Just two days into my trip I was happy to discover that I wasn’t just 4 blocks from Piazza Navona, but I was also only 3 blocks from the Tiber River and Castel Sant’Angelo. The Tiber River snakes through the heart of Rome in the same way the Seine makes its way through Paris. And while the Tiber doesn’t have 37 world-renowned bridges like Paris…it has its own fair share of gorgeous bridges and statues that surround the river. I walked the Tiber from my trendy apartment starting at the Castel all the way to the Roman Forum and Coliseum. It’s a gorgeous walk…20,000 steps worth of a walk…but so gorgeous you don’t realize how long you’ve walked.
Castel Sant’Angelo was built in 134 AD by the Emperor Hadrian for his remains and that of his family. It did serve as his family’s mausoleum along with a few other Emperors until around 400 AD when it’s purpose changed. The mausoleum was turned into a fortress in defense of the sacking of Rome. It stood, but was looted and stripped. It eventually served as the Papal residence and is now a museum. Why a Papal residence? Because it’s only two blocks from Vatican City.
Vatican City is a sovereign state located within the city of Rome with only 1,000 citizens. It’s ruled by the Bishop of Rome, who happens to be the Pope. Did you know that before the Pope becomes the Pope, he is “ordained” the Bishop of Rome first? I thought that was interesting, in any event, it happened to be the final days of the “pilgrimage season” while I was there. It’s a season that happens every 7 years when Catholic faithful come to the holy city as an act of worship. There is a special door that is open for St Peter’s Basilica that the faithful enter through. When the season is over, the door is shut and the Pope blesses the masses. I had the great fortune of being present for the blessing! While I’m not Catholic, it was such a special moment to kick off a new season of my own life. That blessing certainly lite a pilot light for me…