Hello this is Aya and this is another essay!

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Rome, the place of Wonders

Italy is a very nice place to visit because there are a lot of attractions inside the country. I would say if you were going to Italy for the first time then first you might want to visit the capital, Rome. If you are going with friends, family or by yourself, I have some recommendations about the most interesting attractions. I will also include my own experiences for those who would like to know how it feels like. Also I will include some pictures of the attractions in the end.

First, in Rome you will want to see the Colloseum (in Italian they say Colloseo) since that is the arena of the ancient Romans. It’s basically just a huge circular structure that has played a very important role in the history of the ancient Romans. Here is where they watched fights of gladiators, animals and slaves who fought and died (quite gruesome isn’t it?). Inside the Colloseum there are a lot of different parts, like the places where the spectators sat, and where the gladiators waited for their turn. If you are willing to pay for it you can get an audio guide to get more information. I basically went there and had pictures and got an audio guide, but if you are interested, you can read books and experience the fun of learning on your own before visiting.

Secondly, I recommend visiting two places: The Bocca della Verita, which was a medieval drain cover. They say that when you put your hand inside and you have told a lie, your hand will not come back out. (In Italian Bocca dela Verita means mouth of truth.) It’s a nice place where you can get lots of pictures. My experience with the Bocca della Verita was quite short and I didn’t put my hand in myself. It was a little creepy (I think I’ll put my hand in next time. Hmmm……). Next will be the Trevi Fountain, it’s a good place for pictures and you can make wishes by throwing in coins. It is a beautiful fountain and has a statue with a Greek god on it. I have visited the Trevi Fountain and it’s really great for taking pictures because of the beautiful statues. I also threw a coin for good luck!

Third is Vatican City. There you will find the huge St. Peter’s Square and is a perfect place for more pictures. In the square you will find St. Peter’s Basilica, which is spectacular and has a large dome on it, you will not miss it. The Vatican museum is where you will find the Sistine Chapel, with a very large painting of the Last Judgment painted by Michelangelo*. Michelangelo is a famous painter who has many paintings in the Vatican museum. The experience I’ve had was a bit overwhelming at that point in my age but still, the main point of interest here for me is the Sistine Chapel. But the guard shouts “Silence!” many times just because the hall is too loud because of too many visitors.

So Rome is a good place to start in if you are beginning to travel and you want to learn about many different things about art, architecture, and culture. My experiences in Rome have taught me that it is a wonderful place to have a holiday in (unless you hate the heat in the summer….). I would say if you are a budding traveler (or an architect who could not think of a design!) who likes to learn, Rome is the best place to start your explorations.

Here are some pictures of the attractions!

This is Bocca della Verita.

You put your hand in the mouth.

  The Colloseum from an angle.

The Last Judgement painted by Michelangelo.*more information on the star

Trevi Fountain (More beautiful in real life…).