October 2018 found Liam and I a year into our first full time jobs, trying to buy a house and navigating the post University world. We were drained and in shock at the drastic change from the previous four years to the ‘real world.’ So to get back to the bliss of pre-work life, we did the one thing we are good at…we booked a week in Rome.
We had been dreaming of going to the home of pizza and pasta for years but the airline gods were always against us and we could never find dates or times that worked. However, late one night Ryanair came through with the goods and we found ourselves hurriedly booking flights to Italy’s capital, Rome.
Flash forward to a cold Sunday morning in October and we were strolling through the familiar departure doors at Edinburgh Airport. Luckily this was one of our simpler departures and two and half hours later we found ourselves in the sunny car park of Rome Ciampino.
After getting an Uber into the city, we located our hotel and quickly changed into more appropriate attire for blue skies and sun. The first attraction on our agenda was the Bioparco di Roma (the zoo), so instead of taking public transport we decided to wander round the historic streets and take in the atmosphere of this beautiful city.
With sun kissed shoulders and stretched legs we arrived at the zoo. Excitedly we headed straight to the ticket counter to discover we couldn’t just buy tickets there and then. After much confusion and people watching we realised you had to take a numbered ticket and wait for it to be called. Great! We had figured it out! Wrong…the next issue we faced was the numbers being shouted in Italian so we had to be really pay attention, and use our non-existent Italian skills to get us in.
Bioparco di Roma was such an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours. The enclosures were all well maintained and we loved getting to see so many animals that had either been rescued or were supporting worldwide breeding programmes. We could have spent a whole day here just wandering along the tree lined paths and admiring the wonder of nature’s wildlife.
Hours later we found ourselves leisurely walking back to our hotel in the early evening heat, desperately searching for the main reason we came to Rome…pizza. Lucky for us, just underneath our hotel was a superb little restaurant that was offering a three course meal for ten euros. Now, it could have been because I was tired after a long day of travelling and walking but this pizza was one of the best I’ve had. It was devoured within minutes and with smiles all round we headed back to the hotel for the night.
The next day after a gentle walk and breakfast on the go, we headed to the most iconic Italian building: The Colosseum. With it’s towering walls and imposing façade it should come as no surprise it was difficult to get into. First and most importantly, book your tickets ahead of time. It was mobbed and the queues for tickets were insanely long. We had booked ours a week in advance for the English speaking Belvedere Tour which took you up to the fourth and fifth floor, the highest in the Colosseum.
However, before we even got in we had to go to exchange our ‘Ticket Voucher’ that we had printed off for an actual ticket at the Voucher Exchange. This was opposite the Group Entrance, (and not very well signposted) then once you had that you had to walk all the way back in the burning Italian sun to the Tour Entrance to start your tour. BUT this had to be timed properly as you were required to be there ten minutes early for security checks. Bearing in mind it was hot and sticky, tempers were frayed by the time we reached the entrance but that was quickly swept away when we were guided into the Colosseum and regaled with stories of gladiators and exotic animals.
After winding up stone staircases and through tight passages we reached the upper floors of the colosseum. Our eyes were treated to views of the Temple of Venus and Rome and the Arch of Constantine, both of which are incredible pieces of Roman architecture. Whilst standing there looking out onto these buildings I really felt like I was transported back to Ancient Rome and could hear the clashing of swords and hustle and bustle of the Roman forum just over the way.
The true highlight of this tour was the view from the belvedere level right at the top. Being high up in the sky, you were able to see where the gladiators would have stood and waited to be revealed to the crowds of the colosseum. It always blows my mind that these incredible buildings were constructed way before modern day technology existed. However even with all this history and culture surrounding me, my favourite moment of the whole tour was living my best Lizzie McGuire life (IYKYK) and singing ‘This is what dreams are made of’ on the top level of the colosseum. Poor Liam had to put up with my commentary about it since I had got on the plane so he was relieved it was finally over and I had achieved my childhood dream.
That afternoon we took a walk to the Trevi Fountain, another exciting monument to visit after seeing it in so many famous films and pictures. We spent ages here just people watching – there was families, couples, solo travellers, tour groups, each all living their own Italian dream. The only downside of the Trevi Fountain being such an incredible spot is that is just so busy constantly. Along with what felt like a million others we were trying to take a photo with the iconic structure. You had to be so quick because as soon as a space opened up there was a huge rush of people!
As the sun was reaching its hottest we decided this was a great time to travel back in time to Ancient Rome and explore the Roman Forum. This was amazing. The history and culture we soaked there was incredible. You could see the walkways that had once guided sandaled feet, hear the whispers of the past through the walls of the ancient ruins surrounding you and envision the ancient civilisation that existed here long ago. This was all enhanced for us by the Rick Steves Podcast which took us on a (FREE) guided tour of this magnificent space. It made the place really come to life as you walked round at your own pace.
Because we never like to miss anything when we’re travelling, we headed along to the Pantheon – oh boy! I was so impressed. It’s impressive size and domed roof are something to be in awe of, to this day the roof is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome! Entry is free so it gets busy and you have to be quiet inside. This was not obvious until a worker at the front started shouting at people to be quiet (honestly she was sometimes making more noise than them). It was understandably confusing though as this message was only on two signs at the front so you could understand the confusion.
My favourite aspect of the building is the Oculus, the 8m wide hole in the ceiling (yes, its uncovered and yes, you get wet when it rains!). This was the main source of light in the Pantheon originally and played an important part on the celebrations for Rome’s founding day. Each year on the 21st April when the sun hits midday, the light shines in such a way that it hits the metal grille above the door and floods the entryway in light. This was especially important for the Emperors of the time as they could portray themselves as being favoured with Divine light for the celebrations.
For our final day we decided one country wasn’t enough and booked to explore some of the attractions in the worlds smallest country, Vatican City. We had always wanted to see St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel so this was a must-do. It’s also a must research before you go. We got there at eight in the morning and there was already a staggeringly long queue.
You also have to be dressed appropriately which means, legs and shoulders covered (which had led to a very stressful morning as I had packed clothes for 20+ degrees!) However all of that was so worth it. I didn’t know where to look walking round. The intricate details and design on the artwork and architecture are just so incredible to admire, religious or not. We took so many pictures but you really have to see it in person to really understand the beauty that adorns the inside.
After spending an hour completely mesmerised by the interior we headed to the rooftop to see the amazing views across the Vatican and Rome. We heeded the advice of the internet gurus and took ourselves up in the lift. Seeing the incredible architecture of the Vatican and Rome from up high was incredible. It was from up here that you could really appreciate the sheer size and beauty of Rome’s buildings. Everywhere you looked there was something for the eyes to enjoy. It also gave us a huge shock to see how long the queue had become since we entered. It now curved round the entire interior circle, we were so glad we had arrived when we did.
From here we headed to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Now if you don’t take my advice on any of the pre-purchased tickets for anywhere but here you will have saved yourself hours because the Vatican Museum line was incredibly long. We actually walked for fifteen minutes past all the sweaty and frustrated tourists to get to the pre-booked line.
Now if we’re honest we were quite let down by this experience. It was so crowded and probably the busiest place we’ve ever been. We moved at -1mph and I’ve never been crushed between so many people in my life. You couldn’t move freely and you just had to keep up with the flow of traffic or risk being crushed. That being said, what we did see was amazing but I would preferred to see it at my own pace rather than with the speed of the masses.
The one highlight of the Vatican Museum was the Sistine Chapel. I spent a full twenty minutes just staring at the scenes above noticing something different every time I looked back. The colours were so vibrant and the intricate details just make for incredible viewing.
On reflection after going I would say the Vatican Museums would do well having designated times for the tour groups that made it so hard to get around, (which due to the events of 2020 to now it probably does) as it did sour our experience slightly. However we were glad were able to see the art/sculptures and the amazing Sistine Chapel.
Rome was an amazing trip and I would recommend it to everyone. Just be prepared for crowds (so many crowds!), history hitting you in the face at every turn and superb food (especially pizza and ice cream).
