Let me rewind the tape to 1981. As a bubbling teenager, my enthusiasm to pack up my bags to visit my family abroad was beyond words. As I boarded the flight from Mumbai, then Bombay, I was not very excited about my stopover at Rome. I was heading for Kaduna in Nigeria where my father worked. I languished on board, watching the movies and savoring the airline food (it used to be good in those days!) unaware of the indefinite strike called by all the airports.
Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport welcomed us with an eerie silence and the deserted arena depressed me. The tall stunning statue of Leonardo Da Vinci, the great genius, is an ornament at the airport’s façade. As we drove past the statue, it slowly dawned on me that I was destined to explore the relics of the eternal city!
A blend of modernity and antiquity
After a pleasant slumber at Midas Palace, a colonial hotel, I eagerly gulped my pasta and a plate of fresh fruits. The ubiquitous presence of pizza during all meals is not a matter of surprise - it is consumed as a light meal as well as a snack. Italians take great pride in the quality of their food. I didn’t miss the chance to tickle my taste buds with Antipasto, an appetizer made with a variety of cold meats and vegetables such as ham, olives, and artichokes. I also tried Risotto, a popular rice dish with vegetables.
As the airport authority was responsible for our hiatus at Rome, accommodation and sightseeing was arranged by them. We were a group of six, including an elderly couple, a pastor and his nephew, and another gentleman who was also en route Kaduna. Slowly I started to take in the history, civilization, and architectural marvel of the city. The broad roads were peppered with hatchback cars and the gleaming new concrete buildings were a testimony of modernity.
Importance of Rome in the western history
For hundreds of years, Rome was the capital of the powerful Roman empire which ruled the western world. It is also the papal home, thus the center of Roman Catholic Church. It was during the 15th and 16th centuries that the popes hired great artists and sculptors who brought in new splendor to Rome by their priceless work of art. Donato Bramante who commenced the design of St. Peter’s Basilica, Adrea Palladio who designed villas and palaces, Leonardo Da Vinci the genius, Michelangelo the sculptor, and Raphael the painter are a few among the stalwarts of Renaissance who brought about immense revival in the field of art and literature.
Vatican City: An abode of spirituality
As we headed for Vatican City sprawling parks and outdoor restaurants were a common sight. The panoramic view of the St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, was unbelievable. I could feel being gripped by a deep feeling of extreme tranquility as we alighted to the marvel of Michelangelo. The statues and mammoth pillars chiseled out of marble with utmost dexterity were a feast to my eyes.”Pieta” the renowned sculpture by Michelangelo is kept here in a glass enclosure. Mother Mary cradling Jesus after crucifixion with much poignancy evokes strong emotions of solemnity. We can say that Vatican city the smallest sovereign state in the world is a conglomeration of buildings with more than 1000 rooms. It covers an area of only 109 acres. The various chapels, apartments, museums and other villas cluster around several open courts. Watching the marvel of Michelangelo’s paintings which adorn the walls and ceilings of the Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, I stood spellbound as the guide narrated how Michelangelo drew the paintings staying for days together in suspended positions with meager food. Inside the Vatican we can also get a glimpse of numerous papal catacombs and Egyptian mummies. It is believed St Peter was crucified on this hill and buried nearby. The early popes believed that a shrine built in early 100’s marked the site of Peter’s tomb. Because of this belief, they erected Vatican City on that spot.
Pantheon: The Temple of gods
As we proceeded to Pantheon, my thoughts lingered in the marvel of St Peter’s. We then saw the best preserved monument of all the remains of ancient Rome. The temple was dedicated to all the Roman gods. This oldest dome structure was used as the final resting place of many a famous artists and kings. Raphael the great painter is one among them.
Magnificent Fountains
We had our lunch at one of the outdoor restaurants. Grapes are Italy’s most valuable crops, Italian wines are exported throughout the world. Hence wine is served during mid day meal and dinner. An elaborate lunch with pasta, macaroni and cold meat was indeed quite delicious. Rome lies on both banks of River Tiber. The various fountains are great works of art. The most famous and the hub of tourists is the Fountain of Neptune also called the Trevi fountain completed in 1762 CE.As we proceeded to Piazza Navona it was heartwarming to watch tourists throwing coins into the fountain facing the back.We were told , as per the legend that visitors who throw the coins will someday return to the city.I’m eagerly looking forward to my next itinerary where I have included places like Venice , Florence, Milan and the Alpine slopes.
The Colosseum: An engineering marvel
The late evening took us to the Colosseum, which was once adjudged as one of the wonders of the world. It is a reminder of the long and rich history of the Roman Empire. Hitherto known as Flavian Amphitheatre, it was the largest outdoor theatre of ancient Rome. Roman’s were known for their leisurely life and they had great fascination to watch combat between Gladiators and battles between men and starved animals. All these prevailed before 404 CE. The Colosseum was built between AD 69 and 79 by Emperor Vespasian. It still ranks high among the finest examples of Roman architecture and engineering, even though it survives only as a ruin. The lighting after the dusk is a marvellous sight. The Colosseum can hold about 50,000 spectators and has more than 80 entrances.
Museums and Art Galleries
The next day break took us to the splendid museums and art galleries scattered all over the city. That’s when I realized that most of the old palaces and villa’s tastefully designed by great architects during the renaissance is now the hub of Greek and Roman articles from ancient civilizations. The Villa Borghese, Villa Ada , Villa Glori are a few to be named. The most famous museum is the Venezia Palace where Mussolini established his office in the early 19th century.
Sports
Soccer is the most popular sport in Italy. Parks are filled with children and adults playing the game. Basketball, fishing, hunting, cycling, roller-skating, and baseball are other favorite pastimes. While leafing through the biography of Sonia Gandhi she has fondly mentioned about the long cycling ventures she enjoyed with Rjiv Gandhi during their holidays in Italy!
One important factor that still remains in my memory is the difficulty of finding a guide who could speak English. It’s very difficult to spot either a driver or a guide who can interact in English. The people are warm and friendly otherwise. The strike was called off after a couple of days. We were told to get our tickets on Alitalia flight, the national airline of Italy mainly owned by the government. As I embarked for yet another destination with a totally different texture of life and civilization there was a feeling of deep gratification. Silently I thanked the universal powers for taking such a sojourn, though I was a bit agitated in the beginning. It was destiny that took me to Rome, the spiritual land. No words can express the emotional rollercoaster I went through while traversing through the architectural marvel of Rome.
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—About our writer:
"Shereen Nandakumar holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a master’s in English Literature. As a trained teacher she had a stint on teaching in reputed schools. Though teaching remains passion indebtedness towards the family has forced her to work from home. Besides being a content home-maker, she ensue other passions like classical dancing (Mohiniyattam), reading, cooking and travelling. Being a strong believer in the adage, “Sound mind in a sound body “pursues Yoga and meditation as her fitness mantra."
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