Benvenuto a tutti!

This is the post dedicated to the trip that made me fall in love with my ancestor’s home country, Italia. Looking back, we did way too much for having less than a week in the country, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. My main recommendation: Don’t do this in the middle of summer, we went at the end of August and it was terribly hot. I will begin with Rome and include the other two cities from this trip (Florence and Venice) in another post.

Rome

The capital of Italy and one of the oldest cities I’ve ever visited. This crazy city is kind of dirty and definitely full of people, but it has a unique charm. My favorite part was getting lost in the little streets that led you to the best restaurants and most spontaneous plazas. I want to note that there aren’t as many places as I’d like, but this is because we only spent a few days in the city.

Can’t miss in Rome: FOOD EDITION

Gelato at LemonGrass

Not only do they have excellent customer service with very helpful staff, but they have one the best gelato flavors I’ve ever tried. Lemongrass (white chocolate and lemon) is the most incredible tasting flavor. Portions are good and prices are similar to other gelaterias, but the taste is definitely the best! Recommend 100%.

Meatballs and Wine at Cul de Sac

Need I say more than what these images show?

Great food, good prices, unlimited selection of wine, tight spaces and friendly Italian servers. We went here twice in our 3 day stay, it was THAT good. Must get the meatballs but truthfully everything is delicious here.

Can’t miss in Rome: MAIN ATTRACTIONS

Colosseum

While planning the trip I didn’t understand why anyone would pay to go inside the Colosseum, I mean all the images I saw were from the outside and that was more than enough for some ruins.. well I was extremely wrong. Going inside the Colosseum is a MUST.

The structure in itself is outstanding, but once you go inside, you feel the energy of the place, hear the stories of what went on inside, walk through the underground tunnels and see it at a whole different level.

Because this is one of the most visited monuments in the world (over 7 million annually) I suggest you buy the tickets in advance. The official website with all the options is here. Tickets vary in price ranging from 12 to 25 euros on their site. I purchased the group option with a guide at 20 euros which is what I’d recommend, since going inside without the stories just seems like a lot of… you guessed it, RUINS! 😉

Do pay close attention to all the different entrances at the Colosseum and make sure you’re at the right one. Go early. It is very confusing and asking for instructions in Italian is no fun (when you don’t really speak Italian lol).

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The Vatican

Housing one of the biggest museums I’ve ever seen, and a city-state, the Vatican is home to some of the world’s most wonderful riches. This deserves a day (or two if you’re thorough) since this city-state includes the museum, the Basilica and the Tombs.

If you aren’t enjoying going from Italian website to Italian website, translating and figuring out where to buy tickets, I’d suggest you purchase an all inclusive ticket on TripAdvisor or Viator.
This tour is good if you want to do everything is a good amount of time, in just 3 hours and for around $65.

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Vatican Tombs

An amazing and hidden experience was visiting the Vatican Tombs. These are located underneath the Basilica and have very limited visitor access. You must make a reservation before going as they only allow groups of up to 12 people and only a few times a day. The cost is about 12 euros and they are definitely worth it. Something to note is that you must arrive at least 10 minutes early. We arrived 5 minutes late and had to beg for them to let us in. I have no pictures since none are allowed, but believe me it is worth the visit. You can find more info here.

Seeing the Pope

The general audience (better known as a papal audience) is a weekly gathering that the Catholic Church does in Rome which includes prayers, blessings and a homily. The Papal Audience is always held Wednesday mornings (around 10am) and almost every Wednesday when the pope is in Rome. The location is next to or in the Vatican, in St Peter’s Square.

I went back and forth a lot trying to find tickets. Tickets are FREE and are only needed if you want seats. You can find them here.
We went a few hours earlier instead and just sat in the plaza waiting. Everyone just sits on the ground or stands around the area. As you can see from the picture, everyone stands up to greet (and take pictures of) the pope as he rides by.

Something to note is that this isn’t a mass. It’s basically a way to the see Pope as millions around the world travel to see him. Since the Pope travels a lot, make sure to check he is in town, here.

Fontana Di Trevi

A breathtaking monument in the middle of Rome. Go. Throw your coin. Make your wish. Go back. Do it again.

We visited the Fountain 3 different times in our 3 day Rome stay. It seems like a totally different place early in the morning, late in the afternoon and at night. If you want to take a few pictures and videos, I suggest you go early in the morning as to not fight with the crowds.

Something I must say as a closing note to this article is to make sure you include time to just walk and get lost. One of my main memories from Rome was sitting down in random little cafes in passing and enjoying the people watching.

Any other main items you’d fit in a few days in Rome?