ROME Our favourite European city
So in my blog world where should we travel to first ? Well after a think and discussion with the LM of where our travels have taken us this past few years I have decided to start with my favourite "European" city to visit. Wonderful .. Ancient.. Bustling..... ROME
We first visited Rome some 5 years ago prior to joining a Celebrity Cruise and almost immediately fell in love with this busy frantic but captivating Ancient city.
Rome is a for us a easy 3 hours flight away from home. It is served by two airports Fiumicino which is used by the major airlines and is the main international airport.
The second airport Ciampino is smaller but is used by UK budget airlines Easyjet and Ryanair. Both are outside the city and can be accessed by public transport in the form of both rail and buses.
We however decided to use a Private Transfer and having since used this company a few times I have a recommendation for any transfer to and from Rome. The company also do cruise passengers transfers and bespoke tours around Rome and beyond. I highly recommend Bob's Limo's and you can find them here Rome Limousines
Accommodation
Well again I have a recommendation and this is our go to hotel for Rome again we have used it a few times, it is the Hotel San Anselmo
The hotel is situated in the residential Aventino area of Rome, its a 19 century villa with its own garden which is where breakfast and drinks are served weather depending. It offers elegant rooms and overlooks the Sant'Anselmo Church. The area is quiet and mainly residential with a few boutique hotels but nearby you have one of Rome's unique tourist attractions The Aventine Keyhole, where people queue to look through the keyhole in a locked gate which gives you a brilliant framed view of the domb of St Peters Cathedral at the Vatican. Also just a few minutes further is a quiet beautiful public garden, the Giardino degli Aranci, this affords you a great panoramic across the city. As you can see below.
So once in Rome especially on a first visit it really is a must to visit the iconic tourist attractions and we were no different, we covered the main ones, and you quickly realise that many of them ( Vatican City being the exception ) are all in easy walking distance from each other. So we covered the Circo Massimo, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps.
But as you walk between these classic locations you discover other less well documented sites and some fantastic classic Italian / Roman architecture. Almost ever corner of the city has something to see, you also realise that over the centuries the local inhabitants redesigned classic buildings and you can see how in one building for example you can see Roman marble pillers surrounded by renaissance brick walls ... they really did know how to recycle building materials. It is a fascinating city.
Now as I said it is a easy city to walk around but to get a more in depth experience and find even more detailed information we do like to use a local walking guide, and Rome was no different. So I have another recommendation for you, a tour company with local guides who we have now used a couple of times both tours were excellent both in route and knowledge. The company that comes recommend is; Private Tours of Rome you will find them here Private Tours of Rome
Trastevere
One of the tours we did was away from the city center it was the area know as Trastevere, having done so, it is now one our favourite spots to spend the evening in and enjoy some local food and refreshments. Its a very bohemian area of Rome well known for its traditional craft beer pubs and artisan shops. It has many simple B&B's and a few budget hotels. It is a traditional working class area of the city and still thrives with a mixture of locals and visitors, its main areas are the Piazza Santa's Maria with its mosaic filled ancient church and the Piazza di San Calisto. However there are many other streets around with some beautiful small churches and traditional houses alongside some great local eating spots. If you get a chance, give it a look. To get there you can use public transport or a cab or simply walk there from the center in no more than 30 minutes and it is a nice walk as you walk along the river and across it on Rome's oldest roman bridge across the Tiber the Ponte Fabrico
Vatican City
Probably one of Rome's most famous attractions and obviously the go to one for many Roman Catholic pilgrims and travellers. But in reality its not in Rome !! Why ? well because it is in fact a separate recognised " country ".
OK a country full surrounded by the city of Rome. So it is another must do on a trip to the city. I have already said most of the iconic sights are within walking distance of each other but the Vatican is further away, so we chose to get there by taxi, and another journey experience in Rome's legendary traffic, it can get hectic, but since we visited during August when many locals take there holidays and head to the Amalfi coast, our taxi ride there was fine. You can also get there on public transport including the metro.
So when you get there if you want to see the inside you have to queue for a ticket, then another queue to actually get in , so first tip, is plan ahead, pre book your tickets, or if you have a guide they go get the tickets while you stand in the entrance queue, because no matter when you go both lines are long .
We got a ticket ( there are different options) giving us access to the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel and then St Peter's itself. Now you could spend a full day here and not see everything, its so vast and there is so much history to learn about. We as it was spent an afternoon. The amount of artifacts within the museum alone is incredible and the value/ wealth on display is mind boggling. That is something I did wonder about remember essentially this is the HQ of a religion, that still has collections at its services, to be fair its not alone in that but the tour did bring it home to you. After the museum we got to enter the Sistine Chapel, another queue 🙂, now no cameras are allowed in the Chapel, and rather oddly no talking at all, they have elaborately uniformed papal guards there who quickly tell you to be quiet if you do even whisper , anyway once within you get to admire Michelangelo's masterpiece the ceiling of the Chapel. NOW I am first to state I an not in the slightest art expert... But being honest it was beautiful but did it blow me away ? Well No . I have seen equally as outstanding scenes in other religious buildings, OK thats my last art critique you will be glad to hear 🤠But having not been stunned by the Chapel then it was onto St Peters Basilica, and simply WOW... !! the biggest impact factor here was simply its size, its vast, now I am not Catholic or particular religious so I am sure practising Christians will have other reactions but for me the fantastic architecture of the place and the history within it was brilliant. You finally exit from the Basilica into St Peters Square another huge setting you will have seen many times on the TV etc. So do visit the Vatican but my top tip is plan ahead and help yourself reduce the queueing times.
Eating Out
One of my favourite pastimes and Rome is a great location to practise it, there are so many eating opportunities in the city, and my advice would be to just enjoy them.
As for where or what, we'll first one of the main tourist areas is the Piazza Navona surrounded by pavement restaurants/ cafe However be warned, personal opinion,there not the best BUT they are some of the most expensive so by all means enjoy a beer or ice cream to enjoy the location but if its a meal or longer time to socialise then take yourself to some of the brilliant establishment in the many side streets all over the city.
You may want to try the Campo de Fiori area,this is a market by day for local produce and its worth a look then to see the residents stock up on the local fruit veg and products. But at night many restaurants and bars open there doors there and there are some really nice ones to enjoy, with good local food.
On a personal note I have 2 specific restaurants/ bars we have visited in different areas of the city center and would like to share them with you.
The first is situated overlooking the Circo Massimo, its is; Zerosettantcinque
You can find them here, www.075roma.com
It is a great little place to chill at the end of the day and end a local drink and some well cooked local food.
My second recommendation is Restorante La Travernetta 48 this is found in a small street just a stones through from my Logistics Managers favourite tourist attraction the Pantheon. It can get busy at night so book ahead they do some real Roman classic dishes and we really have enjoyed eating here, you can find it here www.latvernetta48.com
Finally tips to enjoy Rome
So whats my overall tips to enjoy this fantastic city ? Well they are.
1 Plan ahead know what you want to see.
2 Hire a local guide.
3 Walk as much as you can you will see so much more.
4 Get out at night a just let your eyes and nose identify somewhere to enjoy a meal there are so many great small local places to pick from and enjoy.
5 If you can pre book your tickets for the major attractions book online and avoid some of the long lines.
Last but not least take time and enjoy this great city.
Thank for reading, please share and remember happy travelling.
Edinburgh a must do on any UK holiday
