Magnifico Giro in Bicicletta a Roma Italia

Thursday, I enjoyed an all-day bicycle tour of many of Rome’s famous historical monuments! It was a small group of three led by our Italian guide, Emanuele.

The other two members of the group – Conor and Cara – were Americans from New York City traveling through Italy for several weeks. On their way to Rome they visited Milan and the Amalfi Coast, and were headed to Florence and Venice before returning to NYC. I thoroughly enjoyed their company and we could not have had a better guide.

Historical Monuments, Cobblestone Backstreets

I was uncertain about bicycling Rome, but the day exceeded my expectations and was a perfect orientation to the city. After a brief lesson on riding the electric bikes, we began the tour at 10 am and ended at 6 pm.

The fun day passed quickly! We stopped for an occasional photo, sipped needed espresso at cafés, enjoyed a delicious lunch, and cooled down with gelato.

The e-bikes were easy. You must pedal and control the gears, but they provide an uphill “boost” when needed. To avoid Rome’s aggressive city traffic, for most of the tour Emanuele led us through less-traveled cobblestone backstreets with interesting Palazzo style facades, flowered window boxes, and wonderful Italian names. Bicycling Rome’s main roads are dangerous. It’s challenging dodging joggers, dog walkers, preoccupied tourists, motorcycles, and automobiles.

Emanuele gave an excellent commentary about Rome’s many treasures – enough detail but not too much. My only regret was not being able to take photograph of the gorgeous backstreets – impossible while riding a bike. Hopefully I can leisurely retrace the backstreet trail before leaving for Istanbul.

Each of the sites has its own fascinating legends and history – too much for this blog.  A few photos are attached, but our fast pace didn’t allow time for contemplating photography.

We began at the TopBike shop on Via Labicana and continued following Emanuele’s well-planned route which started and ended near the Roman Coliseum. This is a list of the historic places we visited during the tour:

• Baths of Caracalla Ruins
• Il Colosseo
• Colonna Traiana
• Piazza Venezia
• Palazzo del Quirinale
• Fontana di Trevi
• Piazza di Spagna
• Santa Maria del Popolo
• Piazza Campo Marzio
• Palazzo Madama – Italian Senate
• Piazza Navona
• Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’Anima
• Pantheon
• Ponte Mazzini
• Santa Maria in Trastevere
• Piazza San Pietro

La Fontana di Trevi is an incredibly beautiful masterpiece – impossible to capture in a photo. You must see it from every angle! The fountain’s travertine was recently cleaned by Fendi making it even more striking. I threw a coin into the fountain from the right hand over the heart and left shoulder.  One version of the Trevi Fountain myth, is that tossing a coin into the fountain ensures you’ll return to Roma. That works for me!

My favorite church was Santa Maria dell’Anima near the Pantheon. An unassuming building from the outside, the church has chapels with magnificent frescoes, paintings, and sculptures by Italian artists like Gian Lorenzo Bernini, considered the most outstanding sculptor of the 1600s. Other Italian artists contributing to the church’s magnificent artwork include Francesco Salviati, Carlo Saraceni, Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi, and Giuliano Finelli – most new to me.

I enjoyed the magnificent mosaics inside the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. The Basilica is near Piazza di St. Maria and exterior renovation of the façade and bell tower is in process. Basilica art is generally breathtaking but it’s a challenge taking photos because of the darkness, altar candles, and light from the domes and stained-glass windows. The atmosphere is magic!

Later in the day we saw black smoke billowing from what looked like the heart of Vatican City. It turned out to be a junkyard fire nearby. The fire “spread through scrapped cars, exploded gas tanks, and sent a thick, dark plume of smoke through the northeastern quarter of the Italian capital. There were no reports of injuries”.

Italy’s Republic Day June 2

Today is Republic Day in Italy, a national holiday. On June 2, 1946, Italians voted to abolish the monarchy, and the Republic of Italy was born.

On Republic Day, the gardens at Palazzo del Quirinale (Italian President’s residence) are open. The president – Sergio Mattarella – presides over a traditional wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Italy’s Unknown Soldier of World War I. Afterwards, military bands perform and there’s a parade through central Rome along the Via dei Fori Imperiali – a street that runs in a straight line from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum.

Yesterday jets from the Italian air force’s “Frecce Tricolori” buzzed central Rome – a performance like the Blue Angels during Fleet Week in San Francisco. During today’s Republic Day celebration, the squadron will leave a trail of green, white, and red smoke (the colors of the Italian flag) over the Altare della Patria – Altar of the Fatherland.

Government Concerns

Italy isn’t unlike other countries with political and economic woes. Our guide Emanuele said he preferred not to discuss politics. Later, he couldn’t help but voice concerns about the recession-plagued country’s growing inequalities between rich and poor and the corrupt practices of Italy’s government. This sad, familiar theme is common throughout the world.

I’m not knowledgeable about Italy’s government, but could tell Emanuele’s concerns were sincere. However corrupt, the current Italian government seems better than the crazed emperor, dictators, and monarchs who ruled the country in the past.