Night wanderings

Rome is the most surreally beautiful in the 20 minutes or so between daylight and night. On my way to the Angelicum last week I took a detour past the Vittorio Emmanuale monument (known as the "wedding cake" and "typewriter" by Italians who object to its monstrous size and obstentatious placement) and captured a wee slice of the city in twilight:

Approaching Vittorio Emmanuale:



Chiesa (Church) S. Maria d'Aracoeli, well worth the killer climb:



The steps leading up of Michaelangelo's Campidoglio (which is located to the left of the Typewriter and S. Maria and in front of the Forum):



The Campidoglio:



The famous figure of Marcus Aurelius upon his horse. Cola di Rienzo (an important dude) once converted the horse into a fountain for a banquet, with wine flowing from one nostril and wine from the other. According to legend, a pope hung a rebellious city prefect from the statue by his hair. In my opinion, it merely serves a romantic purpose here:



See, he's riding off into the sunset (that one's for you, Molls). By himself:



And finally, on my way back to catch my friend. Be not deceived - that's not the Colesseum, but the Teatro di Marcello.