Rome
Our Experience
We visited Rome several times, but travelling with a local is always better. You are shown the best restaurants and hidden gems only residents know about. We were fortunate to have a good friend living there during one of our visits. Before we met with them, Liv and I had a nice lunch and a bottle of local (25 Euro) wine, the next day our local friend took us to a similar looking restaurant in Trestevere, with the traditional European style seating outside in the piazza. The pasta, followed with homemade tiramisu, was delicious and the same bottle of red wine? 10 Euro.
We quite literally ate and drank our way around the timeless Italian capital city. Espresso and croissants for breakfast, pizza and salads for lunch, Aperol spritz for aperitivo and gnocchi, pasta and wine for dinner, followed by limoncello, tiramisu and cannoli for dessert. Continuing to promise ourselves we would join the gym upon our arrival home.
Endeavored to make some time for sightseeing between our food ventures. Rome is a beautiful city and we marveled at the Trevi Fountain, St Peter’s Basilica, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps (we did go when you were still able to sit on them), and of course the world famous, Colosseum.
Built around 72 CE, the beautiful and historic Colosseum was built in an attempt to revitalize Rome and is now one of the few (mostly) intact structures from the Roman Empire. The amphitheater held gladiatorial games, dramas, and even public executions. Earthquakes and lack of maintenance meant the famous structure suffered for many years, until it was restored in the 1990’s and continues to remain one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
Rome has so many churches that are so spectacular even if religion isn’t usually on your travel list. A week could be spent and you’d hardly scratch the surface, however, Michaelangelo’s Moses sculpture in San Pietro church is exceptionally beautiful, remembering this was carved in 1513.
Our final day the sun was out for April, we met our friend for lunch at Piazza de Fiori for tagliatelle and pinot grigio and watched the local boys playing football in the piazza. Another round of vino ordered after lunch, and we almost missed our flight back to London- but when in Rome, right?
Tip – If the women’s queue for the bathrooms goes halfway around the Colosseum, just use the men’s as we did. – much quicker!