Roma - Day One!

After 22 hours of flying and delayed flights, we finally made to the Hotel Veneto Palace, in the center of Rome, very late on Saturday night - Despite being exhausted and the hour being late, we had a glass of Chianti to toast our arrival!

A good night's rest helps us get over jet lag - the next morning, Sunday, we take a walk around the streets near our hotel. 

It was a rainy morning, but warm - we alternated between open and closed umbrellas as we walked the streets toward Benini's Tritone statue:

 

As you might have guessed, Pope Francis is hugely popular in Italy -- this is one example of "merchandising" the Pope! The bobble-head Pope waves . . .

Later in the day, we walked to  the Galleria Borghese - Mark made our reservations on line before we left the states otherwise you cannot get in without one. In early 1600's, Cardinal Scipione Borghese acquired 17th Century art by the Berninis, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Canova, among many others and displayed them in a villa, Villa Borghese, which also contains beautiful gardens, both public and private.  Over the centuries, the Borghese family has maintained and restored much of the collection.  The artwork is displayed in many of the rooms and the extent of attention to detail decorating each of these rooms cannot be overstated.  From floors, walls, ceilings and displays, there was so much to see!

 

 

Some photos of the Borghese gardens:

We walked back to the hotel and are getting ready to meet our tour-mates.  Tomorrow . . . the Vatican and the Coliseum, and other Rome sights! Ciao!