Rome was Burning

Our recent trip to Rome happened to coincide with the Occupy Wall Street protest that was going on.  Unfortunately a group of anarchists took the opportunity to get involved as well.  We were on our way back from Ostia Antica (more on that trip in a follow up post) we were unaware anything was going on, when we had to wait and wait for a bus.  We decided to hop another bus that was going in the same general direction the bus was supposed to take us.  During the ride we found out why the other bus was not running.

This was our first view of SWAT teams lining the streets, further in the background were about 10,000 people coming this direction.

As we traveled further we saw the dark smoke cloud in the distance.

This is the view from the backside of Palatine Hill. At this point we thought someone may have bombed the Colloseum as it is located in the direction of the black smoke.

We subsequently learned of the protests and that the fire was from the burning of a ministry building and cars beyond the Colloseum.

SWAT teams were out everywhere.

Most of the main thoroughfares were closed as well.

A few days later we saw some of the damage that went on for blocks and blocks.