When in Rome…

Rome…the Eternal City. From the moment I stepped out of the train station, I could already tell this city was like no other. Beautiful, clean, upbeat vibe and around every corner, a monument or some amazingly preserved piece of history with a story to tell. It is easy to see why Rome entices visitors to return over and over again.

I was fortunate to be staying at the Palazzo Dama on a recommendation from a friend. My hotel was ideally situated just around the corner from Piazza del Popolo, one of the large, vibrant Roman squares where the shopping district of Rome begins. I was met by my private tour guide when I arrived to my hotel. Upon her recommendation, we decided to walk to some of Rome’s most famous monuments, the Forum and the Colosseum. Passing through the square, we walked down the shopping district, all decorated for Christmas with many shoppers going about their business. We passed by churches, historic monuments and many buildings steeped in history before arriving in front of the “Il Vittoriano” or “Wedding Cake” as it is slurringly referred to by Romans. Though considered by many to be an eye sore to the beauty of Rome, it is hard not be impressed with the construction and design of the marble. Just behind this monument sits the Roman Forum, a key political, ritual and civic centre in ancient Rome. This is where heroes would come back, chariots blazing, triumphant from war. Where the government would commune with the people, and was considered the centre of the ancient Roman world. Initially temples had been built for pagan gods, however at the advent of Rome’s turn to Christianity, the buildings originally dedicated to the pagan gods were repurposed into Christian churches and monuments. This is an area that would change with the times…and the religion of the day. It is so well preserved that you feel as though you can imagine yourself in the middle of the action at the time, and get swept away into its beauty. For this area, I definitely recommend a private guide. There is a lot to learn here, and its much easier with an expert beside you to guide you through the history.

The next stop…the Colosseum. Grandiose, striking, massive. I understand the worldwide obsession with this historic arena. 50,000 – 80,000 spectators would fill the seats to be entertained by gladiators, animal hunts and dramatic products. Seating placement was based on one’s prominence in society; those of the most importance were closest to the action, and those of least importance, and women, had to sit in the highest seats. Fun fact..the entrances from the stairs to the seating areas were referred to as “vomitoriums”, since the entrance of thousands of people looked as though they were being “vomited” into the arena. However over the years, its has been repurposed many times, and now it exists mainly as a tourist attraction. As I was there in early December, the crowds were minimal and photo ops were plenty. However in the summer, be prepared for large crowds and fighting your way to a photo op.

As I only had one night in Rome, this was the extent of my ancient Rome highlights. I recommend at least 3 days here to explore this amazing city. These are just some of the amazing sites that await you. If you need any help with tour recommendations, let me know!