Travel Journal: Rome – The Eternal City

A full day of flights were planned, with the first plane leaving late in the morning and the last one flying through the night; a grand total of 11 hours in the air. When we landed my husband and I were feeling jet lagged, but anxious to see Europe. We took a train from the Fiumicino airport to the Roma Termini station, and then a bus to downtown Rome. Once we arrived, there was only a short walking distance from the bus to our hotel. Along the way, we got a glimpse of some of the nearby buildings and couldn’t wait to see more. 

Our hotel was located within a Renaissance-style stone building and was quaint and small, with timeless charm. The lobby had a small desk, and checking in was a one-on-one experience. Our hotel room was modern in furniture and design. There was a small window that we could look out and see beautiful white jasmine overhanging nearby balconies. It was blooming season, and anytime we opened our window, the fragrant smell filled our room. 

On the first full day in Rome we had a traditional Italian breakfast at our hotel. There was a small buffet arranged neatly with a variety of savory dishes, pastries, and juices. Our waitress offered us caffè, to which we enthusiastically said yes. In Italy, coffee (caffè) is a single shot of espresso without milk or water. If you want either of those added to your coffee, you would need to order a Cappuccino or an Americano. The coffee was very tasty and bold in flavor.

We started our day shopping at the downtown negozi (shops) to find some outfits. Unfortunately, our checked luggage didn’t make it to Rome with us, and we would have to make do until it arrived. That wasn’t how we were expecting the beginning of our trip to go, but we were able to do some sightseeing while we were out and about. All of the shops we went to had great options, and we were both able to find things we really liked. After that, we were ready to go explore the city. 

One of our first stops was Piazza Navona, a large square with 3 ornate water fountains. The most eye catching fountain had an Egyptian obelisk at the center. Nearby, the Palazzo Pamphilj Art Museum and Sant’Agnese church stretch across the square. Years ago, this square was the main market for Rome. Today, you will see locals conversing on the benches, street artists displaying their works, and tourists taking photos near the fountains.  

We took a bus to Palatine Hill, but we got off at a stop before it to see the view. We took a few pictures of the ruins and Circus Maximus below. To our surprise, Race for the Cure was taking place there. We saw several tents with people lined up near them. It was already late in the afternoon and most of the crowd already cleared out from the event. 

We went up to tour Palatine Hill, which overlooks both Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum. This hill was once home to aristocrats and emperors. It was a peaceful place to get away from the crowds. Wildflowers were growing all throughout the hill, and we found two lizards sunbathing on a rock. The ruins were very intricate in design with arches that towered high into the sky. These buildings were both temples and homes for the emperors years ago. The Stadium of Domitian was an impressive 600 feet long. It was once used for athletic games. 

It was a scenic route to the Roman Forum with views of the city from the hill and pretty wildflowers growing along the ruins. The Colosseum came into view and we had to stop to take it in just how massive it was. We were still a little bit of a walk away and we planned to get a closer look after seeing the forum. Next, we walked through the Farnese Gardens, the first private botanical gardens in Europe. The arched terraces and pathways were beautiful, with a variety of flowers, plants, and fruit trees surrounding us. 

We approached the stairway that would take us to the Forum, and the view overlooking the ruins was incredible. At the bottom of the stairs, we entered the court of the House of the Vestals, one of my favorite sites near the Forum. There were two pools with bright pink roses growing around them and female statues on both the left and right sides of the court. The Vestal Virgins once lived here within the Atrium Vestae, a three-story, 50 room palace. 

At the bottom of Palatine Hill was the Roman Forum; it was an incredible sight to see. There were so many things to see that it was hard to know where to begin. Many of the ruins were only fragments of temples, statues, and prominent buildings that once stood tall. However, some of them were almost impeccably preserved. 

The Colosseum was next on our list. The closer you are, the more you feel small in comparison to its size. This site was the most impressive. Inside, it had a prominent layout and design, but it’s age was more visible than the outside. This amphitheater was the largest ever made and could hold up to 80,000 people. It was once used for gladiatorial contests and dramas, among many other events. 

After the Colosseum we took a taxi to the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient Roman buildings. It was once a Roman temple, and is currently a Catholic church. The Pantheon is beautiful, with its ornate Corinthian granite columns and Roman design. It is elaborately decorated inside with grey granite, red porphyry, and marble with hues of yellow and purple. The dome ceiling is very complex in design and with a circular window at its center as the only source of light. It is known as the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. 

As night fell in Rome, we went to see the Trevi Fountain, the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. It was glowing in the dark night and crowds of people were surrounding it so closely that we didn’t know if we would be able to get close to it. The Palazzo Poli palace was the perfect backdrop for the fountain. The sculptures feature an aqueduct that brought drinking water into Rome. The Trevi Fountain was built where one of the original aqueduct terminals was located. 

Everywhere you go in Rome there is so much beauty and charm. Every structure is carved with immense detail and precision. It was an incredible experience to learn about the Roman culture and see ancient history before me. Rome lives on thousands of years later, and will continue to ignite within our hearts a love for the “Eternal City.”

Buoni viaggi!