The final days - Rome

We woke up early as we had a driver coming to take us around to several important Christian sites. A few months ago Tim was reading an article about six sites that Christians should visit and decided it was something he wanted to do. Our driver arrived at 8:06 and promptly whisked us away to our first stop: St. Paul Outside the Walls - a massive church outside the original city walls. We spent quite a time taking it all in with hardly any other tourists. By the time we left there were 6 tour buses and a great number of people.

Then onward to the Arch of Titus very close to the coliseum.

Our third stop was the Mamertime Prison where both Peter and Paul spent time. A tiny little cell.

After a short excursion to Castroni’s where we picked up a kilo of the best coffee beans, we were off again.

Then we drove to Trefontaine Abbey - a place with no tourists! It is outside the city and is said to be where Paul was executed. Legend has it that when Paul’s head was cut off it bounced three times and at each place a spring of water sprang up. This complex was built to commemorate this event. There are two smaller churches and one quite large one. There is also a monastery on site. In one of the small churches an order of nuns began to sing Scripture in three part harmony. What an inspiring moment.

Then we walked along the Appian Way - a road built in Roman times to allow for the movement of troops and supplies. The stones were massive and still in place. Quite unlike our present day roads and highways.

Finally, we when through some catacombs located at a church built in memory of St. Sebastian who was shot through with many arrows and died for his faith. The catacombs were built because Christians did not want to burn their dead but to bury them. They eventually became hiding places for Christians fleeing persecution. You must enter as part of a guided tour as there are at least 12 miles of catacombs and it would be very easy to loose one’s way. Sorry pictures of the catacombs were not allowed but I have included some of the attached chapel.

Then back to the hotel where we took some time to unwind. Our driver was very talkative and as his English was not the best, it took a lot to concentrate all the time.

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