Little everyday excursions!

Part of the beauty of living in a city like Rome is that there is so much to see! If we ever have a little bit of extra time on our hands, my roommates and I love to explore the city that surrounds us. Take today for example, Kelsey and I both had class at 2 in the afternoon so we woke up around 10 and went exploring before class. It was such a beautiful day outside today and since it is Valentine's Day everybody seemed to be outside and walking around. We went to the Piazza della Bocca Verita, which was only about a 15 minute walk from our apartment, and saw the Bocca della Verita that was made famous by the classic film Roman Holiday. This huge disk was believed to have been a drain cover in the 4th century BC, and now sits in the entrance to the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Bocca della Verita literally translates to "mouth of truth," and it is said that if you put your hand in its mouth and are not telling the truth, your hand will be cut off. Thank goodness I came out with my hand! After viewing the Bocca della Verita and the church, we walked around in the piazza and marveled at the ancient temples that still lie there. This piazza is supposedly a wonderful place to be in the Spring and Summer, since the temples light up at night and there is a beautiful fountain and music and great atmosphere. Gosh how I love Rome!

The Piazza della Bocca Verita with its beautiful fountain and the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in the background.

An ancient temple dedicated to the Greek god Hercules. It is one of the only temples standing in its fullness due to the fact that it was turned into a Christian place for worship, which kept people from tearing it down.

The backside of the Temple of Portunas, the god of rivers and ports. This area used to be the site of an ancient Roman port and was called the Forum Boarium, which means cattle market.

Bocca della Verita!

The inside of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.

"Cosmetesque" floors, which is a phrase used to describe the Cosmati brothers'  distinct floor work they did throughout Rome.

Ponte Rotto, which means "broken bridge." This bridge used to span across the Tiber in ancient Roman times but it fell under the pressure of the Tiber and the only part visible now is just a small fragment.

This scenery will never get old to me. I love the fact that the Tiber River is so close to where our apartment is!