History, Culture, Food, Art….Magical..we loved Italy

So we are back after a 4 day excursion from Rome to Florence. Rome and Florence are by far the most amazing places one could go visit. There is so much history and culture. We had lasagna that melted in your mouth like butter, and gelato (I ate it 3 times a day; we got gelato from a cafe that has been open since the 1850s) that was so fresh you could still taste the gelato in your mouth moments after you had finished it. The ancient ruins in Rome were breathtaking and overwhelming to the eye. They were elegant, huge, old, and works of genius. We had the opportunity to see the gladiator Colosseum, the Roman Forum (ancient city hall), the Vatican, St. Peter's church, the statue of David, and more. The Colosseum which was built in Rome times. It is said to have seated anywhere from 50,000 to 87,000 people. It is the largest amphitheater in the world (It is one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World). Walking through this monument was a bit surreal and challenging as the steps were very steep. The other pic in the middle is a Santa Mazia del Fiore, a cathedral in Florence. In ancient times, no one could enter the cathedral unless they were baptized, so there is a large baptism house across the street from it. The top pic in the center is one of the many beautiful buildings that we were able to see daily. We were fortunate to have a guide that lives in Rome now, but was raised in Florence. She was very knowledgeable in both areas and had a delightful personality. We hope to come back and see her soon. We needed more time in Italy, so we ended our trip with a traditional visit to Trevi Fountain. It is said if you throw one coin over your left shoulder you’ll come back to Rome...we can only hope... so for now good night family, goodnight Italy!