Roma

Step back in Time.

Known as one of the most romantic and historical cities in the world, we recently ventured off to explore Rome, Italy. A city that takes you back in time with its ruins, churches, museums, buildings and more. We highly recommend visiting in the spring or fall when there are less crowds and the weather is mild. Since Rome was not built in a day, we did need a couple of days to not only explore the city, but enjoy its cuisine and wine.

We kicked off our tour with Rome’s most famous structure, il Colosseo. Located just east of the Roman Forum, the massive stone amphitheater was commissioned by Emperor Vespasian where games of gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights were presented to thousands of enthralled spectators. Though much of the original Colosseum has been destroyed over time, the amphitheater is well known as an iconic symbol of Rome. We then walked to the Altare della Patria, the largest national monument in Italy built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy. Walking is a must in Rome, so from there we walked on to visit the splendid Fontana di Trevi where we tossed in a coin to inspire our return and enjoyed a gelato to finish the day.

One of our unexpected discoveries was a visit to Santa Maria dell Concezione. While the church itself is beautiful, it is the Cripta dei Cappuccini below where the bones of 4,000 Capuchin friars that died between 1528 and 1870 lie, hang and otherwise adorn the walls.
Continuing our passeggiata, we went on to visit Trastevere. Trastevere, which translates to “across the Tiber river”, is a calm oasis away from the city center of Rome and its commotion. A charming medieval and picturesque neighborhood, it is full of shops and restaurants where we enjoyed traditional Italian food and wine.

Spending a full morning at Citta del Vaticano is needed. A tiny independent state, home to the Pope and the Vatican, Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, as well as the Vatican Museums.

Thanks to its culture, food, history, and energy, Rome makes for a perfect ESCAPADITA.