Vicki's Photo Tour of Rome, Italy - May 2008

Sightseeing in some of the worlds most famous (and busiest) places provides an interesting challenge - getting the shot uncluttered and making it feel like something no one has seen before. Rome in May has to be as beautiful (and beloved) a subject as exists on the planet. Join me for a stroll.......
Photos and captions by Vicki Smith

In the center of St. Peters square stands this 25.5-meter-tall obelisk, which dates from 13th-century BC Egypt and was brought to Rome in the 1st century to stand in Nero's Circus some 275 yards away. It was moved to its present location in 1585. The task took four months and is said to have been done in complete silence on pain of death. If you include the cross on top and the base, the obelisk reaches 40m. There are drawings of the pully system they used to raise it, it was incredibly complicated and it's a wonder they managed it

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In the center of St. Peters square stands this 25.5-meter-tall obelisk, which dates from 13th-century BC Egypt and was brought to Rome in the 1st century to stand in Nero's Circus some 275 yards away. It was moved to its present location in 1585. The task took four months and is said to have been done in complete silence on pain of death. If you include the cross on top and the base, the obelisk reaches 40m. There are drawings of the pully system they used to raise it, it was incredibly complicated and it's a wonder they managed it