ROME.

Rome was our final stop in this European tour and we had blocked out 6 days for two reasons. We wanted to slow down and take some time to ourselves and as I (Natalie) have visited the city before, I know how much there is to see and we didn’t want to be walking tens of kilometres every day. We found this to be probably more time than we needed but we embraced the peace and stability of the extended time in a sole city. Here is how we spent our time.

8 Places to visit..

• The Vatican City. We were staying very close by so visited here on our first day. The generic entrance fee is €17 per person but there are reductions for children, students etc. We headed straight for the Sistine Chapel when we entered. The route to the chapel is fairly long as there are numerous exhibitions to walk through- some of which are very interesting and eye catching. It took us around 2 hours to complete this route. There are other sections to visit also, some of which we were able to see on our way to the exit. Whilst in the Vatican city, we visited St Peter’s Square and St Peter’s Basilica. To visit the Basilica there is a strict dress policy; for both women and men, shoulders and knees must be covered and there is a security screening that you have to pass through as well. Once completed, we enjoyed strolling through, embracing the architecture and history. We returned to St Peter’s Square at midday on the Sunday to see the Pope’s speech. A fascinating spectacle whether religious or not!

• The Colosseum. As a new wonder of the world, the Colosseum is one of the most popular sights to visit when in Rome. We knew the crowds would be large and that there is a new policy giving specific time slots for entry and that these can sell out during the day so we decided to get there fairly early. We arrived around 10:30am and followed the signs to the ticket counter. With only a handful of people in the queue infront, we were able to get tickets for entry at 10:45am. Perfect! We made our way to the queue to go through the security checks and began to explore. There are numerous stands showing the history of the Colosseum which was interesting and the actual site itself is so grand.

• The Roman Forum and Paletine Hill. Our tickets for the Colosseum also included entrance to both of these. The general admission is €12 for an adult but is reduced to €2 if you are between 18 and 25 and a resident of the EU. Being 25, this was a lovely saving! We spent around an hour and a half walking around the Forum and surrounding area. As a bystander it looks like a fairly small space but is surprisingly huge! There are a few nice spots for a nice panoramic view of the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine and more.

• The Trevi Fountain. One of the most iconic places to visit in Rome, there are thousands of visitors each day. We visited here twice during our stay. Once during the day where the fountain was closed due to maintenance and once in the evening when it was up to it’s full glory. Whilst we were disappointed that the water was turned off during our first visit, the front area was also closed to the public, meaning we got some great photos without any tourists!

• The Pantheon. Located close to the Trevi Fountain, this was originally built as a temple to the Gods and has since become one of the best preserved buildings in Rome. We only stayed a short while to stroll around but the architecture was more than impressive!

• The Spanish Steps. At nearly 300 years old, these steps are featured in numerous films and were originally built as a way of connecting the Trinita dei Monti Church. We spent some time in this area, walking the steps and around the various shops at the bottom.

• Castel Sant’Angelo. Whilst we chose not to go inside, we enjoyed the aesthetic from the outside and the bridge.

• The River Tiber. We strolled along the river edge multiple times during our visit to Rome. During the summer months there are stands along the waterfront; restaurants and bars and there are live music performances. A lovely place to chill throughout the evening.

To conclude, our final stop on this Europe trip did not disappoint. We enjoyed having some time to ourselves with a private room and having the opportunity to slow down and not have to see our entire itinerary within a few days. We crossed off another wonder of the world, bringing our total to 5 and enjoyed embracing the ancient Roman culture.

Tips and costs..

• We stayed in Sotto la Cupola in a private room with en-suite. The apartment is around a 10 minute walk from the Vatican City and approximately an hour from the Colosseum.
• When queuing for the Colosseum, don’t follow the crowd and head straight for the entrance to buy tickets. There is a tickets stand located near the entrance to the Roman Forum and the queue is MUCH smaller. Be aware, you need a form of ID to purchase tickets also.
• Similarly, the queue for the Roman Forum is much shorter if you walk back along the main road rather than head to the entrance that is opposite the Colosseum.
• Ensure to be able to cover your knees and shoulders when entering St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. The dress policy is strict.
• If arriving to Fiumicino airport, you can grab a train to a variety of stations such as Trastevere and Termini and connect to most other stations. Tickets cost €8 per person.
• The transport links to Ciampino airport are slightly less direct, however if you can get to Termini station, there is a bus that connects to the airport.