"Masterful Art, Great Architecture,... " a Rome Travel Page by rexvaughan

If you ask my neighbor, Sara, "Should I go to Italy?" her response will be, "Don't go unless you like great art, masterful architecture, beautiful scenery, delicious food, excellent wine and friendly people!" We didn't really need to be persuaded, but found her assessment amusing, encouraging and very accurate. Sara forgot to mention the traffic in Rome - there are an amazing number of vespa type motorbikes as well as automobiles everywhere and the local folk seem to be able to park any vehicle in any space wider than 12 inches. This does pose problems for pedestrians, but also adds a vitality to the city that I find wonderful. This is not just an ancient and historic place, but a very vibrant city full of life. There is something to excite all your senses and sensibilities at every turn in Rome as well as elsewhere in Italy. We hope to return to Rome one day (we did toss coins in Trevi Fountain) as it is one of the great cities of Western civilization, but this first visit felt like the experience of a lifetime.

We were here in 1996 and were impressed that there was already work going on to spruce up the city in preparation for the year 2000. As this is the capitol of Christendom, large crowds of pilgrims were expected to flood the city during this significant millenial year. Rome's role in the history of Christianity is evident at almost every turn and is usually beautifully represented. This photo was on the little piazza in front of the convent where we stayed and is on the exterior wall of the Church of Madonna di Monti.

I guess I am either naive or romantic or both, but whenever I visit some historic and beautiful place, I feel like a kid in a candy shop for the first time. Rome was certainly this kind of experience for me and one of the reasons was seeing things I had only read or heard about and never imagined I would actually be there or see it. This statue of Moses is a prime example. I have had a small copy of this statue for about 30 years and always thought it was one of the best works of art I have ever seen. I guess it tells something about me that I knew of it before I knew about the more famous David and Pieta.