gjbarb:
Ancient things are easy to find in Rome. In a park near our hotel were these guys, standing sentry by the remains of a third-century fountain.
gjbarb:
This is the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a massive fourth-century church in Rome — much improved over the years — that's owned by the Vatican.
gjbarb:
Below the main altar is another chamber, which is said to contain a piece of wood from the original nativity of Jesus Christ. The statue in the foreground is of Pope Pius IX.
gjbarb:
As we walked, we came upon an intersection that had sprouted a fountain on every corner. It's called Quattro Fontane, of course.
