Peter is here!

Today was the day we were booked to the Scavi... but that wasn't until 3.30 pm so more on that later.  Leona was hanging out to have a look around shops - not a favorite pastime of Steve's, so she met up with our Aussie friends while Steve went wandering around some of the churches.

His first stop was St Peter in Chains which remembers Peter being held prisoner before his crucifixion. However, it is also famous for being the home of Michelangelo's statue of Moses which is part of the tomb of Pope Julius II.

He then went to St Stephen Rotondo which was near the Irish College where he lived in Rome but was closed for renovation while he was there. Getting there he discovered that he had left his memory card for the camera in his computer. From there he wandered back via his old University and the Trevi Fountain.

Meanwhile Leona bought a pair of sandals.

We then met at St Peter's for the tour of the Scavi, the archaeological excavations under the basilica of St Peter's. The Scavi tour is an absolute MUST if you are coming to Rome - though you need to book on line well before you leave home. St Peter's was built on the site of an ancient arena and this is where St Peter was martyred. He was then buried outside the arena site and his grave noted by the early Christians. Later, a pagan city for the dead or necropolis was built on the site. This is like a town of mausoleums built above the ground. When the Roman Emperor  Constantine became Christian in the 4th century he decided to build a major basilica over the site of Peter's grave which already had had a structure built over the site. The necropolis was filled in with dirt from the nearby hill to level the ground, meaning the necropolis one sees on the Scavi tour is in excellent condition. In the 16th century the present basilica was built on the same site. At that time the obelisk that marked the place of Peter's death was moved to what is the centre of the piazza now. So while tradition knew this was where St Peter was buried there was no archaeological evidence. During World War II secret excavations were made and the empty tomb of Peter was found in 1950. But there were no bones. Three years later they found a wall that was built by Constantine with graffiti on it saying "Peter is here." Inside the wall they found bones of a 70 year old man they believe to be Peter the apostle. An amazing experience. Unfortunately no photos allowed hence the long explanation.

We then spent some time in the basilica itself... it was full of people but as always it was great to be in St Peters with Peter!

In the evening we went with our Australian friends from the Tantur course to Piazza Navona and one of Steve's favourite restaurants. It was a great night!