No city has such a historical, cultural and culinary heritage as Rome does.
Because I've never had the chance to visit and discover this city before, I thought I will share my first impressions of this metropole with you.
Lean back and immerge into a world full of historical monuments, fascinating art and the best taste experiences of the European south.
Because I've never had the chance to visit and discover this city before, I thought I will share my first impressions of this metropole with you.
Lean back and immerge into a world full of historical monuments, fascinating art and the best taste experiences of the European south.
Monday, March 4 2019 - Romes Piazzas
The first day in Rome unfortunately was only half a day due to our flight being a few hours late. But for all that we arrived in marvellous weather a perfect mix of kindly mild and nippy.
After our bus brought us from the airport to the city centre (with ten minutes delay because our bus driver needed his smoke break), we took a nice walk through the heart of Rome to our accommodation.
The rest of the day was filled by walking past the Pantheon in the direction of the roman-jewish quarter, admiring Romes popular Piazzas (those are park-alike squares, distributed all over the city).
After watching the sunset over the Pantheon it became dark very quickly but the following days should keep enough moments ready to look at the Piazzas in daylight.
The first evening was sealed in a jewish restaurant called 'Nonna Betta' and I've never eaten such good pasta, for real. And die artichokes, wow.
Looking back I can say that it felt like as if I took a bath in bread with olive oil and that I was so full, I slept like a baby.
Tuesday, March 5 2019 - The Vatican
The first actual day in Rome started with a nice walk to the Angel's Bridge towards the Vatican.
But first of all the most important thing: Our breakfast. In one of the numerous alleys we found a little café which was meant to be our regular place for breakfast,.After a Latte Macchiato, a panini with tomatoes and mozzarella, some steps further we arrived at the Angel's Bridge.
Our first stop after breakfast and crossing the Tiber should be the St. Peter Cathedral. We actually started our day very early and managed to get in within just five minutes. It totally payed off because after we got out, the cue winded up around the whole square in front of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral itself was even more breathtaking from the in- than on the outside.
Besides the coloured glass window with a pigeon at the back and the golden elements, the mosaic-collages on the walls of the upper dome fascinated me the most. But probably everyone who has a predilection for detailed art would've felt the same.
Of course the viewing platform had to be visited afterwards. By foot. A lot of stairs.
A. lot. The higher we got the narrower it was and you were forced to walk more ducked with every step you took because the ceiling came lower and lower. In the end it was still worth it. I had a similar feeling to the one I had after making it to the viewing platform of the Eiffel Tower by foot and the amount of fear I had of dropping my phone while taking pictures was about the same too. But it did not happen in both cases. Praise the Lord.
We had Lasagne for lunch and by far the BEST Tiramisu I've ever tasted.
The restaurant's name was 'La Pancia Felice', in case you want to make a detour to this one while visiting Rome.
The restaurant's name was 'La Pancia Felice', in case you want to make a detour to this one while visiting Rome.
In the afternoon we had planned to visit the Vatican Museums. Even though the massive number of art pieces merely swamped us, all in all it was actually very enriching and admirable.
My personal highlights were the several tapestries, which among other things displayed different biblical stories, the (for real breathtaking) 'map room' (you'll see it in the pictures) and certain modern, religious paintings.
My personal highlights were the several tapestries, which among other things displayed different biblical stories, the (for real breathtaking) 'map room' (you'll see it in the pictures) and certain modern, religious paintings.
After a little break at the hotel we finished our day off with some tasty antipasti and pizza in a little restaurant, called 433.
Wednesday, March 6 2019 - Fashion Impressions
This honorable day was meant to start very early for us because we wanted to look at the Trevi-Fountain at sunrise. A great decision because besides the beautiful view, we were able to take really good pictures because almost nobody else was there.
After that we went on to the Spanish Steps. Framed by historical houses and palm trees, a masterpiece of outside staircases extends into the infinity of the sky which is just changing colours from a pale orange to a clear blue while being covered by a swarm of birds.
Yes, the view felt exactly as cheesy and overblown as I described it.
It was very beautiful, for real.
In front of the Spanish Steps there is the Spanish Square. There is a fountain located in its centre, framed by the most exclusive fashion stores.
We started to explore all of them after some breakfast at 'Sali&Tabacchi' comprised of a Latte Macchiato, a croissant filled with vanilla cream an covered with some type of icing (a very decent calorie bomb, oops) and panacotta combined with caramel (I almost died while eating, it was SO GOOD).
We hinged down everything. Starting with Prada finishing off with Valentino and in-between visiting Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton and Burberry. Because my second name is broke, I knew I won't buy a thing. But it was my mission to see what's behind the brand anyway, therefore it was not that of a sad thing. I wanted to know for what kind of inspiration, story and philosophy they stand for. I've rarely learned that much interesting things in one day. Ahhhhh maybe I'll give up on becoming a dancer and actress and create a fashion imperium instead, you never know.
We started to explore all of them after some breakfast at 'Sali&Tabacchi' comprised of a Latte Macchiato, a croissant filled with vanilla cream an covered with some type of icing (a very decent calorie bomb, oops) and panacotta combined with caramel (I almost died while eating, it was SO GOOD).
We hinged down everything. Starting with Prada finishing off with Valentino and in-between visiting Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton and Burberry. Because my second name is broke, I knew I won't buy a thing. But it was my mission to see what's behind the brand anyway, therefore it was not that of a sad thing. I wanted to know for what kind of inspiration, story and philosophy they stand for. I've rarely learned that much interesting things in one day. Ahhhhh maybe I'll give up on becoming a dancer and actress and create a fashion imperium instead, you never know.
A successful day like this had to traditionally get the end it deserved at one of the best pizzeria. At the pizzeria 'Baffetto' one planned course easily became two courses, hehe.
Thursday, March 7 2019 - Discovering the historical Rome
The first agenda item under the caption 'Discovering the historical Rome' was the Colosseum.
We did a guided tour and that turned out to be more than worth the money and was factually very interesting. I never knew where the idea of the gladiator fight came from and how many other spectacles took place in the Colosseum.
After a break with a brunch we went on to visit the Forum Romanum, the city centre of the ancient Rome, as well as the Paladin, a hill where the emperor's palasts where located. The reason for that was the beautiful panorama view there over the whole city centre of Rome.
If you're in Rome you definitely have to visit the historical city centre. It feels like as if you're in a movie. A movie of the past. You somehow feel like as if you're a part of the whole thing that stood there 2000 years ago and where now is nothing to look at but left overs and remains. And still, as difficult as it may seem to believe, there is so much history behind all these remains.
If you're in Rome you definitely have to visit the historical city centre. It feels like as if you're in a movie. A movie of the past. You somehow feel like as if you're a part of the whole thing that stood there 2000 years ago and where now is nothing to look at but left overs and remains. And still, as difficult as it may seem to believe, there is so much history behind all these remains.
The second half of our last day in Rome started in a little cinema: 'Nuovo Sacher'.
Which movie did we watch? It was The Green Book. A wonderful film that touches the heart of an artist as much as every other heart. The combination of the topic racism and the art of playing the piano with a very big pinch of humour is just unbeatable.
We spend the last evening with an Aperol Spritz and some fancy little snacks for example fennel salad with orange and bread chips with finely spiced hummus at the 'Cantina Ripagrande'.
I rolled the way back home.
Which movie did we watch? It was The Green Book. A wonderful film that touches the heart of an artist as much as every other heart. The combination of the topic racism and the art of playing the piano with a very big pinch of humour is just unbeatable.
We spend the last evening with an Aperol Spritz and some fancy little snacks for example fennel salad with orange and bread chips with finely spiced hummus at the 'Cantina Ripagrande'.
I rolled the way back home.
The last thing I can say referring to this short trip is that I can only agree with my grandma's description of Rome: 'You'll like it there. Nice fashion, tasty food and good-looking men.'
Not much has changed in 50 years.
Not much has changed in 50 years.
Sara <3