Santa Maria

 

Built on an ancient foundation, the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere had so much beauty that it was impossible to do it justice by camera.    The frescos are clearly intact and there were medieval mosaics on the arch and half-dome of the apse (built around 1130).  We had a leisurely wander around a mostly uncrowded church, and then continued exploring through the piazza and walked past many restaurants, surreptitiously peeking at the platters in front of the happy diners.  Trastevere is a popular spot for the locals and tourists alike and it buzzes with activity - street corner musicians, sidewalk artists and hawkers all help to make up a very cool and interesting passeggiata.  It’s still pretty hot here but once the sun goes down, the wandering is very pleasant indeed.