Roma Blog - Day 7 (12/29/2007): A busy day!

Sorry for the delay in the blog, but we have been doing so much lately that it's a challenge to find time to fit this in too. We are enjoying doing it and are happy to see that so many of you are enjoying this blog!
Well, we headed back to the Colloseum and the Roman Forum early so that we were sure to get in this time.








Here's a view of the inside, but it's so immense that I couldn't capture the full view in one shot:








This one shows a reconstructed seating area to help you imagine what it must have looked like:








The family had a great time touring all around the inside of this historic building:








Victoria had a lot of fun clowning around!












We then went straight to the Roman Forum and did some more exploring (and Vicoria continued her photo shoot!):








This is where Julius Caesar's body was burned after he was killed:




















I was happy that we were next able to get into the Mamertine Prison as it was closed each time I tried on past trips. This was where SS. Peter & Paul were imprisoned, and the pillar to which they were chained is still there. We were able to up close and even touched it!












There is a small chapel upstairs and Victoria went up on her own to offer a prayer to Baby Jesus:












From the ancient ruins we went over to the nearby Church of San Peitro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains). The chains that bound him in the prisons in Jerusalem and then in Rome are there. When they were brought together in this Church, they miraculously linked together.




















This is Michelangelo's monument commissioned by Pope Julius II that contains his famous statue of Moses.
Our touring continue next at the awesome St. Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major). This statue of the Blessed Mother is atop the tall pillar in the piazza in front of the Church:












Now this is a baptistry!












The highlight is that directly below the altar in a small area (many of these Churches have these areas), there is an ornately decorated box that contains pieces of the Christ Child's manger!








We left St. Mary Major and went back to the Santa Scala which was open so that we could properly venerate the stairs that Jesus was forced to use to ascend to Pilate's place of judgment (that's Jonathan, Scott and I on the left side):








Finally, I saved this for last as a constant memory of the Christian influence on all of Rome. The Colloseum has been consecrated as a memorial to all of those who innocently lost their lives there: