Traveling to Rome is a great first international trip. Colosseum, European architecture, the Roman Forum, and the Vatican. What else could you want? Read on to learn more!
To be honest, much of the reason I visited Rome the first time was simply a case of being in the right place at the right time. There is ALWAYS a back story.
I had an opportunity as a student to travel to Europe as a student in 2009. What did I see in the 2009 Rome visit that made me go back in 2013? I would like to say everything.
And I plan to go back again. Yes, Rome is that good.
What is special about travel to Rome?
I swear we walked 20 miles on our first day in Rome in 2009. Truthfully it was probably more like 7. We walked the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
Found a couple of fountains – Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain, amongst so many others I don’t remember. We walked the city streets and explored the Pantheon.
Somehow, we ended up by the Spanish Steps, and it had to be a miracle when we found our way back to the hotel.
Nope, no bus between attractions here – which was great!!! Experiencing European-style cobbled streets, narrow passageways, and overhanging balconies – the inner “old city” is incredibly beautiful.
Not only could we NOT have navigated the streets with buses, but we would also have missed the opportunity to smell the flower boxes in building windows, hear the shopkeepers talking to customers, and feel the light drizzle on our faces.
Enjoy this gallery of my favorite Roman photos.
What are the highlights of travel to Rome?
Let’s start with the Pantheon.
Pagoda? Pantheon. It is all Papa Joe’s fault! Build the picture in your mind…
Walking down a narrow street (an alley really) as shopkeepers and tourists mix. The buildings are drab gray stone. It’s raining. Our leader had chosen a distinctive umbrella. The 24 of us follow a sea of umbrellas, always keeping this distinctive umbrella in sight.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the street opens into an open piazza.
And the sun starts shining and a chorus breaks out in song.
Well, no chorus, but the rain did lighten, and we realized this drab gray building on our left we had been following was our ultimate destination.
The Pantheon! Ok – I have to do the tourist thing. The Pantheon was built likely as a temple somewhere between 27 BC and 14 AD.
Yep. It’s old. Hadrian did the Roman version of “Fixer Upper” in 126 AD, resulting in the building we see now. The exterior is bland, the interior incredible. This is the largest open dome edifice still standing.
To most people would mean you look up at the open ceiling dome, right?
Nope, Papa Joe was checking out the floor drains. To each his own. He was probably the smartest one of us all cuz those suckers are original. And somehow he got it stuck in his head that the building was named the Pagoda – probably due to engraving on the cornerstone that caught his eye as we entered the piazza.
Sparky and I still tease him about Pagoda over 10 years later. The lesson here – have fun with those little things that just happen, and celebrate them.
Make your OWN stories!
Do mere words do the Roman Colosseum justice?
Holy crap. Oops, that comes later. Colosseum construction was started in 70 AD and finished in 78 AD, which makes the rest of what I have to say and show you even more amazing – at least to me.
I swear, the Roman Colosseum has to be one of the most majestic historic landmarks in Europe. Even more amazing – the Roman Forum and Constantine’s Arch are located near the Colosseum.
Talk about making a day of it!
Did you know, the floor of the Colosseum isn’t the bottom level?
Nope, there was an entire city below the Colosseum, with an ingenious pulley system to bring people and schtuff to the floor level. Seriously, the pictures don’t lie.
On any given day, there would have been a place of honor for the emperor and his guests to be seated, likely on marble seats. Common citizens had seats circling the inner ring.
When women were allowed, they had a special segregated area.
Remember, this was a strongly patriarchal society. Games were sponsored for the common folk, and it is believed citizens appreciated the opportunity to vote for a fighter to live or die, thus having a sense of power.
There would have been an air of celebration, similar to a football or soccer game. To me, that air of gaiety is difficult to reconcile with these pictures.
Viator (otherwise known as TripAdvisor) is a great resource to book your Roman Forum or Colosseum tour – and you may even save some money! Save on skip the line tickets for the Colosseum and VIP Tours
How to describe the Roman Forum?
The Roman Forum was intentionally placed between 6 of the 7 hills of historic Rome, making the Form the center of city life.
The Roman Forum is a pretty cool place. Courts were held here, religious centers were built here, and rulers lived here. Citizens had the illusion they were in the midst of their rulers, and the gods were within reach.
The way the Roman Forum sits today, it appears as a cocoon protecting antiquity, surrounded by the harried hustle of city life. Only protected by the hollow it sits in. The whole thing is pretty incredible, really.
Items of note that may be interesting to you. Julius Caesar, notably one of the most famous Roman Emporers, lived in the Forum in a house smaller than most bistros – no lie.
People still bring flowers to the Julius Caesar memorial, almost 2000 years after his death.
Some buildings in the Forum, like Julius Caesar’s, are more than 700 years old. The green doors of the Temple of Romulus are original, which isn’t remarkable until you realize they are 1700 years old.
I could go on and on, but then I would be exhausted and have to sit down. Oops… did that. On a 2000-year-old column remnant… In the Roman Forum. Imagine being able to say that yourself.
At the time, they just looked like chunks of rock. Who knew?
What was Vatican City like?
While not actually in Rome (the Vatican City is actually a separate country), one does not have to be Catholic or even Christian to gain something from a visit to Vatican City.
From the ginormous pictures in St. Peter’s Basilica made of thousands of tiles to the Vatican Museum with all the statues with phalluses cut off (parts are laying around, I think it is frowned upon to try to match the object to the owner), to the maps of ancient Italian cities, to the Sistine Chapel.
Our Vatican City experience was surreal.
Of course, being able to attend as an audience with the Pope didn’t hurt.
Which is where the holy crap comes in. When Sparky saw Pope Benedict in his pope-mobile, that was all she could say, was holy crap. 10 years later we still give her crap! a hard time.
Viator (otherwise known as TripAdvisor) is a great resource to book your Vatican City tour! The line for our Vatican Museum tour was over 2 hours long in 2013. Having the opportunity to skip that line could be a big deal for you. Save now on Vatican Skip the Line Tickets and VIP Tours.
And folks, there is so much more to the Vatican City. I’m not an expert, just a storyteller that gets long-winded sometimes.
What else do you need to know about travel to Rome?
Travel to Rome is all about the food.
Italian, yummy! Except… sorry folks. Americans are a little spoiled. Most Europeans don’t eat meat with every meal or even every day. Italy was no different.
I am sorry to report, that Insalata Di Mata, while it sounds exotic, is really just salad with seafood. Cold seafood with tentacles. And eyes. No more Insalata Di Mata for me.
Be prepared to have an open mind though, because outside of the Insalata, the food was incredible. The layers of flavor were amazing, and vino incluso was a bonus.
Whatever you do – TRY the gelato. Repeatedly. Don’t skimp on the wine. Hint – if you find a wine you really like, take some notes on it.
We were able to find one of our favorite bottles at a select wine store back home in the Midwest, and were able to experience the taste of Italy over, and over again.
Getting around Rome
On the trip in 2009 we used the public bus system, which was very easy, but sometimes crowded. “Ah, the SMELL of Rome” when 30 boy scouts squeezed in, but overall the public bus system was very reliable.
If you are more adventurous, rent a Vespa, or take a Vespa-guided tour.
On our trip in 2013, we used the subway, which was also easy to navigate, but not quite as easy as London or Paris. Cabs worked just fine, just hang on to anything loose or it is liable to fly out any open windows.
I’m brave enough to try lots of things; driving in Rome is not one of them.
Necessities for travel to Rome
Keep in mind, that Rome is an ancient European city. Hotel rooms are smaller than in other places around the world, but many compensate for the smaller size with incredible finishes.
Marble floors and columns are the names of the game for travel in Europe, and Rome is no exception.
Be prepared to need a voltage converter for any European travel. Check your Roman lodging before traveling to determine what type of converter you need.
I know this may not be popular, but don’t thumb your nose at joining a tour. This is a city where expert tour guides spend decades learning their craft. Without their knowledge, you can only scratch the surface of all there is to experience here. Book now the best things to do in Rome and save up to 25%!
What are our takeaways from our visit to Rome?
- Go – Stay – Absorb. LOOK at what is around you. That building looks like the one at home may be hundreds, if not thousands of years old.
- Explore – take a map. And if you end up on a street named Via Consulata on a dark stormy night, don’t go knocking on any doors….No stories there. Uh-huh.
- Eat, drink, and be merry.
- Seriously. Be human. The sociologist part of me grieves at the number of crippled, dismembered, obviously handicapped people roaming the streets. You can be compassionate, but don’t be a sucker and be targeted by pickpockets.
- Spend the dough and go on guided tours. You spent the money to get there, spend a little more to maximize your experience.
- Do your research. My Top 10 Travel Tips are a great start for any traveler.
So why is Rome a great First-Time Europe Destination?
Rome is a city of mystery, history, romance, murder, and intrigue. Its citizens are incredible, food is amazing, and vino incluso should be the phrase of EVERY day!
If you have a hankering to go back, look up the Trevi Fountain. If you do, make sure to check out the gelato shop across the street.
One visit to the fountain and you just might find what you are looking for. Traveling to Rome is an incredible experience! Need a little more incentive? My 20 Reasons to Travel might be helpful!
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