Sixtus V Walk

Today, we did a walk through Rome (all 32 of us), the theme: Sixtus the V. He was a Pope, way back in the day, who re-planned Rome by moving around obelisks to direct people from one important site to the next, and he "carved" three streets through the city, that come to a point (A trident). At the point of this trident is Piazza del Popolo, and these two churches:

Brandi and I, freshman year, had to remember the name of this Piazza for a test in ARCH 200, and to remember, we held our hands in this fashion to remember the two churches, it was a late night studying, you do some weird things when you are tired. Anyway, behind us you can see the three streets, divided by the two churches.

S.M. del Popolo (I think), A basilica in the Piazza. Here are some famous Caravaggio paintings, including one of the crucifixion of St. Peter.

Horse drawn carriages by the Spanish steps.

The Spanish steps in Spring are covered by these flowers, bella!

Brandi got pooped on by a bird...good luck? maybe?

A Bernini fountain, in piazza Barberini

The Boromini staircase in Palazzo Barberini

A beautiful painted ceiling in the Palazzo. We weren't supposed to be taking photographs...I had my flash off... (sneaky sneaky) We all lay down on the floor for about 10 minutes just looking at the ceiling, it is incredible.

The Bernini staircase on the opposite side of the Borromini one in the Palazzo

Santa Maria dello Quattro Fontaine (roughly: Saint Mary with 4 fountains), Named so because in the street in front of it, there are 4 fountains at the intersection, designed by Bernini (I think...I should probably look that up)

The dome in SM della 4 Fontain. It is odd because it is an oval instead of round.

Chiesa di Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, architect and sculptor: Bernini

The dome of S'A al Q

Trevi Fountain

The Baths of Diocletian. This was Kendrae, Brandi and my case study project. It used to be a Roman bath, before being transformed into a Basilica by Michelangelo. Any more details? Ask, I know quite a bit about this place.

Oculus (basically a big hole in the ceiling) in the Baths of Diocletian

Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the 'Big 4' Papal Basilicas of Rome

Pope stature below the alter

The alter...huge by the way, they don't call this basilica SM Mini, nope its SM Maggiore (Major)

More of the basilica

Star of David tile in one of the 4 Papal churches...interesting...

And now at the end of our day comes the story told a thousand times. We ended our walk at SM Maggiore, and were heading back towards Termini to catch a bus back to our Apartment, when Lindsey and I stop for gelato. It was good too. Anywho, we were walking back towards Termini (the train station) when we were stopped on the sidewalk by a group of 3 women. Then all of a sudden, one jumps out at Lindsey and smashes her gelato out of her hand and onto the sidewalk. Rapid Italian yelling ensues, and Lindsey is pissed. We walk away (quickly) and Lindsey is furious at this woman, and trying to figure out what just happened...meanwhile I inform her that it wasn't a woman, but a transvestite, and her/his pregnant girlfriend. Rome has some interesting people.