Addio 2005! Ciao 2006! {Day 3}

JANUARY 1, 2006

Since we went to sleep early, we were up before the crowds were aware the sun has risen! Our hotel "Our Lady Maria of the Conception of the Capuchins" that was commissioned in 1626 by Pope Urban VIII for his brother Antonio Barberini was was a Capuchin friar.
was right off the Piazza Barberini, so we found a church that was tucked away on Via Vittorio Veneto called the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccino, which translates to

Here's the kicker, this church is the home of a very unique crypt under it's floors. In 1631, the remains of thousands of capuchin monks were exhumes and transferred from the friary Via dei Lucchesi to the crypt and arranged along the walls. After which the monks also began to bury their own dead here as well as the bodies of poor Romans.  This would be where the monks would come to pray each night. There are remains of about 4000 friars here and it's divided into five chapels lit only natural night seeping into small cracks and fluorescent lamps. They are very elaborate and some are draped in Franciscan habits.  There is a plaque in one of the chapels that reads: 

"What you are now, we once were; what we are now, you shall be." Few photos are needed to see what I mean.

From there, we passed back through Piazza Barberini. Just so happened to have a quite large menorah in the middle. Super excited to see such inclusion! How about a festival pole next year!!!???

Headed down the street to see Trevi Fountain again. It was pretty empty except for the thousands of wine corks floating around in the water.

From there to il Vittoriano, The National Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II..

Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

 Circus Maximus

 Mamertine Prison

Final stop of the day was Saint Peters Basilica in Vatican City

January 2, 2006
Early to rise again, it was a little overcast. Headed out to Campo di Fiori to the open flower markets.

Final stop before heading back to Sardinia was the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

I can't believe I get to live here!