38 years to return to Rome, and 8 years this particular trip - with Roman Dott. Marino Cortellessa (also our phantastic and supremely knowledgeable guide) and Frenchman Patrick Bérard - had been in the making: only to get to the top floor of our hotel on day one of the journey right after check-in and see this. Dropped my jaw, dropped the bags, broke out the camera and started shooting. Picture no. 1 of close to a 1000 - and perhaps no better image in four days. Speaking of being in the right place at the right time. Priceless.

Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore in the background. Photograph copyright Joachim Schroeter.