tourist spot for people watching, sitting, writing postcards. Eating here not allowed. In late April the steps become a sea of azalea flowers

What's the big deal??

Piazza di Spagna. Most famous square in Rome. In the 18th and 19th centuries main hotel district. Luxurious shopping area. Via Condotti.

Fontana della Barcaccia-designed by Pietro Bernini (father of the famous Gian Lorenzo). Means Fountain of the Ugly Boat allegedly referring to story that the river Tiber flooded in 1598 and stranded the ugly little boat on this spot.

Luxury stores Via Condotti

Victor Emmanuel Monument. Taxi from Piazza di Spagna-cost 8€. Located-Piazza Venezia. In honor of Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy the first king of a unified Italy. Completed in 1911. White marble. Often referred to as the "wedding cake" or "typewriter". King is depicted on bronze horse statue. Museum. Spectacular views from top. Before could buy ticket for just elevator to the top for the views but now must buy ticket-much more expensive-which also includes the museum. Cost 32€/$34.37. After our time up on the top terrace we go into the museum and spend a little time here. Nothing spectacular but since we had to pay we may as well see what it's all about. Taxi back to our hotel-cost 7€/$7.52.

Piazza Venezia

Victor Emmanuel Monument

Piazza Venezia

Altar of the Fatherland and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Statue Victor Emmanuel

Lots of stairs to climb before you even reach the elevator!

Way to the elevator

Elevator

View from the terrace/top

Can see the Colosseum

There is signage like this to identify the views

Looking down to Piazza Venezia

Visiting the museum

Taxi back to our hotel

Pool time. Laundry in the room when we got back. Cost 12€/$12.89. Everything smells so nice! I spend some time on the computer still trying to get tickets for the Colosseum but no luck so time to relax at the pool. We spend several hours here.

Tonnarello. I had asked at reception where to go for good chicken as I really don't want pasta for dinner. We're told about this place that has great chicken Roma style. Taxi 13.30€/$14.28. It's in the Trastevere area which we haven't explored. Lots of action. Music. We see a long line but it's for a place that does tiramisu-Two Sizes. I think I had read about this. Finally we find the place. I go up to the entrance door and then I'm told there's a line! A very long line. Richard is not happy. We get in line and because we're fine with eating inside we only had to wait around 30 minutes. This chicken better be good! Very busy place which I guess is a good sign. Drinks-beer and ginger ale. I order the pollo alla Romana. Chicken in a tomato based sauce with peppers, side of roasted potatoes and a side of salad. It was yummy! Very tender chicken. Sauce nicely spiced. Potatoes not overdone. Richard orders the salmon which is also in a tomato based sauce with capers and black olives. His dinner comes with the same roasted potatoes and side salad as mine. He loved his salmon and raved about how it was done with the sauce. We're both happy and it was worth the wait. Service was as excellent as was the food. Cost 47.50€/$51.02. We're told where to go to get a taxi back so we walk slowly taking in all around us. I spot a gelato place. Richard doesn't want any but I get passion fruit and pistachio. Cost 3€. Finally we reach the area but see no taxi stand or any sign of taxis. But we do run into 3 guys from our hotel. They left for dinner right before we did. They also were recommended Tonnarello but when they saw the wait line decided to go elsewhere. The place they had dinner was so-so. They have called an uber and tell us we can hitch a ride with them. Great. The uber arrives within minutes and it's big enough to be comfortable for all of us. Along the way we take in the sights of Rome at night but nothing prepares us for the sight of the Colosseum shining purple! At the hotel I ask what our share of the ride is and I am told they're here on business so the uber was a business expense! No cost to us. How nice of them.