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This is the last post on our Italy adventure and we’re ending in Rome, the Eternal City. Rome is a must see and it has been about 33 years since I first visited Rome. Rome is the capital of Italy and a beautiful city with a lot of history around it. The old city is inside the old walls which is really fascinating to see for the first time. Mark wasn’t there before, so he’s completely in with Rome. We had 2 nights in Rome, but only one full day so we packed in as much as possible. We stayed in a nice part of town just outside the historic city walls at the Hilton Garden Inn, which was very well appointed. Lots of shops and restaurants around, even a gelato shop down the street. We made sure to go there at least twice when in town.
Our spacious King Room at the Hilton Garden Inn is a great place to wind down at the end of days. Only this hotel has washcloths, so be aware of that when you visit Italy. I’m not sure the rest of Europe doesn’t have them, but Italy certainly doesn’t. Bring your own if you need one!
We were dropped off for a full day of exploration near the historic part of the city and we had a tour guide to show us the main sites on a walking tour.
On our first night in Rome, we signed up for a pasta-making class at an old building on the Tiber River Bridge on Tiber Island.
There are many great photo ops on the bridge.
And when we left, there was plenty to see. Rome is a very beautiful and bustling city.
We made our own pasta and ate it right. It was fun, but I knew I would never make my own pasta at home. Still, it’s a fun adventure to do together. We followed the instructions and ate the bounty we made, served with red sauce and cream sauce. They were both delicious, with tiramisu for dessert. You can see the cave-like place where we had dinner that night, which was a very pleasant experience.
And of course, we had to get more gelato later that night.
Every day!
The next full day was our walking tour and we did a lot of walking that day. It was on the warm side, our hottest day while we were there, but it was an exciting time to be there. I loved Rome and all the outdoor cafes in Italy. It’s an adventure to eat at all the quaint outdoor trattorias in the country.
Spanish steps
Rome is full of beauty everywhere you turn.
We started our tour down the Spanish Steps. I definitely remember the Spanish Steps from when I was there 30 years ago and they look exactly the same.
Looking down from the top tier where the fountain is.
The views are amazing.
I made sure to get plenty of pictures of Mark and myself along the way. Mark was very cooperative, laughing with me. He really enjoyed Rome, one of his favorite parts of our trip.
I love these potted azaleas stacked on the stairs.
I tried to recreate the place where I took my picture 30 years ago and I came close.
Rhoda 1990
This is a beautiful area to take in most of Rome. As you can see, there are a lot of people around. Rome is a popular destination.
At the bottom of the Spanish Steps is a baroque style fountain, the Barcasia Fountain and I remember it from when I was there. It was built between 1626 and 1629.
If I remember correctly, you could actually drink from this fountain in one area and people would fill their bottles.
Another look up the Spanish Steps.
I love the neighborhood fruit stands.
The Trevi Fountain
We went to one of the most famous places in Rome, the Trevi Fountain. It’s always crowded here, and I remember it being under renovation when I was there in the early 90s, so I don’t think I’ve ever seen it with water. It is a beautiful fountain, the largest baroque fountain in the city. It was completed in 1762.
Another photo option.
Carmen told me a little trick about going up to the second floor of the Benetton store, which has great views of the fountain from the top. Mark spotted us while we were there and took our picture.
Really beautiful history and architecture in Rome.
It was very popular and many people gathered for photos.
This is one of the best shots I have ever captured.
Really amazing!
Our walking tour of Rome continues.
More quaint and charming outdoor cafes.
More stops for gelato along the way.
Cars are very small in Europe and these are a great example.
The Pantheon
We rounded the corner at one stop and there was the Pantheon. After the original temple was burnt down, the temple was rebuilt and dedicated in AD 126. The date of construction is unknown, as Hadrian chose to retain the inscription of Agrippa’s old temple. It is one of the best preserved of the ancient Roman buildings and is truly a sight to behold.
Mark was thrilled to see the Pantheon in person, as he remembered studying and writing about it in his early school years.
A truly magnificent building worth seeing in person.
A feat that you can hardly imagine that the dome was built so long ago. The precision and detail in the interior defies words.
You have to get tickets now to get in, but when I was there in the early 90s it was free and open.
I was amazed again and I loved seeing Mark’s face when he saw it for the first time.
We went to see more of the city. We stopped at a local restaurant before heading to the Colosseum.
I really wanted to eat more meals in Rome, but sadly we only got to eat twice.
I got the pasta carbonara, one of my favorites, and it was just as delicious as I remembered.
Mark got the risotto and he loved his dish too.
We went to the Colosseum for a 2:00 pm appointment. Since it wasn’t part of our walking tour this time, we bought tickets online so we could see it for ourselves.
Colosseum
The Arch of Constantine is next to the Colosseum and is a beautiful sight. Built in AD 315, it commemorates Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD312. It is located between the Colosseum and Palantine Hill. The arch is constructed of brick-faced concrete covered with marble. It is truly amazing to see these wonders of the world in person.
The Colosseum was very impressive and Mark was like a kid to see his favorite celebrity.
It was so much fun to experience this adventure with Mark once again.
Palantine Hill in the distance, home to the Roman Forum. We got to that later.
Another view of the Arch of Constantine.
We got there early so had to wait until our entry time of 2pm to go inside. I’m glad we found out how to buy tickets in advance, I heard they sell out fast and they only sell a certain amount of tickets per timeslot each day.
It was a very crowded place, but we finally got around to seeing it.
It’s amazing to walk where the ancient Romans walked.
The interior is equally magnificent, as we read of tarps drawn on pulleys at the top of the theater to block the sunlight from the faces of the elite seated below.
You can imagine the lions and the gladiators and the games that took place here.
This area of Rome is truly a must-see and wonderful to take it all in.
We walked around and saw all there was to see, it was a hot day and we were ready to get out of the sun.
Next we went to the ruins of the Roman Forum, where daily life in Rome was conducted. A center of processions, elections and trade for the ancient Romans. There is much to see here, the remains and ruins of the old government buildings of old Rome.
It is truly amazing that after all these centuries everything remains intact.
They sure know how to rebuild!
These 3 arches were built in B.C. Famous for the Roman Forum built in the 7th century.
We really enjoyed walking around and the whole history of this place.
Words rarely describe the beauty.
We ended our tour with a last meal outside as a group at a local restaurant, where we were serenaded by local musicians in the Italian style.
It was a lot of fun and a great way to end the trip. We thoroughly enjoyed our Go Ahead tour to Italy and can’t wait to do another one. Again. We loved how everything was set up and we didn’t have to do anything, just show up. No driving or thinking about schedules or anything. It’s easy to relax and go with the flow of the destination. We enjoyed it a lot.
Again, if you missed the other posts on our Italy adventure, check them out here:
If you are interested in joining Mark and I on our trip to Italy next year, don’t miss this post! We really hope more people sign up so we can make this trip a success. It’s so much fun!
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