Roma

The city

Our arrival

We went to Rome by train from Gallipoli, after a long journey. We arrived at the Piazza del Popolo, near the location of our hotel. We were welcomed by an Egyptian obelisk originally erected by Pharaoh Ramses II and brought to Rome by Emperor Augustus.

Our hotel was very cute, with a balcony included, perfect for having a coffee!

Our favourite district: Trastevere

Our favourite district of Rome was Trastevere. It is a small, cute district full of cobbled streets and cafes and bars just next to the inner city of Rome, across the Tiber River (it literally means across the river). It was initially inhabited mostly by fishermen and sailors, later became the Jewish district of Rome. Even though we just saw a bit of it, it definitely needs a more prolonged visit in the future.

The food

Right after our arrival, our first meal was in a pasta restaurant, where we had tasty carbonara and cacio e pepe (with pepper and cheese) - two classics from Rome 😋

We also had some street food, a particular one was Suppli, somehow similar to Arancino (fried rice ball), but some places were doing with spaghetti instead 😋 😋 😋

Ece’s birthday!

The whole Rome visit was a birthday present from Ece’s mother and sister, so we could stay at a proper hotel (the one with the balcony) and had our first 3-course dinner at a restaurant in Italy.

Archaeology

Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the most important landmarks of Roma. Initially built by Marcus Agrippa (we can see his name written on the facade), a Roman general, statesman, and architect who was a close friend, son-in-law, and lieutenant to the Roman emperor Augustus.

Inside the edifice can be found the tombs of two important kings of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I. Vittorio Emanuele II reigned from 1861 to 1878. He was a key figure in the process of Italian unification, and he worked to establish a constitutional monarchy in Italy. His son, Umberto I, was the king of Italy from 1878 to 1900, and he was known for his efforts to modernize the country and improve its economy. He also played a role in the creation of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Colosseum & the Roman Forum

We visited the colosseum and the roman forum, both important archaeological sites, but also very touristic, we were surprised by the number of people, even though we were off season!

The Colosseum of Rome, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is a large, elliptical amphitheatre located in the centre of Rome. It was built during the Roman Empire and is considered one of the greatest examples of Roman architecture and engineering. The Colosseum is made of concrete and stone over several levels, including the ground floor and four upper levels with seating for spectators.

The Roman Forum was located next to the Colosseum, and it was the centre of Roman public life. It was a rectangular plaza surrounded by government buildings, temples, and shrines. The Forum was the site of many public speeches, trials, and elections, as well as a place for the Roman people to meet and socialize.

Vatican

Another day of visit, we went to the Vatican, where we visited the St. Peter’s Basilica and the Museum of the Vatican.

St. Peter’s Basilica is the second largest church in the world. It is considered one of the holiest sites in Christianity and is the burial place of St. Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. The basilica is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, and its interior features many works of art by famous artists such as Michelangelo and Bernini