12 November 2015 - The light in Rome is SO beautiful in this season - no wonder artists were inspired!

I had promised Luke a special "Mummy time" to go to a souvenir stall for him to spend some of his money.  It is always nice to be just alone with each of my kids and they all love to have me to themselves!  Mini Colosseum bought and a few sundry items later we headed back for school.

Happy with his purchase!

After lunch we decided to go back in the direction of Piazza Navona because it is so lovely and meant that Annika didn't feel it was too far for her in her chesty state.  We did stop at the market along the river near the Castel Sant'Angelo where Tim and Annika found items they'd been looking for.

The masked Annika

 Piazza Navona was full of artists and just succumbing to the long shadows of afternoon but the buildings around were magnificent lit by the sinking sun.  Ah, Bella Roma!

Looking to the light!

Piazza Navona balcony

Shadow on the piazza with buildings lit up.

Do I know these people?

Although quite grand on one side of the Piazza Navona, the unassuming entrance of Chiesa di Santa Agnese in Agone could easily be missed. The Chiesa di Santa Agnese in Agone was built in 1652 on the site where Saint Agnes was martyred. Although the name sounds like "agony" it actually refers to "agone" the ancient Greek name for the Piazza Navona which meant "in the site of competitions" when the area was a stadium long ago.

Chiesa di Santa Agnese in Agone

Inside the church it was different from many we've seen in that there were mostly marble reliefs adorning the walls rather than paintings.. The interior of the dome was a beautiful fresco of the Assumption of Mary.  It was definitely worth a visit and a sit down looking up!

Marble relief

Tim and Annika decided to walk back to our apartment at this point as Luke, Karl and I wanted to wander up and down some little streets and enjoy old Rome.  You never know what is around the next corner!  In our case, we discovered a book and cinema shop with old fashioned movie posters which Tim loves, so we'll be back! 

Dove with olive branch - one of a few on the floor of Chieassdi Santa Agnese di Agone

We saw a sign to an exhibition called: "Optical Disillusions" and, as we had the time, decided to have a look.  The perspex rods and glass balls rolling over the copies of old paintings gave an interesting study of light refraction as well as artistic distortion.  It was only a small exhibition, but a bit of fun!
 

Little gallery on Piazza Navona: :Exhibition:"Optical disillusions"

"Optical disillusion take II"

 Once in the little lanes which radiate from Piazza Navona we discovered antique shops, retro clothing shops, second hand dealers and cafes.  The place was coming alive and probably the crowds swell as the evening progresses and more so in summer.

There are so many churches: this one appears disused..  The "church" can't possibly maintain them all.

"How much is the doggie in the window?"

Treasures in the lanes of Rome.

As we emerged from little lane the Castel Sant'Angelo caught in the sun looked amazing!  We walked down a path at the side of the castle thinking we could exit on the other side.  We had a lovely quiet walk away from traffic but had to do a circuit of the castle as there was no other way out!  It was a nice diversion with some interesting things to look at.

 

Castel Sant'Angelo framed by afternoon light.

A harpist plays...

The Castel Sant'Angelo was at one time a residence for the Pope and there were  quite a few marble reliefs depicting crossed keys.  Crossed keys, one gold (Heaven) and one silver (Earth) bound with a red cord, represent the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and are a symbol of the Papacy.  We presume that the marble keys we see in Rome are to do with this tradition.

Crossed keys - we think they are a sign of the Papacy.

From the gardens of the castle, formerly its moat.

Arches are everywhere in Italy - this appeared to have once been a walk way directly to the Vatican for the Pope who lived in the castle!

We all felt refreshed from our lovely walk and headed home as it was getting dark.  Just one more quick trip to our little local Conad supermarket where there is nearly always a queue at the deli with people sampling several cheeses before they buy and no one is in a hurry! We were behind a woman who ordered (finally) a big chunk of parmigiana which was then grated, then ordered some ham, which was duly sliced and layered and wrapped and then some ricotta, and then wanted only half a chunk of ciabatta!  We then bought the other half of the freshly cut chunk of DELICIOUS bread (and made it very easy for the deli man!) and headed home to cook dinner.