Friday 11th September - Colosseum

The bus rounded a corner and there was the Colosseum. Imagine this, 60,000 Romans cheering and screaming at a battle to the death. Only about 2% of all gladiators survived the bloody battles.
The Colosseum, stone brick and concrete structure has been standing on this spot since 70AD, constructed by order of Emperor Vespasian.

Out in front of the Colosseum is the Arco di Constantino and off to one side is the Arco di Tito. We wandered past both structures and walked up the hill to the church. What a wonderful view.

There were two archaeological digs going on and one was being restored. The Colosseum is also having a lot of new work done to it and although in the same brick style the newness is evident.

Friday 11th September - Victor Emmanuel II Monument

We got back on the bus and went one more stop as it said that this was the stop for the Pantheon We came around a corner and here were these wide deep steps heading up to a marvellous building. So up we went and found out that this was the entrance to the Rome Museum and really the tradesman's entrance to the Victor Emmanuel II Monument.
There were three wedding going on whilst we were there. Or at least the photography of the events was happening.

It was quite warm and we trudged down the steps amidst two tour groups with the leaders waving their flags frantically but it seemed to us that it was all mingled together and we were in the middle of it all.

We headed around the front side of this huge building. We were really looking for a place to have lunch.

Wow. It didn't matter where we looked there were magnificent buildings everywhere.
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument is somewhat controversial in that it was built to honour the first king of a unified Italy. The building hosts the Museum, a rooftop garden and bar and the Monument holds the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and this was built after World War I.