Ciao! Welcome to the story of our walk around Rome. There is so much to see in Rome that one trip is definite not enough to see everything. On our first full day in Rome we followed Rick Steves Heart of Rome audiotour. The walk starts at the Campo de’ Fiore which has been an outdoor market for centuries. The walk continues through central Rome stopping along the way to see piazzas and statues. What we love about Rome is that you can turn a corner and stumble upon a magnificent building or fountain from the Renaissance or Baroques eras or older. One example is the Piazza Navona which was down a narrow street. 
The piazza was originally built in 80 AD and three enormous fountains were added in the 15th century. The most famous of the fountains is the Four Rivers fountain which was designed and sculpted by Bernini. 
In the center of the fountain is obelisk (stone pillar) which was taken during a war with the empire of Egypt and erected in the square in 80 AD.
The walk continues onto the Pantheon. 
We were not prepared for what the beauty of the inside of this ancient building originally built by the son in law of Caesar Augustus in 27 BC (it was rebuilt in 120 AD). The Pantheon was build as a temple to all gods (think Ancient Rome gods) and is now used as a Catholic Church. The walls of the Pantheon are covered in multicolored marble with marble columns and niches with marble statues. 
But the most spectacle part is the dome. The dome is 142 feet high and 142 feet wide and is made of concrete (a Roman invention). This dome was the inspiration for the duomo in Florence and several domes in the Vatican. 
The next highlight of our walk through the heart of Rome was the Trevi Fountain. This relatively new fountain was built in the late 1700s to showcase Rome’s love of water. The beauty of the fountain was difficult to capture in a picture due to its size and you’re missing the roar of water falling over the rocks.
The final stop was the Spanish steps, so named because they are near the Spanish embassy to the Vatican. (Trust me the steps are there under all the people). 