My travel journal: Rome, four days

 

Rome was my destination for a four-day trip last month. However, there were also moments of serenity and awe-inspiring beauty in the midst of all the chaos. It was also a particularly joyous occasion for us to pay a visit there. I was with my family for a holiday celebration. In addition, this was our first family vacation. For our trip to Rome, we wanted to take it easy, stroll the city's cobblestone streets at our own pace, and eat some Italian food.

Rome in four days

We had a rough start to our four-day stay in Rome. I was nervous about our flight to Rome because there had been a major storm in Amsterdam the night before. But in the end, everything worked out perfectly for everyone involved. We arrived in Rome around 2 p.m. after a peaceful flight.

After checking into our hotel, we took a short stroll toward the Colosseum. For the first time in your life, seeing some of the world's most well-known landmarks is a thrill. I was transported back to elementary school, when I first saw that magnificent structure in a textbook. And how far and distant it seemed to me when I was a kid, too.

It's a good idea to get the Roma Pass Card if you plan to stay in Rome for four days like I did. It includes free or reduced admission to some museums and tourist attractions.

Studying the art of Italian cooking

My mouth waters just thinking about Italian food... Probably the best food I've ever had. I could eat pasta for every meal of the day and not get sick of it. We decided to sign up for a cooking class that evening to learn more about it. We started by making pasta dough, and our teacher Roberto showed us how to get the best results. To be honest, I was expecting pasta-making to be a lot more difficult than it actually was. There was also bruschetta, antipasti and ciambelle al vino for starters, as well as pasta sauce for amatriciana and tomato bruschetta. Moreover, I'm ecstatic about our efforts because the food was delicious.

Going on a tour of the Vatican

Before heading to the Spanish steps, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona, we had an Italian breakfast and a cup of coffee.

In the afternoon, we intended to travel to Vatican City to see the city's world-famous museums and St. Peter's Basilica, which is a must-see. We wanted to learn as much as possible about this incredible work of art and the many paintings and statues that call it home. I finally found a small group tour of the Vatican with Angel Tours after a lengthy search. As a result, it was a truly memorable occasion. During our three-hour walking tour of the museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica, Alessia was our guide. It would be impossible for us to see everything in the Vatican on our own because it is so large and full of incredible artworks.

In Europe, the Vatican Museums are without a doubt the best, containing works of art from antiquity to the Renaissance. Mosaics and the gallery with frescoes depicting old maps of Italy were two of my favorite features. And the stories that go along with them – tales of artists, popes, and noble families.

Day three

Rome

The Colosseum and Roman Forum are the most well-known sights in Rome's ancient Roman architecture. We arrived shortly after breakfast to avoid the crowds, but it was already quite crowded.

It is still stunning, despite the fact that it could use a lot of organizational improvements! Archaeological relics include triumphal arches, columns, and ancient temples at the site. However, if you don't have a guide, take one. By not purchasing our tickets in advance, we made a mistake. However, a tour guide's perspective would be invaluable if we were to go on our own.

We were starving by the time we got back to the hotel for lunch. We followed the advice we received and dined at Luzzi Restaurant, which is located near the Colosseum. It's exactly what you'd expect from an Italian restaurant in Rome. Outside, people were lining up to get in, the waitstaff was boisterous and entertaining, and the food was outstanding! It was fantastic! In fact, the food was so good that I forgot to take pictures of it.

During our four days in Rome, I couldn't resist the opportunity to sample some gelato. We visited a wonderful biological patisserie in Trastevere, where I indulged in a scoop of ginger-honey gelato (apparently biological is very popular in Rome right now, because we came across several others like it).

We took a stroll along the Tiber River after our ice cream stop because the weather was perfect. The Castel Sant'Angelo is my favorite of the many beautiful buildings surrounding it. Just look at that bridge with the angel sculptures in front of it. It's perfect for an action-packed thriller.

We couldn't resist taking our cameras out to try to capture the beauty of the Roman architecture and the golden hour. Rome's eponymous nickname is "the Eternal City," and now we know why.

The fourth day has come.

On our final day in Rome, we decided to join the Angel Tours for a short free Pantheon tour because we only had a few hours to spare before our flight. I'm sure everyone has seen that building, but after our tour guide explained its architecture, symbolism, and significance, I began to see it in a new light. It truly is a magical spot.

While in Rome, I've learned that it isn't an easy place to get around. A sense of adversity permeates the atmosphere. But it's a city that never sleeps! The one to which people will return time and time again because they are inspired by it. Before you go, do some research, purchase your museum and archaeological site tickets in advance, and take a tour with a guide if you can! Let yourself bask at the moment.