Ike, Cheryl and Dave set off early again to check out some more sights of Rome. Their first stop is the magnificent monument the Altara della Patria , or Altar to the Fatherland, honouring Italy’s first King, Vittorio Emmanuel II following the unification of Italy in 1861. It stands 70 metres tall and 135 metres wide, and houses the tomb of an unknown soldier from the First World War. The King himself was interred at the Pantheon.
Then Cheryl and Dave took Ike to see the Trevi fountain. This 30 mtre high fountain depicts Neptune riding into the sea on a his horse-drawn chariot. You’ll notice that one horse is obedient whilst the other is not; representing the unpredictable nature of the sea. People say that if throw a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand then you will surely return to Rome, throw two to find your true love, and three to get married. Each week the coins are collected and a large proportion of the money is given to help poor families. Cheryl and Dave failed to mention how many coins Ike threw in!
On their way back to their accommodation they visited the Largo di Torre Argentina, here are a number of temples dating as far back as the 2nd century BCE. And it is also the site of the ruins of Pompey theater where the Roman senate held sessions, and where on 15th March 44BCE Julius Caesar was stabbed to death.
On a brighter note it is also the home of the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary. They look after all the colonies of stray cats in Rome, there are around 90 on the site and a number live indoors as they are blind, disabled or elderly cats. They do have a spay/neuter programme but have been not been able to do much due to the pandemic, you can visit the cats (not all are friendly) and long-distance adoption is available to help pay for the care of the cats.
Rome and suspected Iceland
Have a nice trip