Garden of Villa

In the centre of Sorrento, this garden is private and not open to the public so this is a great way to see what's behind the gate and the views from this magnificent estate.

Interesting to know that the eruption of Vesuvius that levelled Pompeii also resulted in a Tsunami that devastated the Sorrentine peninsular back in AD79

Il Vallone dei Mulini Sorrento Italy

Il Vallone dei Mulini (Deep Valley of the Mills) is a ruin in the middle of Sorrento, abandoned in 1866 perhaps due to rising humidity.

This video gives the ruin some context in the urban environment.

"The name "Valley of the Mills", derives from the existence of a mill - functioning since the beginning of the '900's - used for grinding wheat. Attached to the mill, rose a sawmill which furnished chaff to the Sorrentine cabinet makers. Everything is completed by a public wash-house used by the women of the community.The creation ofTasso Square, since 1866, determined the isolation of the mill area from the sea, provoking a sharp rise of the percentage of humidity, which made the area unbearable and determined its progressive abandon.The new microclimate favoured the development of a thriving and spontaneous vegetation in which the dominant element is the Phillitis Vulgaris, a splendid and rare model belonging to the fern family.

Today it is possible to have access to the remaining part of the Deep Valley crossing antique ramps engraved into the tuff with entrance from a trapdoor near the Stragazzi parking." More   

Pancrazia Restaurant Secret: Theatre Of Pompey

Ristorante Da Pancrazio Piazza del Biscione 92, 00186 Rome RM

This rather nice restaurant away from the madness of Campo di Fiore has a rather enchanting history that they are willing to share but don't make much fuss about. 

You see their basement is the remains of part of the original construction of Pompey's Theatre, dating back to 55 BC.

It is interesting to be able to go a bit 'off the beaten track' in this city of ruins and see something less well-visited. 

See more on the history 

The restaurant owners have been very amenable to visitors seeing their historical basement.  Having visited, it is a good idea to stay for lunch and enjoy the table of this fine establishment. 

And good manners. 

Rome Ruins Day One

First ruins to see in Rome

So this is the first day in Rome and of course the ancient sites are going to be first port of call. 

I'll add some notes below purely because I hate seeing things and getting no answers from those who are supposed to know about these archaic sites! 

Colosseum

From Wikipedia "The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, built of concrete and stone. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started in 72 AD^[2] under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus,^[3] with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96).^[4] The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (Flavius, from the gens Flavia).

Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.^[7]

The Colosseum is also depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.".

That's OLD! Hard to imagine, coming from a country that has such a short history.

Outside Pantheon

Interior of the Pantheon

Again  from our friends at Wikipedia "The Pantheon  Latin: Pantheon, from Greek: Πάνθειον (ἱερόν), an adjective meaning "(temple consecrated) to all gods") is a building in Rome, Italy, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in about 126 AD.^[2]

The building is circular with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered, concretedome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.^[3] The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 metres (142 ft).^[4]

It is one of the best-preserved of all Roman buildings. It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" but informally known as "Santa Maria della Rotonda."^[5] The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda.' Quite a long and varied history. You can find more on it here 

So much ancient building in Rome and still more modern building too. 

It's good too.  And a duomo of a church most everywhere you look.