Our Italian Honeymoon: The Colosseum

Update:  I also never got around to posting this one about visiting the Colosseum on our honeymoon!  One of my favorite parts!    

I was the most looking forward to seeing the Colosseum.  Having read about it in books, I couldn't wait to see what it really looked like today and learn the history surrounding it.  Previously, the Colosseum was in the center of the city.   Now, I would say its on the far side of the city just outside of the Roman Forum.

We ate lunch right outside the Colosseum that day.  Yes, it was very touristy and overpriced.  But sometimes you just need to do all the touristy things.

After lunch we headed to explore the Colosseum.  Jeremy is super-responsible and an incredible planner (that's one of the many reasons he's perfect for my unorganized self :) )  He ordered our tickets to everything way in advance.  I was so grateful because the line for tickets to the Colosseum was super long.  We just got to bypass everyone :)  Think Fast Pass at Disney World :)  So if you ever visit Italy, order your tickets in advance!

The Colosseum is so much more than I imagined.  It's huge.  Huge!  It's amazing to think of how incredible the Romans were.  They were WAY before their time.  It could hold between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators.  That's as large as most football stadiums.  

The Colosseum served as a source of horrendous entertainment for the Romans.  They would hold gladiator contests, mock sea battles, executions, animal hunts and classical mythology.  Aqua-ducts ran to the Colosseum not only to provide public restrooms, but also to flood the stage for the mock sea battles.  Can you imagine?  When they would do animal hunts they would bring in vegetation to portray the animal's natural habitat as the hunters would hunt them.  

Beneath the stage, they housed prisoners and fierce animals who would participate in the events.  A series of pulleys and levers would bring the animals up to the unsuspecting captives to fight them off.  

Later on, the Colosseum served as the scene of the re-enactment of the Passion of the Christ.  Ironic, isn't it?  There are drawings on the walls of scenes of Christ's death.  If you look very closely, you can see the place of the three crosses etched in the wall.

In it's splendor, the Colosseum and the rest of the buildings of Rome were covered in marble.  These buildings were later stripped of their marble to finance costly wars.  The holes that cover much of the building surface serve as a reminder of the marble that once graced the exterior.  

The stairs were extremely steep!  They were a workout to walk up and down.  I picture the ancient Roman women walking up and down them in their long dresses and sandals.  I don't know how they did! 

We could have easily spent multiple days walking around the Colosseum, there is so much to explore.  It's a shame that a large portion of it has been destroyed by natural disasters and wars.  I'm sure it was beautiful in its time.  

A friend had studied abroad for a summer in Rome and urged us to visit the Colosseum at sunset.  We made sure to make our way back near the end of the day and were so glad we did.  If the Colosseum is beautiful in the day, it is purely magical at nighttime.  

Photographers line up in droves, hoping to catch the perfect image.  This will probably forever be my favorite picture of our honeymoon.  I love this man!

Although it was and still is beautiful, there is a feeling of eeriness that surrounds the Colosseum.  It's impossible to walk around a not feel it.  A place of splendor, representing the greatest Rome had to offer that was also the scene of such torture, such barbarism is hard to imagine.  Christians were martyred there.  Innocent lives were taken from them, all for the pleasure of the entertainment of the Romans.  A cross now stands were paganism once ruled.  Part of the beauty of God's grace.  

What type of society existed, so shortly after Christ walked the Earth that found pleasure out of murder, out of torture, of misery?  Found entertainment in other's meaningless deaths.  It is hard to picture such a time, but I feel it is a part of what led to their demise.

Our Italian Honeymoon: Florence, Italy

Update:  Well, a year and a half later, I am just now realizing I never posted these posts on our honeymoon.  So the story continues....


After spending time in Rome, we hopped on a train and 3 hours later arrived in Florence, Italy.  Traveling by train is so simple in Europe.  I wish we had the same type of rail system here in the states.  I would love to jump on a train and be in Chicago a few hours later!

First, lets take a minute to talk about this picture.  That's Jeremy carrying my suitcase and his.  Mines the black one.  Luckily, you can't see his expression because I'm pretty sure at this point he might have been reconsidering our marriage ;)  Before we went on our honeymoon Jeremy urged me to consider bringing a backpack like his, but I argued with him saying that my clothes would get all wrinkled, my stuff wouldn't fit...blah blah.  So then he told me he would NOT carry my suitcase for me.  Well.... obviously you can tell he stuck to that by the picture!  

Florence was truly beautiful.  Much more scenic than Rome.  The train ride to Florence through Tuscany was gorgeous.  Above is the hotel we stayed at.  We stayed at all Hilton properties while in Europe which I would highly recommend.  It's just nice to know exactly what to expect.  This hotel also had television stations in English, score!  No more BBC for us!  

This was a park right across the street from our hotel.  We never did figure our what the large buildings in the background were.  I would love it if one of you reading knew!

As soon as we got there we headed out into the town exploring.  We had to stop for gelato, since you know, we hadn't had it in at least 12 hours.  

One of the main attractions of Florence, The Duomo.  Another beautiful church.  Very different architecture in Florence than what we saw in Rome.

Also in Florence is Michelangelo's's statue of David.  This is a replica.  The original is housed in the building directly behind the replica.  

Florence was my favorite city to explore.  It was smaller than Rome, with less tourists and beautiful scenery.  It was truly romantic to get to walk the streets and venture to wherever our feet may lead.  Very serene.

Ponte Vecchio (pictured beneath) is a unique shopping district featured on a bridge that spans the river.  It houses jewelry stores full of beautiful antique pieces.  I wish we were wealthy enough to buy pieces to bring back!

At the end of a curvy drive, Michelangelo's plaza sits at the top of the city.  It is stunning.  Truly breathtaking.  You can see views of the entire city of Florence and houses nestled in the hills.  Tourists and locals alike flock to take in the sunsets each night.

We hadn't known about the overlook but wondered why everyone was cramming on a bus that only had one stop.  I'm so glad we did.  It's one of my favorite memories from our trip.

There was also a quaint restaurant at the top of the hill offering spectacular views while you dinned.  Does this not just scream Tuscany to you?

We ended the night next to the Duomo having one of the best Italian meals of my life and my only glass of wine while in Italy.  I know, I know.  I'm probably the only person who travels to Italy and doesn't take advantage of the freely flowing wine.  I'm just not a wine girl.