“Rome is magic“ – Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Everyone has their own description of Rome, be it romantic, timeless or breathtaking…it just appeared magical to us. There is something phenomenal about the way this city has been operating since ages. It is still standing tall against the test of time. The experiences which one will feel while watching Colosseum for the first time, the humdrum at the Spanish steps, the grandiose at the Vatican and people gazing at Piazza Navona, we are sure they all are going to connect to their Yūgen Vibes.
Arrival
Our 12 day journey started from London Gatwick Airport to Fiumicino Roma Airport. We arrived at our hotel a little late in the night. Our stay was booked at this small but beautiful boutique hotel Relais de La’Opera. The staff was immensely friendly and helpful.
As we were practically starving and running on fumes, they recommended and pointed us to a lovely Irish pub and restaurant which was open that late in the night. We would highly recommend Flann O’Brien. The food was nice and reasonably priced. The best part is it is open till 2 am in the morning and if you are in the via Palermo vicinity, it’s a place not to be missed.
Out in the city
Given we had just two days in Rome, so following the footsteps of multitude of tourists, our first stop of excursion was Colosseum too. A sight to behold, it was a delight to wander through this massive amphitheatre.
Quick Tip– We would recommend booking tickets online in advance for Colosseum just to skip the long queues.
Our next stop was Altare Della Patria. It is a beautiful marble monument that was built in honour of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy. We did not have time to go inside, so we just clicked few pictures from outside. August in Rome is scorching, no doubt most of the tourists were chasing shelter and shade.
Quick Tip- A light day bag would always come handy, packed with essentials like cooling spray, sun protection, a small umbrella, blister tapes, water and some nibbles for munching. A big summer hat would be very invaluable too.
Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine and Palatine Hill are all located in close proximity. These are perfectly walkable excursions only if sensible footwear is your thing. Unlike me, I’m still clueless till this date why I chose to wear my brand new ballerinas which just gave me blisters in double digits (don’t know which way to look).
A quick rickshaw ride back to the hotel seemed a sensible option in that severe heat. It was a fun and exhilarating ride. It was the first rickshaw ride of our little one’s life and he was excited beyond explanation. A short siesta later, we were ready to explore the city again.
Quick tip – Summers in Rome are very brutal. We would recommend booking a room with an air conditioner if you are visiting Rome in summers.
The classic Rome walk
Sadly, Trevi Fountain was under maintenance when we visited and we were really bummed. We cannot explain enough how gutted we were. To be honest, there was a lot of construction and renovation work going on around most of the major landmarks when we visited Rome.
It started to cool down a bit in the evening. We started walking towards Spanish Steps. It is such a bustling and beautiful site. We loved spending time there. Our perfect pastime was just to keep ducking in and out of the streets and alleys. It was amazing to see modern buildings and ruins right next to each other. The quintessential Italian cafes, beautiful Piazzas, luxury and high street stores, beautiful architecture and ruins are sure to bring you so much joy and leave you awestruck at the same time. How can we forget food?? We loved our share of carbs and gelato.
It was such a delight to watch a newly married couple coming out of the church and down the Spanish Steps. Everyone was cheering for them. The whole ambience was vibrating with love and positivity.
Hop on for Vatican
We chose hop on hop off bus for our visit to the Vatican the very next day. World famous relics, sights and museums are all nestled in the Vatican. The awe inspiring architecture is sure to leave you speechless. It was an awestruck moment when our bus turned towards St. Peter’s Basilica. It surely does look magnificent.
It is a busy place. The queues are pretty long and there are scanning machines as well. But it all seemed less daunting in front of this unique and life time experience.
Quick Tip– Try to reach the Vatican a bit early in the morning. Wear appropriate clothing. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Saw a few ladies being pulled out from the queue because of their mini skirts and shorts. Or bring wrap around just for your stay inside the church.
We were lucky to see Pope in his window and witness him address the public. The sense of calmness which prevailed in the crowds while listening to the Pope was astonishing. It was quite a spiritual experience for many.
St. Peter’s Basilica is an impressive Renaissance church. The interiors are nothing short of wonder. Containing the priceless works of Michelangelo, Bernini and many more, this church leaves you astonished.
We also visited the top of St Peter’s Basilica. We took lift half way up and followed on foot for the last 320 steps. Tickets for the lift can be bought from there only for a very nominal price. Do keep in mind that the steps are very narrow and steep and it is a long climb. But the views on the top will compensate for all the hardship.
We enjoyed a lovely late lunch in one of the restaurants opposite Saint Peter’s square. It was called Don Chisciotte. Mostly all the restaurants there are a bit on the expensive side. But we were starving and they had vegetarian options too.
A beautiful postprandial walk around Castel Sant’Angelo fully refreshed us. Bus ride back to the city was equally rewarding. You can’t help but wonder at how big Rome is!!!
Finally
At the end of the day, we always find it oddly gratifying to sit undisturbed on the top floor of the bus and just see the world pass by. Our trip to Rome was quite short but it was very enriching. The shopping scene in this insanely beautiful city is wonderful too. It was very fulfilling to see all these stunning places with our then five year old son (never complaining and always walking two steps ahead of us). The possibilities of things to do in Rome are endless.
The cobblestoned streets and the exquisitely lit city in the night will leave forever imprints on your mind. We are sure the magic of Rome will pull us back soon.
