04-11: The most impressive church yet! (and I have seen a lot of churches)

 

Breakfast as Tesaccio Market: Polpette di Manzo – a meatball stuffed with cheese and a pestacchio crust. Delicioso!

 

The Portico ofOctavia 

 Built in 146 BCE.
Refurbished by Augustus in 27 BCE and dedicated to his sister Octavia. It has burned down numerous times since then.

 

Temple ofApollo Sosianus

 

Theatre of Marcellus 

The space was cleared for construction by Julius Caesar. He was murdered before construction. It was completed by Augustus and named after his nephew Marcus Claudius Marcellus.

 

San Luigi deiFrancesi 

Built 1515 – 1589

It is the National Church of France in Rome

 

 Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs)

The original building of the Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri was a bath house commissioned by Emperor Maximian in 297 AD and was completed in 306 AD. The church was built in the 16^th Century. This might be the most impressive of all the churches I have seen. Its design is unique. I love the open space, as well as its massiveness: 430 feet by 344 feet by 246 feet high. Michelangelo worked on a section of the church from 1563-1564, until his death. The work was carried on by his pupil, Jacopo Del Duca.

 

Today was he most crowded day yet. I was told that this Sunday is Palm Sunday, and that it will only get more crowded until Easter. I need to be thoughtful of my walks and avoid the old section of Rome until after Easter.