Italy Bellissimo Travelogue, continued

Day 2 of Tour- Free- time in Rome. We opted to remain in the center of the city instead of going back to the hotel with the group. We left Vatican City walls and hunted for a good Italian lunch with my son leading the way using Google Maps. Google Maps led us to an Italian restaurant but we were turned down without an explanation or even an offer to wait- just a shake in the head when we indicated there were 4 of us. As we walked further on the same street, we saw a signage of the French roof-top garden restaurant, Les Etoiles. We thought we'd try our luck there. As soon as we walked in, we were instantly welcomed with a warm smile and an offer to sit wherever we wanted to. What a blessing in disguise to be turned down rudely by the first restaurant! The view of Vatican City from the roof top garden was simply breathtaking! I just wish my SD card wasn't corrupted because I could have shared more photos of the magnificent views. Besides the view, the meal was also fantastic!

Delicious meal and breathtaking views from the roof-top garden of Les Etoiles, in Rome. Photos courtesy of Filgie Jarina.

After a delicious and unhurried lunch, we hailed a cab and headed to the Pantheon, this time to check its interiors. I once again marveled at its engineering, architecture and history. The 2,000 year old structure's concrete dome is still the world's largest unreinforced dome. The middle of the dome has a central opening called the oculus. Once a Roman temple, it's now a Catholic church. The Italian Renaissance artist and architect, Raphael was laid to rest in the church. Stepping outside, I gazed at the Corinthian columns which once again, astounded me. I remembered asking my son to take my photo next these columns. Unfortunately, my SD card would corrupt later that I wouldn't even get to enjoy browsing it.

The Pantheon's oculus. Photography by Alex Packard.

We didn't get to step inside San Luigi church the other day but this time, I got my wish of seeing the Baroque master Caravaggio's cycle of paintings about the life of St. Matthew inside. My youngest son is named after him, so the saint is special to me. My heart aches now as I recall the series of photos I've lost on my SD card here.

Our last stop during our independent venturing was again Piazza Navona- my friend's favorite, and rightfully so. In the middle of it sat the magnificent Four Rivers Fountains, and its periphery dotted by cafes and restaurants. Facing out into the piazza is a 17th century Baroque church of Sant 'Agnese. It was the site where the early Christian was martyred. I've learned all these saints from going to a Dominican Catholic school and now I felt like stepping into those religious and history books.

Caravaggio's painting inside San Luigi's Church, the side fountains in Piazza Navona. Photographs by Alex Packard.

Tre Scalini Restaurant and its famous tartufo. Photo on the left by Filgie Jarina.

In the piazza, we found the restaurant Tre Scalini famous for a type of gelato called tartufo. Its waiters were very friendly urging passing tourists to eat there just like the street vendors in the piazza urging tourists to buy their fare. After our meal, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow's hotel check-out, excursion at the Vatican Museums and the long coach ride to Pompeii, then Sorrento to cross over to the Isle of Capri.

Tags: #Rome, #VaticanCity, #LesEtoiles, #TreScalini, #tartufo #ItalyBellissimo, #Trafalgar #SimplyTrafalgar #Wanderlust, #Travel, #Travelogue