Roma, Italia: the Piazza

Ok, so I may have talked a bit about the piazzas, and how they are the main pedestrain areas? Well, our first project for architecture is to pick a piazza and analyze it, creating 2D drawings and 3D models describing major aspects of the space. We have had studio every day this week; Monday and Tuesday were spent walking around Rome as a group to see select piazzas that we had to choose from. There are so many different types. S. Ignazio is in front of a church and is surrounded by buildings that curve around it, creating an embracing feeling. The piazza in front of the Pantheon is full of activity and people wanting to go to the Pantheon (or McDonalds, which happens to be right there too). Campo di Fiori is right near where we take our Italian class (or, I guess that should be the other way around). In the morning they have this beautiful market full of fresh vegetables e frutti, paste (plural of pasta), spices, clothing, jewelry- it's amazing. And then at night all of the ristorantes spill out into the piazza with their tables and it is filled with people. But the piazza I am studying is the Piazza Trilussa in Trastevere, across the river. It's about a 20-ish minute walk and is one of the first piazzas we saw with vegetation. There is a bridge for walking-only that crosses right over to it, and then a square with steps at the end that lead up to a monument. Trilussa was actually a famous Italian poet and the piazza was dedicated to him when he died. There is a small bust of him on this terraced area on the right side- oddly enough, the main monument isn't related to him at all (from what I could tell). I'm going back again tonight though, because the night life in Trastevere is very active. It is a neighborhood area outside of Rome, so it is less filled with tourists, and everyone comes to the piazza to meet up with friends before going out for drinks. And during the day, people gravitate to the steps. Actually, they make a beeline for them. And sit. Or eat gelato. Or scrutinize maps. But it's in the shade, which is always welcome.
Speaking of shade, the weather has been gorgeous! A little cold in the morning when Mira and I run, but after the muscles warm-up, it's not bad. Our morning route has taken us across the Tevere (Tiber) and today we went up the to the Vatican before turing around. A lot less people (tourists) are out at 7 in the morning! And my legs are killing me, because (and I don't think I mentioned this before), we have 131 steps to climb before we reach our floor. At each landing I think about all the gelati I'm burning off so I can stay motivated. So far it's worked.
This is a picture of a cute little teatro (red door) and gelati shop that Mira and I found on a walk around the city.

I've steered away from pasta these past two night- I've cooked up some zucchini, peperoni (bell pepper), pomodori (tomato) e patate (potato) with some spices- yum! I do want to go out and order more Italian food, but I'll probably do that this weekend sometime. I did swing by the bakery on the way home today from Trastevere and picked up boutti bouni (?). I only had a tiny bite, because I'm saving the rest for when I go back to Trastevere tonight to sketch, but it's a sweet, hard, oatmeal ball. Only .98 euro cents.
And this is a picture of Trevi fountain- throw some euro in and make a wish! They take out the money every night to give to a homeless shelter. To the right (destra) is a picture of Chris and I on my first night at the surprise visit to the Pantheon. This is the huge door!