Friday, June 19

.  We started the day visiting the Church of St. Peter in Chains which is believed to have been built over the prison in Roman times.  The main attraction there was the statue of Moses

by Michaelangelo for the tomb of Pope Julius II

Our next stop was the Roman Forum .
 The returning victors were pictured on the Arch of Titus in the Forum 
carrying the big gold menorah from the Temple

Before lunch we also visited the Coliseum.   It was interesting that the  Roman Coliseumwas built by the family of generals turned emperors who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.  

.   After lunch

we made a trip outside of Rome to visit the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. There is a wonderful sculpture of Christ by Bernini in the church that was built over the catacombs.

 This is St Sabastian who was martyred by a firing squad with arrows.  These did not kill him so they beat him to death.

  We returned to Rome for dinner at our hotel.