Exploring Roma (1): The Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps

My first day of seeing Rome was unreal. There is so much to see here. The walk to school is beautiful, and there's nothing famous about it. Just a bunch of graffiti on old buildings and mopeds packed in like sardines. But the real beauty of the city stretches farther than the eye can see here...

THE PANTHEON, 27-25BC

The walk to the Pantheon is about fifteen minutes from my apartment. The Pantheon was built by the Greeks between 27 and 25 BC. It was eventually taken over by the Romans. It has been reconstructed several times due to war and natural disaster, and is currently being remodeled as seen in the picture. The name consists of the Greek words pan ("everything") and teon ("divine"); the temple was dedicated to all Roman gods. The 10-story high temple has a massive hole in the ceiling which is still open today, exposing the inside to the natural elements. The floor has built-in drains to alleviate the damages that rain would cause. The Pantheon hosts Catholic services still to this day.

THE TREVI FOUNTAIN, 1762

The Trevi Fountain (La Fontana di Trevi) is one of Rome's most romantic places. Knick-named the love fountain, this massive fountain is the end of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct built in 19 BC that supplies the fountain with its water some 20km outside of Rome. The baroque fountain was built in 1762 for Pope Clement XII. Tourists are all over the place here -- everyone is throwing coins over their shoulder into the water. The legend surrounding the fountain claims that anyone who throws a coin in will return to Rome. I plan to throw in several pennies...

THE SPANISH STEPS, 1585

The 'Spanish Steps' (la Scalinata della Trinita del Monti) is another landmark of Roman tourist attractions. The 137 steps lead up to the gothic French church, La Trinita del Monti, built in 1585. The second and third pictures show the view from the top of the steps. All of Rome can be seen here: the Vatican off to the right, the Pantheon and my neighbourhood (Trastevere) dead ahead -- one of the most breathtaking things I have seen so far.