Our first stop today was to the Aventine Hill.  The entire group saw Santa Sabina Church with its crucifixion and other biblical narrative carvings.

Then we looked through a key hole at the Knights of Malta door and saw an amazing view of the dome of St. Peter’s.
Site seeing and Spence standing next to a tiny Fiat!

We then drove into the city center and began our walking tour of Rome with our wonderful guide,  Mira:

Our Tour included the following:
Piazza Navona with the Bernini Fountain of the Four Rivers:

 Trevi Fountain (at the moment under cleaning):

The Contarelli Chapel which has Caravaggio’s The Calling of St. Matthew, The Inspiration of St. Matthew – Matthew Writing His Gospel, and The Martyrdom of St. Matthew.  Each painting lends itself to such a spiritual sense of Matthew and his willingness to just rise up and obey Jesus – become transformed in a way – to a new kind of life and vocation.

The Contarelli Chapel:

Caravaggio’s The Calling of St. Matthew:

Caravaggio’s The Inspiration of St. Matthew – Matthew Writing His Gospel:

Caravaggio’s The Martyrdom of St. Matthew:

Next was the Pantheon – the only structure of its age, size and span that has successfully survived the scourge of time and gravity.  It was built by Emperor Hadrian who loved the building and loved to have visitors come to him here.

Pantheon:

Inside the Pantheon:

Raphael’s tomb:

We then made a quick visit to the Spanish Steps, then a few people went to hear Andrea Bocelli sing in St. Peter’s Square in the late afternoon.

The outside market:

 – Largest “olive loaf” we have ever seen!

Dinner: