Rome, Italy

Rome is a wonderful city. Whether you love history, religion, or great food there are plenty of all three in the Italian capitol, dubbed the “Eternal City.”

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” A very popular saying, but grossly understates the real history of Rome. The city itself was founded in 753 BC, and continues to grow, with a population of over 2.8 Million people.

While you are there, make sure to see the following:

Vatican City (and their properties though out Rome): Whether you are religious or not, this tour packs so much history not only of the Catholic Church/ Christianity, but also so much of the Roman history before that. I think I was really surprised by how much non-Church related topics were discussed as we walked through the halls of the Vatican.

Cost: $30-40, depending on which tour you select. Cool TIP: The Vatican is considered a sovereign nation (the smallest in the world), so it maintains a post office (which has a reputation for being more efficient than the Italian postal service), stamps, etc. So send some people a postcard.

Pantheon: This 2,000 year old temple (now church), paints a striking picture of how ancient life in Rome was. Home the largest unreinforced dome in the world, it is amazing to think how such a great task was completed so long ago and still exists today. Inside in out, this is a true work of art.

Cost: Free. More Info: Here.

The Colosseum: “Are you not entertained?” – Gladiator. Well, you will be when you exit the metro station to see this giant building standing before your eyes. I mean, it is RIGHT there. BOOM. I wasn’t expecting to see the Colosseum and I was completely blown away. The area surrounding the building is teeming with life. Vendors (selfie stick anyone?), police, tourists, and people dressed as gladiators. I didn’t want to wait in the long line and pay the money to go inside, so I can’t verify the cost, but I will say it is a must see.

Cost: ? More Info: Here.

The Roman Forums: Right down the street from the Colosseum, is where it all happened in ancient Rome. Government, religion, and part-ays (when in Rome, right?). Well, now it is all in ruins, but still pretty cool to see and hear about. I didn’t enter the ruins themselves, as many Romans I had talked to said it was overrated, but make sure to check out the many vantage points into the forums.

Cost: ? More Info: Here

Il Vittoriano: Known by the official name Altare della Patria, Il Vittoriano is a large, ornate monument built to honor the first king of unified Italy: Victor Emmanuel. This huge building gives some of the best views in the city and is breathtaking in its’ own right. Given the proximity to many other attractions, I suggest you start early in the day and take it all in (and there is A LOT to take in).

Cost: Free views. At the end of the day, that’s what matters. More Info: Here

Honorable Mentions:

Rome has so many beautiful places, and my list is far from comprehensive. That being said, some places I visited were nice, but didn’t live up to the hype.

Trevi Fountain was way over-hyped. A lot of construction covered the attraction, there was a long line for the empty fountain, and police were actively stopping people from tossing coins into the area. All of that together made for memories that I was not that fond of.

Cost: Free. More Info: Here

Piazza Navona was gorgeous, but in a city full of gorgeous architecture, this hard to find attraction just wasn’t on the same level as other places in Rome.

Cost: Free. More Info: Here

FOOD (and wine): Most of the hype was lived up to in this category. While the restaurants were the best quality, the street food was the best when it came to creativity and value. What to try: pizza, gelato, wine, and about every kind of pasta.

Getting Around: The metro and bus system is great here. The light rail, or “tram”,  sucks. If you’re going to be in the city a week, I suggest getting the week pass.

Cost & More Info:  Here

The People: Rome, like most capitol cities in the world, have a great mix of people…and almost all of them are busy. Chuckle. It’s funny because it is true. Even so, don’t be afraid to ask someone for help. The Roman people are very kind and English is spoken by many.

Currency: Italy uses the Euro. Booooooo! Your dollar isn’t going to go very far here, but the important stuff (food and wine) aren’t that expensive.

Important Phone Numbers: Here

Conclusion: Rome has something for everyone, but it is bit on the expensive side and definitely very touristy in some places. I would visit again.