It’s here- my final post from my six-week trip around Italy! We ended the trip with three days in Rome, and it was a great ending to the program. I am going to share some photos and a few details about some of my favorite things we did!
We got to our hotel (Hotel Medici) and rested for a few hours after the three-hour bus ride from Siena. Then, it was on to the Colosseum for a kickoff to our stay in Rome. The street the colosseum is at the end of is so normal. I was not expecting to turn down the street and see one of the most impressive architectural feats of all time! We got there around 2 (the heat of the day in Rome) and had a guided tour through the historical icon. It was so fun, but I would highly recommend trying to go in the early morning!
We also walked through the Roman Forum, and I was so overwhelmed by the history (and the heat), that I didn’t get many pictures. It was very interesting, and I loved that it was basically a normal park with ancient ruins scattered here and there.
Our second day in Rome was a complete free day, and I made it count! I woke up at 6 in the morning (which is very early for me), and set out to hit all the monuments before the crowds and temperatures rose.
We stopped at the Spanish Steps first, and there were already several people there at 7:30 am, but it was definitely less crowded than it was when I saw it around 1!
The trevi fountain was next, and I was so amazed by the splendor surrounding the iconic fountain. We got plenty of time and space to take pictures since we arrived super early.
Next, we went to the Pantheon- it was free admission and super easy to get inside of! The ceiling was one of the largest free standing domes at the time, and it is surprising to see how large it is!
The next thing we did was definitely my favorite thing in Rome and maybe even my favorite activity the entire trip. We went row boating on the lake in the Borghese Gardens, and it. Was. Magical!!! I loved every minute of it. I found out how to rent a boat from an article online, and I am so glad I looked into it. Basically, you just have to go up to this little shed area on the left side of the lake and ask to rent a row boat. It is 3 euro per person, per 20 minutes, which doesn’t sound like long, but when you are under the hot sun and rowing- 20 minutes is plenty! There is the cutest little restaurant just outside the lake, and we got sandwiches and water to bring out on the boats with us. It was the perfect little lunch!
The Borghese Gardens were my favorite spot in Rome, and if I were to end back in the city I would definitely spend more time going to the villa, the zoo, and renting bicycles to explore the rest of the park. It was so memorable.
On Monday, we went to see the Vatican City, and it was interesting! Seeing the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica was so cool, and being able to say I have been to the smallest country in the world is so fun!
Rome was so intimidating to me at first- so busy and hectic. I gave myself a day to adjust and an opportunity to get out and about before the heat of the day, and I ended up really loving the city. There is something ancient and historical on every corner, and I enjoyed soaking up as much as possible! I think you could spend a month just in Rome and not even get to see everything, so I would definitely love to go back! Three days just wasn’t enough to enjoy all the beautiful city has to offer.
