Rome, Italy

When in Rome, you feel like you're in a different dimension. Everywhere you look, there is a masterpiece of sculpture, engineering, or architecture.  It's like Charleston on crack.  It must have been an exciting time, living in Rome and Florence during the Renaissance.  There was so much creative energy, and it was embraced and beloved by the culture in a way that never has happened before or since.

This is a detail of the Trevi fountain

This fountain is at the end of an aqueduct that dates back to 19 BC.  Work began it in 1732 AD.

I think they mean some serious business - this is at the entrance to the Vatican

Yeah, I meant to get this motion blur ; )

Detail of part of the Forum

Activity on the area where the Forum is located dates back to the 7th century BC when it was drained and made into a sewer system.   Some serious history went down there:  Marc Antony's funeral oration for Caesar (immortalized in Shakespeare's famous play) was delivered there as well as the public burning of Caesar's body.  Marc Antony displayed the severed head and right hand of his enemy Cicero at the Rostra, a structure within the Forum.  Ewwwwwwwww.

The Coliseum

Work began on the Coliseum in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian. Now that's old!