Another beautiful day in Rome
Trip Start
Jul 21, 2005
1
3
15
Trip End
Aug 05, 2005
Rome,
Italy
Monday, July 25, 2005
After having breakfast served in our room, we walked over to the Piazza to attend the service in the Basillica. Spent time sitting in a cafe' and back for an afternoon rest.
At 3 pm we set out across the city to visit the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione: the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars. This macabre church comprises of five chapels whose walls are decorated with skeletons, the mortal remains of some 4000 Capucin friars who died between 1528 and 1870. Each room has walls decorated in intricate scrolling designs using combinations of bones, some containing entire clothed skeletons. Even the lighting fixtures and chandeliers are created using human remains. It was both beautiful and grotesque at the same time
Interior of Colosseum
. Once again, photos were not allowed.Dinner was back at Piazza Santa Maria in our favourite Restaraunte Galeassi with our favourite waiter Marcolino. http://www.ristorantegaleassi.it/inglese.htm
While sitting and enjoying yet another live concert (music festival happening all over Rome during July) we were pleasantly interrupted by a long procession of priests, nuns, monks and locals parading to the Basilica carrying the statue of Santa Maria. There was a short service inside, bells tolling to announce her return, culminating in an explosion of fireworks above our heads. Once again we closed the restaurant and found our way back to Trastervere House for the night.
