Rome – Day 2
Monday, 17-Apr-2023
Tags: Travel
The MEF meeting started, so Eileen was on her own for the morning and most of the afternoon.
The first stop was Santa Maria della Vittoria Church, a 10-minute walk from our well-located hotel. The church contains the famous Ecstacy of Saint Teresa sculpture by Bernini. It was designed and completed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the leading sculptor of his day, who also designed the setting of the Chapel in marble, stucco, and paint. It is generally considered to be one of the sculptural masterpieces of the High Roman Baroque. The sculpture depicts Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish Carmelite nun and saint, swooning in a state of religious ecstasy, while an angel holding a spear stands over her. The group is illuminated by natural light which filters through a hidden window in the dome of the alcove.
After the church, Eileen walked a loop that included the Borghese Gardens, walking up Via Vittorio Veneto, past the American Embassy, and the fancy Westin and Marriot hotels to the Porta Pinciana entrance.
The Borghese Gardens are located on the Pincian Hill, close to Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. The Gardens cover an area of 200 acres and were developed in 1606 by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who wanted to turn his former vineyard into the most extensive gardens built in Rome.
Eileen walked to the terrace above the Piazza del Popolo for views of the city.
Zoomed shot of the Vatican.
The domed Pantheon in the distance.
Eileen then headed down the steps to the Piazza, walked back to the hotel, passing the Spanish Steps on the way. The Spanish Steps, built in the 1720s, climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top.
Later that day, Eileen and Larry walked the same loop in the opposite direction. We stopped at the Spanish Steps, walking that far with another MEF person who took a picture of us on the steps.
photo by Rami Yaron
Dinner was with another MEF attendee (David) at La Pentolaccia. We had a wonderful meal — artichoke and parmesan reggiano appetizer, eggplant parmesan, fettuccini with porcini mushrooms, and a delicious dessert.
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Larry and Eileen Samberg
