Italy is always a love story and Rome is no exception even though some parts of the city is gritty and it might make you reconsider some of your life choices. Nevertheless, Rome is a top European holiday destination.
Rome is a quaint old city, with incredible history dating back to 753BC. It is a city that has been built over different civilisations and this is evidenced by the ancient ruins all over. In Rome, you will find 2000 year old temples, fountains, monuments, centuries old cobblestone roads, and magnificent arts of work.
You can spend your time here walking through the cobbled streets and gawking at the many historic sites across the city or you can make it your mission to eat the many delicious food on offer. Whatever you do, you won’t regret visiting the cultural capital of Italy.
Where to stay in Rome:
- Trastevere – this is a trendy neighbourhood, filled with cafes, bars and restaurants. This area is alive with tourists and locals till late in the night. You will find the accommodation that suits your budget here.
- Spanish Steps – this is an upmarket tourist area with some of the top tourist attraction in Rome is situated around here and as expected, accommodation is a bit more pricy.
- Termini – if you are on a budget, staying around the Railway Station might be for you as you will find good budget accommodation here and town is easily accessible from here.
What to do in Rome:
Trevi fountain – this is one of the world’s most famous fountain and there is a reason for it. The intricacy of the designs of the sculpture (statue of oceanus, sea horses, tritons) and the other decorations are quite impressive.- The Colloseum – this roman amphitheatre was built in 70-80AD and the Romans used to hold gladiator combats, games and other forms of entertainment. This is the largest amphitheatre ever built and you can take a tour to marvel at the ingenuity it took to build such a structure when modern day machinery as we know it did not exist.
- Pantheon – this spectacular former temple was constructed by the Roman’s in 118AD, it is located in the center of town and the imposing structure built with bronze doors, coloured marbles, huge granite Corinthian columns and topped with a magnificent dome is a highlight.
- Roman forum – this is an important site of ancient Roman ruins. The temples of Saturn, Titues and Vesta with several arches and squares
- Vatican – Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Square, St Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Museums.
Where to Eat in Rome:
- Cantina e Cucina – you are in Italy, having pasta is sort of a must and here is the place to have it.
- Osteria Luci in cucina – fresh ingredients cooked to perfection.
Let me know in the comments, if you’ve been to anywhere in Italy and what you think of it and if you will visit Rome.
A few more pictures from my visit to Rome:
Verdict: Rome is a cultural capital in Europe and deservedly so. Seeing the genius of the ancient Romans, exploring the history and the cuisine will make it worth your time.
Pro-tip: 3 days is enough to explore Rome. If you have more days, take a train out of Rome and enjoy other parts of italy.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think of Rome. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter and follow @livingwithtola on instagram.
You can also check out some of my other posts.
What a city! So much to see and do – so much art and history to delve into. Loved the place!
Fantastic structure…a tribute to the builders who constructed such buildings without the benefit of modern technology! And to the fact that they have lasted so long!
t