A Guide to Rome
In September my brother Sandy, boyfriend Owen and I flew out to Rome for my parents 30th wedding anniversary and as a surprise to my dad. Italy is one of my favourite countries (pizza, pasta, ice cream, sunshine, sea and mountains... what's not to love?!) but had not been to Rome before so was looking forward to exploring a new city. We packed a lot into a few days so here's a mini guide to what we enjoyed!
Where to Stay
Trastevere
I hadn't done any research into where was best to stay before booking. We chose an apartment in Trastevere purely because it was close to where my parents were staying, however, I am so glad we did. It was by far my favourite area of Rome and had a great atmosphere without too many tourists. Described as the 'funky and bohemian' area of Rome, you'll find charming cobblestone streets, ivy-covered trattorias and a lively atmosphere.
Trastevere is located just west of the River but within walking distance to the city centre. Alternatively, jump on a bus or tram which go directly to the main sights.
We left booking our accommodation until the last minute but found this great apartment (here) in the centre of Trastevere with an abundance of restaurants and bars on the doorstep. Alternatively, there are some gorgeous air bnb's in the area which you'll find here.
Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see a few more photos of the area!
Where to Eat
EatWith... (Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen)
If you want to experience something different and authentic then this is for you!
EatWith has around 650 hosts all over the world and aims to bring people together over food. Rather than heading to a restaurant, you join a group of others for an intimate dinner party hosted at a chef’s house.
There are a number of different hosts within Rome but we opted for ‘Federica & Barbara of BB Kitchen’ who had outstanding reviews.
We joined around 15 others from around the world and of all ages at Federica’s home in Trastevere where we were warmly welcomed and made to feel at home instantly. We were treated to 5 courses - delicious homemade Italian food - and copious amounts of wine... you will not leave hungry (or sober!). It was made extra special with a cake and champagne for my parents wedding anniversary - we couldn't have asked for a better, more fun evening with an amazing group of people!
A one of a kind experience that I would definitely recommend. (Even if you're not planning to go to Rome anytime soon, check out the EatWith website as there are hosts all over the globe!)
Booking - check out the calendar at the bottom of the page - if none are suitable you can also request another date!
Trastervere
The cobbled, winding streets of Trastevere are filled with charm. The area feels more authentic than in the city centre, however as always there are a few tourist traps. We only ate here once but the streets were lined with pizzeria's and trattoria's where you could sit alfresco - perfect for people watching. Here are some good lists:
www.theromanfoodie.com/rome-food-blog/where-to-eat-in-trastevere-rome/
www.theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/trastevere-s-12-best-restaurants/
Gelato
This is the one thing I have to have at least once a day when I'm in Italy. I'm obsessed with all the fruity flavours that you just can't seem to find in London! Some of the best ones I had this time included Prickly Pear, Kiwi, Peach and passionfruit. The best places we went to we:
Punto Gelato - Via dei Pettinari 43
Ciampini - Piazza di S. Lorenzo in Lucina, 29, 00186
Grom - Via della Maddalena, 30a, 00186
What to do
Campo de' Fiori Market
We were visiting during the week and so unfortunately missed out on many of the weekend markets such as the Porta Portese Market and Campagna Amica Market . However, Campo De' Fiori Market is open every day and one of Rome's most famous markets. The name translates as 'fields of the flowers' and the market place has existed for over 400 years. You'll find everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, homemade olive oils, artisan meats and cheeses and beautiful flowers.
Location: Piazza Campo de' Fiori, 00186
Visit one of the many churches
While I enjoyed visiting all the main sights such as the Colosseum, The Forum and Panthon (which are all listed below) one of the highlights for me was stumbling upon a church on a quiet street, wandering inside and being met by the most beautiful and ornate interior.
Most are free to enter but you will need to be dressed conservatively, so bring along a shawl to wrap around bare shoulders or short skirts. Some of my favourites were:
1. Church of Gesù // 2. Sant'Agnese in Agone // 3. Trinità dei Monti
Others I wish I had seen...
4. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggior // 5. Santa Maria in Trastevere // 6. The Basilica of San Clemente
The Vatican Museum's, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Bailica
Okay I've got to be honest... We turned up saw the queue and quickly decided against standing in a line for a few hours. We did however have a good wander around St Peter's Square and marvel at the Obelisk and St Peter's Basilica from the outside, which is worth a visit even if you don't actually go into the Vatican or St Peter's. If you decide to go (and I am sure it is worth it...) look at booking tickets beforehand or turning up early!
Location: Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
The Colosseum and Forum
You can't visit Rome without visiting the Colosseum. It is the biggest amphitheatre ever built and is the ultimate symbol of imperial Rome.
Like the Vatican, the queues can be huge, however if you buy your ticket online and turn up at the beginning of the day (opens at 8:30am) you can easily avoid the crowds. When you purchase a ticket to the Colosseum you also get entry to The Forum and Palatine Hill. The ticket is valid for two days meaning you don't have to do it all in one day! The Roman Forum was first built in the 7th century BC and features an impressive array of ruins from basilicas to temples, hinting to once grandeur. I would recommend getting a headset (wish we had) as The Forum is vast and can be difficult to make sense of the history behind the ruins.
Buy Tickets here - reduced price for 18-25 and free for under 18
Amazing views from Altare della Patria
Also known as the 'Altar of the fatherland' or National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. The Altare della Patria stands out within Rome's skyline with it's dominating marble structure. Critics often refer to it as 'The Wedding Cake' due to it's tiered levels and is controversial as it destroyed the area of the Capitoline Hill.
It lies at the heart of the city and includes the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento, a small museum documenting Italisn unification and in the eastern wing is the Complesso del Vittoriano, a gallery that hosts major art exhibitions.
Whether you love or loathe the building, I definitely reccomend taking the Roma Dal Cielo lift to the top of the monument for 360-degree views over the city.
Entry - €7 for the lift
Location - Piazza Venezia, 00186
The Trajan Markets
The markets were built between 107 and 110 AD by Emperor Trajan's favourite architect, Apollodorus of Damascus and featured a larget complex of shops, offices and warehouses where Romans would purchase goods and conduct business. They were a hub of activities for more than two centuries.
As one of the few high-rise structures to have been preserved, they give a good insight into Roman urban architecture. The structure is impressive and compared to the rest of Rome which is iinundated with tourists, The Trajan Markets were almost deserted.
Definitely worth a visit if you want to see some of Rome's ancient history without the crowds.
Entry - €9.50 or €7.50 for 18-25 year olds
Location - Via Quattro Novembre, 94, 00187
Pantheon
Another iconic sight you must see.
The Pantheon is a former Roman temple completed around 126 AD by emperor Hadrian. It is now a church and still the largest unreinforced concrete dome which has been a source of inspiration for 2,000 years.
It is one of the most impressive and unique buildings I have ever visited!
Don’t let the queue put you off as compared to the Vatican where the queues can last for hours, this one moves quickly. Entrance is free.
Location - Piazza della Rotonda, 00186
The View from Gianicolo at sunset!
This was not something on our list before we arrived in Rome but ended up being one of the best things we did.
With time to spare before dinner, Owen and I went for a walk through Trastevere. After a long uphill climb we were finally met with the most spectacular view of Rome. We grabbed a drink and watched the sun set over the city - the perfect end to our trip!
Location - 00165 Rome
