Tag: summer

My family and I went to Italy for about 2 weeks in the beginning of July. We stayed in an airbnb in Trastevere, Rome, for the whole trip. 

While we were in Rome for the majority of our stay, we took day trips to Venice and Florence as well. This post will focus on ROME as there is so much to talk about. 

Words to describe Rome: romantic, historical, spontaneous, magical, and ancient.

There are many cobblestone streets and sidewalks which give you an ancient feel. The buildings are very old-looking as well, but architecturally impressive. I felt like I was in a movie.

Throughout the city, there is running fresh and cool water from fountains or fire hydrants that is free to the public to drink, which is top tier.

I can’t speak for all of Rome, because Rome is so big, but I would say the morning/daytime in Trastevere seemed very slow. The work schedule in Italy is different than in America. I noticed a lot of businesses were closed even though it was around 10-11am, and streets weren’t fully crowded yet. It is also said that workers in Italy get to take nap breaks and then return to work.

I can overall say, there is a calm, slow vibe.

Trastevere may be slow in the daytime but the night-time is very lively, similar to NYC. Our airbnb was surrounded by hundreds of restaurants. We could just walk out and find a spot within minutes. There was also an outdoor movie area, park for kids, gelaterias, boutiques, and much more. There were plenty of people roaming the streets and dining out at different spots.

One thing about Rome: you gon’ be WALKING a lot. Our steps definitely averaged to 10,000 or more per day, but I guess that’s a good thing, so you could work off that gelato and pasta, which brings me to the topic of FOOD.

I can honestly say not a single restaurant disappointed ya girl. The food tastes more fresh than in the U.S. and the pasta is out of this world, like if you think you ever had the best pasta outside of Italy, you are highly mistaken. The gelato is rich and creamy: better than any ice cream I’ve ever had. The service was great, and the waiters/waitresses were very friendly and accommodating. The prices were very affordable. Enjoy these pictures/ videos of some of the dishes I enjoyed. I’ll include restaurant names for some, if I remembered to write it down.

A popular drink is called Aperol Spritz: made of aperol, soda water, and prosecco. It was so delicious. 

What sites did I see in Rome?

Day 2: We took a walking tour around Rome with a tour guide who gave us a brief history of each area. We only went inside one church but the majority of this tour was outside. Sites include:the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi fountain, Roman Forum, Colosseum, a church, and a few other sites I did not keep the names of. I definitely recommend going on tours with a guide so that you get history, meet other people from around the world, and you most likely will not get lost.

Day 3: We went on the Colosseum and Roman Forum tour: this is an absolute MUST. It is so historical and is considered ancient Rome. 

Gladiator games took place in the Colosseum with thousands of people.

The Roman Forum is home to many government buildings and is where law courts and public meetings were held. It was also a marketplace. 

If you look at those buildings, you will be astonished. I could not help but think that many people in the bible days were where I was standing.

 I recommend taking a tour instead of going on your own. With all of the crowds and chaos, it is easy to get lost and frustrated but with a guide, you will be accommodated well and get rich history. 

Day 5: Spanish Steps and 3 floor Zara.

Spanish steps are 135 steps that lead to a beautiful view and French Church of Santa Trinita de Montei. It is Europe’s widest and longest staircase dedicated to the holy trinity. The three tiers represent: the father, the son, and the holy spirit. 

Zara: will be honest. It was very impressive and the prices were affordable. Their clothes just seemed a bit more tight fitting than the USA. An XL was tight for me when in the USA, I usually go for M. 

Day 6: Jewish Ghetto, Marcellus Theater, and Chiesa Di Santa Maria

The Jewish ghetto is where Jews were separated from the country. During Nazi Occupation during the Second World War, many of them were deported. It was built in 1555.

The Marcellus Theater is where many performances took place (acting, singing, dancing) with as many as 11,000-12,000 spectators. It is called the Jewish Coliseum.

Chiesa Di Santa Maria is a beautiful church filled with paintings and architecture.

Day 7: Tour at the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica 

You definitely NEED to take a tour for this. Our tour guide took us around the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel, giving us history and descriptions of the art.

The Vatican museum is where you will see sculptures, art, paintings and architecture of the building. The Sistine Chapel is where you will see the ceiling painted by Michelangelo. I don’t have any pictures from the Sistine Chapel because it is prohibited. You also have to cover your shoulders in the Sistine Chapel.

St. Peter’s Basilica is a beautiful church where the Pope resides and is located at St. Peter’s Square. St. Peter’s Square is where it is believed Peter was crucified upside down. It is also believed that Paul was killed in this area.

Lastly, one night me and sister decided to have a sister’s night. We went by a little bar and ordered a campari(red drink) and limoncello(yellow drink) spritz! Then we found a pasta spot. It was such a nice time filled with laughter and good conversation!

That is it for Rome! Stay tuned for my Florence and Venice post next!

Advice: 

• Plan ahead and book tours in advance. Tours are better than going on your own as you get history and a guide who will help you around.
• Bring a portable fan as it gets very hot and wear sunscreen.
• Bring a water bottle and use the fountains to get water.
• Bring light clothes.
• Wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking on cobblestones and long distances.
• Bring tissues in case there is no toilet paper in bathrooms.
• Google maps can be tricky so if you could map your steps ahead of time, that may ease some of the tension.
• You can order a taxi on an app called Free Now. It was affordable(much cheaper than Uber) and we used it quite a few times to get around Rome.