Having seen all those artistic masterpieces in and around Florence, we were all set to move on to our next destination – Rome.
Rome is one of the cities that I had read so much about in all those Dan Brown books, and books by other authors. I had already formed an opinion about how the city might look. Believe me, my imagination was nothing in comparison to the actual reality. The city is so much more beautiful in real and is one of the most breath-taking places in Europe.
The Journey
We left Florence in the morning and headed towards Rome. It was a 2-hours journey by train. When we reached the Termini or the Terminal in Rome, we could see a lot of people in the station. That showed that the city was a major tourist destination.
We checked into the hotel, left our luggage and went out to have our lunch. On checking ChatGpt, we got to know about this famous Vegan restaurant called Rifugio Romano, just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. There, we got to eat some Vegan Pizza and something called as Suppli Vegan, which was a deep-fried rice Ball with Vegan Cheese and Tomato Sauce. The meal was delicious, and we were really happy to start our journey in Rome with something so special.
Vatican City
Once our hunger was satiated, we started off with our journey towards the Vatican City. We took a metro train from the Termini and got down at Ottaviano station. The train was crowded but we were able to find some space to stand. Got down at Ottaviano station and started our walk towards the Vatican City.
It was about a kilometer walk and the route took us through some busy shopping streets. I was expecting that there would be some kind of boundaries or walls or security when we cross the border and enter the Vatican. Surprisingly for us, the Vatican City, which is a country in itself, is tucked away within the bustling streets of Rome. How can a country exist inside a city of another country, right? 😊
There were huge walls at the entrance of the Vatican with a complete security check to enter the Square.
We had not booked any tickets so we just stood in the general queue to get inside the St. Peter’s Square. Being a Friday afternoon, the crowd was manageable and we were able to get inside after about 20 minutes of standing outside. Being used to queues and crowds in India, standing in this crowd felt like home. 😀
Once we got inside the tiniest country in the world, the complete atmosphere changed. A calmer air and a grander scale, every detail inside was literally out of the books that I had read. We did not know where to start looking. There were curved colonnades and fountains and a towering Egyptian obelisk.
(Pics of Vatican City)
Here is some history 😊 (Picked up from Google) – St. Peter’s Square was designed in the 17th Century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. There are 2 semicircular colonnades there, made up of 284 Doric columns and 88 pilasters completely surrounding the circle. It gives a sense of protection to the complex and the sacred space.
As we walked towards St. Peter’s Basilica, the immensity of the façade and dome awed us and we were spellbound. The sheer beauty inside the Basilica took our breath away. With so many gold details, marbled floors and mosaic, every corner had a story to tell.
As we stepped outside the Basilica, we saw Swiss guards guarding the Pope’s residence. Its believed that Swiss are known for their loyalty and combat skills.
The St. Peters Square had many more remarkable things inside. There was a beautiful depiction of Noah’s ark. The detailing in the statues made them look so real, with their expressions captured so naturally.
(Pic of Noah’s ark)
Piazza Navona
Once we came out of the Vatican City, I put Piazza Navona on the maps, and we started to walk towards it. The entire journey from the Vatican to the Navona felt like we were going through layers of history. Have never seen a city so historically beautiful like Rome. We walked over the River Tiber over the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele bridge, which connects the Vatican area to the rest of Rome. Walking on the bridge felt like we were strolling through a gallery. It had so many marble sculptures and each of them had a story to tell.
We crossed through Castel Sant’Angelo, a stone fortress that had witnessed a series of historical events. It is believed that there is a hidden corridor inside which links it to Vatican. Again, the bridge leading to the Castel Sant’Angelo was lined with sculptures of beautiful angels.
I felt that the entire city of Rome was like an open-air museum.
From there, we walked through narrow cobblestone streets, following the path that Google maps suggested, and passed various elegant squares. And after passing through a few alleys, we reached Piazza Navona.
I was not prepared for the beauty of this place. It was like we stepped into a painting. With fountains on 2 sides, the entire Piazza was in a form of rectangle. There were street performers, singing and performing acts, and so many groups of people gathered around. The vibe was so vibrant, with a perfect harmony of art, history, beauty, romance and life.
The Fountain in the centre is the Bernini’s Fountain of Four Rivers, which is a stunning spectacle of marble, representing the great rivers.
(Pics of Piazza Navona)
We just sat there for a while, enjoying all the fun and frolic around, and the serenity of the fountains. It is ironical to be at peace when there is so much happening around. 😊
Well, it was time for us to move on. We thought of going back to the hotel by taking a bus for the return trip. While the bus stop showed only a few meters away, the path had another surprise for us. There was the Pantheon standing majestically enroute. How can a city be filled with so many historical monuments and they all crop up so unexpectedly? 😀
The Pantheon at one time was a shrine for all the Roman gods and was built in the 2nd Century.
(Pics of Pantheon)
When we got down near Rome Termini, I happened to see the famous Indian restaurant, Saravana Bhawan out there. And, I felt so home-food-sick by then, that I really wanted to have my dinner over there. Over a plate of Masala Dosa and Curd rice, we decided that we would have our next meals also there. 😀
The next day at Colosseum
While we had a booking for a group package of Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum at 12 pm, we had a whole morning free with us.
So, we set out to check out Piazza Venezia, where the amazing Altar of Fatherland stands. It is such a massive marble monument and looks too majestic and cool. It looks like a Wedding cake, and that’s what it is called. With layered terraces, and an ornate façade, we just climbed up the steps and sat down to absorb the panoramic views and the beauty inside. From there, we could see the ruins, domes and Colosseum as well.
(Pics of Altar of Fatherland)
Having seen Gladiator movies and knowing what happened inside the Colosseum, I was not too excited about seeing the monument. But I was still very much interested in checking out the ruins around.
Colosseum is one of the seven wonders of the world, and the history inside is so well-preserved.
We had a guide who was super passionate about Roman history and the Colosseum, that walking with her talking felt like a history lesson in itself. And she made the images of past come alive with her vivid descriptions. 🙂
2000 years old Colosseum has an ancient amphitheatre inside, surrounded by strong walls. Walking through the tunnels and arches, we were told separate entrances were there for the royal family and the general public. History behind every corner and crevice there was explained in detail by our guide. She made the Colosseum come alive for us once again. And I was flabbergasted by the cruelty of the kings that time.
The thought of gladiators fighting for their life inside for the benefit of the king’s entertainment was so sad. I was surprised how the crowds around cheered such barbaric acts then.
(Pics of Colosseum)
Once we came out of the Colosseum, we headed towards the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.
The Roman Forum was supposed to be a bustling centre for political, social and religious life in the olden days, filled with public spaces, basilicas, markets and temples. While we walked through the ruins, it felt like we had stepped back in time, The crumbling columns and the ancient stone paths stand to tell the story of Rome.
And, above that is Palatine Hill, which is supposedly the birthplace of Rome. Rome was founded here. The Palatine Hill was the home for the emperors, with lines of luxurious palaces, which overlooked the Forum. Walking through the ruins of the palaces, and Forum, we could visualize the grandeur of the olden days.
(Pics of Palatine Hill and Roman Forum)
We were so physically and mentally exhausted after the Colosseum that we did not have the appetite for anything else, except for food that day. 😊
Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain
How can a trip to Rome be complete without visiting the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, right?
So, next day, we took a bus from near the hotel to reach the Spanish Steps.
Spanish Steps is a place where elegance meets energy. There were a series of steps that connect Paizza di Spagna to the Trinita dei Monti church. The steps are so graceful that we were forced to climb up even though we were feeling so tired. 😀
(Pics of Spanish Steps)
With so much of photo-shoots happening behind us on the steps, we found a quiet corner where we just sat and took in the busy life below. There were a series of cyclists going on a tour around the fountain, and it was such a beautiful sight to see. With lots of branded shops around, coffee shops and so much to look around, the whole place was booming with energy.
(Pics of cyclists)
Trevi Fountain
I had read so much about the Trevi Fountain that I could not have left Rome without checking it out. Just a few minutes’ walk from Spanish Steps, we were surprised to see a long queue waiting to get inside, make a wish and take pictures.
As we had reached this place in the peak afternoon, the crowd there was also at its peak. It took us at least about 30 minutes to reach the base of the fountain but it was totally worth the wait.
The baroque statues in the fountain were so spectacular, and the water itself was so pristine and pure that we could just keep looking.
It is believed that one can toss a coin over their left shoulder into the fountain and make a wish. So, this was a wishing fountain. So yes, I did throw the coin over the fountain making a wish. After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. 😊
(Pics of Trevi Fountain)
There were still some places that we wanted to check out, but were out of time. After all, Rome was not built in a day, and it definitely requires more time to check out the beauty of the city. Something left for the next time. 🙂
After the Italian episode, its time for me to take you to another beautiful city in a beautiful country, which is the birthplace of Classical music, coffee, art and heritage.. Will see you soon in Vienna. Till then, stay safe and happy. 🙂
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