Wordless Wednesday...We Start in Rome

I think I will have to give up on any pretense of wordlessness... 

Just returned from Italy, Rome, Florence and Venice, with a few side trips. Grab a glass of prosecco or some grappa and enjoy, as we start in... 

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Our hotel in Rome, the Albergo del Senato, on the Piazza della Rotonda.
Beautiful, great staff, wonderful location, rooftop bar..excellent!

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And right across the square, the Pantheon, built by the Emperor Hadrian in about 126 A.D.

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The central opening , the oculus, is open to the sky. 
The Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome,
 

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Then, just a few steps down the street, the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. 
The Pulcino della Minerva, the famous elephant sculpture by Bernini, 
serving as a base for one of Rome's 11 Egyptian obelisks. 

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Inside, the Carafa Chapel, with late 15th-century frescoes by Filippino Lippi

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...and a sculpture by Michelangelo, Christ Carrying the Cross.
I believe the 'drape' is not original.
 

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Dinner at a nice restaurant across the street, then some gelato.
 Late at night, the piazza is finally empty, or fairly so,

 as I view the Pantheon from the window of my room. 

Goodnight, for now..

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...as always, for more Wordless Wednesday, 
check these out.

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