Friends, what memories of Rome and Italy are evoked by watching the coverage of Pope John Paul's death and funeral? What impressed you most about Rome when you visited? Do you want to go back?

I do.

Memories of a very warm summer. Romans coming out into the piazzas to cool, rather than staying inside, alone, in their air conditioning. Beautiful, well dressed people...riding Vespas. The Vatican, the faithful, the priests and nuns....everywhere. A very vibrant city among the ancient ruins.

Being at the top of Castel Sant'Angelo one January Saturday, just at dusk. The lights of the Vatican were just coming on as I sat at an outdoor table at the snack bar, sipping a cappucino and taking in the lovely view, with twilight descending. The sky was lavendar, and the lights were like a beacon home.

BC

Oh, bookchick, that sent chills down my spine!
Are there a lot of steps to get to the top of Castel Sant'Angelo?

Not that I recall, and the incline, IMO, is not super-steep.

BC

It seems to me there are more ramps than actual stairs to reach the top. We sat there one afternoon, drinking wine and eating potato chips (sharing the latter with a pigeon). The view is spectacular and the rather stark outside look is deceiving. Some of the papal rooms are very pretty.

The last time we were in Rome we went on Sunday to Piazza San Pietro for the Pope's address, and while watching the window for his appearance his voice came over a loud speaker. He was in the Basilica conducting mass.

New Year's Day, 2005, we went to St. Peter's Square to hear the Pope address the people from his window. It was an awe-inspiring experience for me, although I am not Catholic. I really felt like I was witnessing something historically important. Turns out I was.

Seeing the pope in st peter's square last summer with my teenage son who was so mesmerized he didn't want to leave!

Thanks, bookchick & Giovanna. I must add this to my list! I was already planning to see it but wasn't sure about going to the top.

Thanks for the reminder of wonderful times in Rome everyone. Had similar experiences at the Castel Sant'Angelo - sitting out enjoying a cold beer and chips! I don't remeber the latin phrase - but in one of the rooms was the slogan "make haste slowly" - one of my favorite sayings.

I have been to Rome twice before, but never have I been in the Castel Sant'Angelo. It always looked so baren to me.

Obviously I didn't read up on it before I left. So you think it is worth my while to venture in. What is in there to see? And is there a restaurant on the roof where you can order food, wine, chips? Seems everyone was eating there.

Grazie for any thoughts.

Eurogals, Castel Sant'Angelo is most definitely worth a visit. It is a structure with a very rich and vivid history: Hadian originally constructed it to house his mausoleum in the year 1 AD. It has served as a papal residence and a military fortress and prison. The final scene of the opera "Tosca" takes place there. The rooms once occupied by Pope Paul III, and his private chapel are open to the public. There is a "bar" on the top, it's really a small cafe, and there are tables inside and outside. There's a lovely statute of the Archangel Michael in one of the courtyards. The Archangel Michael is considered the patron saint of Castel Sant'Angelo, and is credited with saving some of its residences from one of the plagues that ravished the Roman population.

BC

Bookchick: Thanks for your kind response. I'm leaving for Italy April 28 and will be in Rome on May 5. I will definitely make a point of visiting this site.

We too, my husband and 4 college age children, were at the Pope's Jan.1, 2005 mass of World Peace, and actually had tickets to the mass inside St. Peter's Basillica. Arriving very early to insure a seat, we had no idea that the square was full of people and the mass was viewed by those on big screen TVs. The Pope was very frail on this day, his voice hardly audible. He greeted the congregation in his typical, amazing manner of 7 or 8 languages. I think his window visit after the mass to address the crowds in the square was cut short, because he only spoke in 3 languages, Italian, Spanish, and Polish, but not in English.

I felt the presence of God more than any other time in my life. Love for this man radiated throughout the city on this day. "Viva la popa" was heard in many different languages.

Without exception, all four of my kids said seeing the pope was the best part of thier Italian holiday. We are deeply saddened by his death, but feel that we are so lucky to have been a part of the Pope's last New Year's Day Mass of World Peace, more so than ever, bacause that is what he was all about.