115 more days...

SO MUCH TO DO...

...So Little Time!

There are so many great places and sites we all want to see while we are on the cruise at the 5 fabulous ports of call. There is only so much time and money and so I was wondering....
what places are you hoping to see in Spain, Italy and France? We can't possibly see everything, (I believe there are about 100 land excursions to select from!), but we are sure to get a fine taste of the Mediterranean culture and lifestyle, art and cuisine.

I, personally, would love to see the Trevi Fountain in Rome...The Fontana di Trevi or Trevi Fountain is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. This impressive monument dominates the small Trevi square located in the Quirinale district.

(Click on the image to see the fantastic detail!)

Aqua Virgo

The Trevi fountain is at the ending part of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC. It brings water all the way from the Salone Springs (approx 20km from Rome) and supplies the fountains in the historic center of Rome with water.

Construction of the Fountain

In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by Bernini was halted a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban VIII. Salvi based his theatrical masterpiece on this design. Construction of the monumental baroque fountain was finally completed in 1762.

The Fountain

The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea.
On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs, one of them shows Agrippa, the general who built the aqueduct that carries water to the fountain.

Tossing a Coin

The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain. Approximately $3500 is thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day and the coins are collected at night, and used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's poor population.

Please comment on what excursions and sites you would most like to see!

Cruise along and enjoy...^_~
Karen