Rome, Italy

Rome is one of those travel destinations that sits at the top of everyone’s lists to visit. It is a huge city, full of so much history and good food and culture. My first visit here was during a whirlwind spring break trip to Italy in college, which was full of many highs and quite a few eventful lows. Visiting in March was a bit rainy and cold, but the sights still did not disappoint.

I returned for a couple days in July of 2018, following a friend’s wedding in Italy. I was lucky to check a few of the remaining items off of my list of things I did not want to miss seeing (I’m looking at you, Pantheon). It was especially fun to explore with my friend, Megan, who had studied abroad here and was able to share her own joy about local places and things to do.

If you are planning a trip here and want to maximize what you see and do, be prepared for a jam-packed schedule! There is simply so much to do and see, and you will also just want to wander the city to see what hidden gems you might find. I am only going to touch on a few of my favorite things from the trips I took, and some items that I hope to see if I am ever back in the city. If you have any favorite recommendations from Rome, please let me know so that I can add them to my own list!

To see

There are so many things to see in Rome, and I highly recommend planning out your list of the items you do not want to miss and being strategic about what you visit each day! I think our first trip involved a lot of wandering, which was so nice but meant we were probably a block away from the Pantheon at certain points and did not even know it.

The Castel Sant’Angelo and Supreme Court building are worth walking by, as they are impressive and sit right along the Tiber River. Across the River, you should walk through the Piazza Navona, which may have some stands set up with goods for sale. You can admire the architecture of the buildings around the Piazza, learn about the history of the games that were once hosted here, and view the ornate fountains in its center. Close by is the Pantheon, which is everything quintessential ancient and Roman that you could hope it to be. The building itself is awe-inspiring, and I do not pretend to even remotely understand how this was constructed and still stands so beautifully today. A bit further north is Piazza de Spagna and the Spanish Steps, which are as iconic in person as they appear in photos.

South of the Pantheon is the Piazza Venezia. The Palazzo Venezia stands here. It is a huge marble palace that starkly juxtaposes the sights and buildings that surround it. It is impressively massive on the outside and equally so within. The Roman Forum is also in this area. This extensive landmark is an absolute must-see when you are in Rome. The excavation site includes the remains of ancient buildings dating back to the Roman empire. It is full of so much history and is almost impossible to wrap your mind around the implications of what once stood here and who once walked these paths.

There are honestly countless other buildings, castles, churches and more to see in Rome. Depending on your interests, it may be worth selecting a specific tour of some sort so that you can check off a lot of items in one day with the guidance of a professional. I usually prefer a good wander through a city, but with a place like Rome, there is just so much to see and learn.

To do

A only have a few ‘musts’ on my list of things to do in Rome. The first is a tour of the Colosseum. The wait may be long, but seeing the building from inside and having the added experience of learning some history through the audio tour is definitely worth it.

The Trevi Fountain is a prime location for photos, and you have to make sure to make a wish here by throwing a coin over your left shoulder with your back to the fountain. The legend is that doing so will guarantee you a return trip to the city. I also just did some quick research and found out that the fountain generates over one million Euros a year, all of which goes to charity.

I also enjoyed our tour of the Vatican. You can visit Vatican City and see St. Peter’s Basilica from the outside, but a tour is well worth it. This gives you access to the inside of the basilica, the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel and more. Unfortunately, I never saw the inside of the chapel because they were actively deliberating the new pope selection when we were visiting.

Some of my favorite souvenirs from Italy, and specifically Rome, are from stationery shops. I purchased Amalfi made paper cards with beautiful designs, and I have loved using these over the years. They also make beautiful journals, custom pens, stamps for sealing envelopes, and more.

Something I have not done enough of while in Rome is visiting museums and seeing the inside of some of these very impressive buildings. I will have to save that one for my next trip to Rome. A few of the items still on my list are the Baths of Caracalla and the Villa Borghese.

Living my best life at Maccheroni (I will take some gnocchi sorrentina now, please and thank you).

To eat

Based on the recommendation of a friend, we ate at Maccheroni while in Rome. The food was SO good, and I had one of my all time favorite meals: gnocchi sorrentina. We sat outside and had such a great meal. My only regret is that we each had maybe one piece of bread from the basket, which was not very fresh – and this was a restaurant that does charge you for the bread even if you do not eat much of it at all (we fell into a classic tourist trap haha).

During my first visit to Rome, my favorite meal was the restaurant owned by the same people who ran the bed and breakfast where we were staying. It was right next door, and the pasta was homemade and the wine was amazing. The restaurant is Trattoria Al Camoscio D’Abruzzo.

My friend Megan’s cousin lived in the Trastavere neighborhood of Rome, so she took us to dinner at La Fraschetta. A dish that you absolutely have to order at some point while in Rome is cacio e pepe (or, better yet, at multiple points). This dish is peppery and has the perfect amount of cheese, and is a staple of Roman cuisine.

One of the most important decisions to make while visiting is where and how often to get gelato. I can answer the where, but it’s up to you to determine how often. My rule is at least once a day, because you can never have enough gelato while in Italy ;) The serving sizes are based on literal scoops/balls of gelato, and can often be as cheap as one euro per scoop. Especially when visiting in the summer, a gelato or sorbetto snack is the perfect way to cool down and to give you some fuel for all of your sightseeing.

Megan brought me to Giolitti, which is allegedly the oldest operating gelato shop in Rome. It had so many flavor options and was an overall classic feeling and delicious tasting experience. Some other favorites were Il Gelato di San Crispino and Gelateria Giuffre. Grom is a popular ‘chain’ in Rome (and I believe they even have a location in New York City!) that is also delicious and always accessible. My one piece of advice is that there are a LOT of shops with gelato that will be good but not great, and that they may even try to ‘trick’ you into ordering something without realizing that you are going to be charged for all of the extras and end up spending sixteen euro on a gelato – do not do this, it’s not worth it!! Someone told me that the places with gelato in silver containers is the best and most…gourmet I guess? I am not sure if this is a rule of thumb, but I think you will quickly be able to distinguish which locations are worth your time!

View looking out from inside the Pantheon.

Rome is an iconic destination, and I hope you love visiting the city as much as I do. Eat all of the pasta, absorb all of the history, and make some discoveries of your own!

Martha’s Vineyard

Acadia National Park, Maine