The summer before my senior year in college, a few friends and I decided to study abroad in Florence. The type of city you’d find on the front of a sepia-toned postcard, the Italian city is undeniably picturesque; with its quaint, cobblestone streets, impressive, looming domes, and petite, rustic skyline, Firenze daintily screams, “dilapidated chic!”
After a week exploring the archaic locale, however, I felt unbearably restless, longing to be immersed in a city with a more palpable pulse. A diehard New Yorker, I was clearly experiencing withdrawal, deprived of the Big Apple’s intoxicating bustle for far too long. I missed being enveloped by shadows of towering concrete and the comforting shrills of traffic streaking outside my window. And I despised the fact that nearly every Florentine store closed well before the sky fell dark.
You can imagine my relief when, two weeks into our underwhelming Tuscan experience, my friends and I decided to spend a long weekend probing a slightly more modern city—one much more akin to the one that never sleeps. It was a trip that would take us two hours south and fifty years back from the past via high-speed train, straight into Italy’s gleaming capital: Rome.
I was ecstatic to discover that The Eternal City—unlike its “quainter” northern sister, Florence—didn’t have a kiddy bedtime. Better yet, it had the modern urban feel I so terribly craved. Peppered with a delightful assortment of locals and spectacular sights, Rome is a mixture of old and new.
We walked from one must-see landmark to the next, only hopping on the underground metro once or twice during our four-day stay. To us New Yorkers, a thirty-minute walk equated to “a stone’s throw away” (we’re really good at throwing stones in New York), so we meandered through Rome on foot, sticky under the blazing sun, but grateful to be back in a place with traffic lights and two-way streets.
The Trevi Fountain was a toss away from our B&B, so we visited it rather frequently. In the Fountain’s vicinity, we were thrilled to find a line of souvenir shops selling miniature statues of Italian landmarks—from the Colosseum to Pisa’s Leaning Tower—for just a euro a pop, and we stocked up a little too enthusiastically on the small figurines.
The Pantheon was a mere pebble’s skip from La Fontana di Trevi—Rome’s homage to the ancient gods, the mammoth stone structure is absolutely breathtaking with its commanding, Corinthian columns and extravagant rotunda. It is so painstakingly detailed that, by the time we’d finished marveling at its intricate, golden interior, we were absolutely starved.
Lunchtime was always met with a chorus of “I don’t know!” and “You decide!” as we debated over where to spend our rapidly dwindling euros. Low cost was key—our funds were quite limited, so we sought eateries that advertised buffet deals and discounted combinations.
A quick search on Yelp led us one day to CO2 Brasserie, a wonderfully air-conditioned, two-level restaurant that offers an unlimited buffet of savory food for around twelve euros (about fifteen U.S. dollars). There we dined on a peculiar amalgam of foods, from pasta carbonara and mushroom risotto, to melon balls and delicious desserts.
Then, as if our feast wasn’t enough to satiate our bellies, apres-lunch shopping and wandering got us hungry for a sugary snack. We consulted good ol’ Google Maps, which led us to Giolitti, possibly THE most famous cafe and gelateria in all of La Citta Eterna. The charming spot is nestled snugly within the city’s historic district, minutes away from Il Panteon. We bought chocolate-dipped cones piled high with sorbetto, finishing them well within the ten minutes it took us to stroll to Piazza di Spagna.
Lined with gleaming designer boutiques, the famous square was far too pricey a shopping place for our shallow pockets, so we sat on the Spanish Steps and amused ourselves with the funny sight of pushy street vendors attempting to sell roses to passersby, simultaneously trying to evade meandering police.
As guidebook-abiding tourists, we dedicated a full day to The Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. Because exposed knees and shoulders are severe obscenities within the Pope’s domain, my best friend and I donned cardigans draped over maxi dresses, while our then-boyfriends suffered through the simmering heat in slacks.
Though no photography was allowed, you can bet I managed to snap a few pictures of The Sistine Chapel’s ceiling (one simply does not fly thousands of miles to see Michelangelo’s magnificent fresco, only to walk away empty-handed!). The highlight of the tour, however, had to be peeping through the keyhole of the Pope’s enormous, wooden front door (unfortunately, I don’t think he was home).
Last but not least, we couldn’t leave Italy’s capital without visiting The Colosseum, quite possibly the most iconic symbol of Rome. We took turns posing alongside gigantic, fallen pillars and decaying stone stumps, all the while trying to fathom the deep history of the stunning arena.
The shockingly well-preserved amphitheater is a testament to the Roman Empire’s love for public spectacles, as it was once the site of bloody gladiator fights and epic chariot races. These days, it simply serves as the city’s greatest tourist attraction (alongside its “brother,” The Roman Forum).
In short, our time in the Eternal City was rich, ephemeral, and sweet—quite like a delectable serving of gelato. A vibrant place brimming with culture and diversity, Rome very much invigorated our spirits, making us wish, long after we’d gone, that we could have just one more scoop.
Want more? Check out A Guided Tour of Rome’s Historical Spots
I have been to Rome twice over the past two years and the advice offered is sound. It is a fantastic place you will need to go offseason and for at least a week at a time not to miss the major cities but you could be in Rome for a year and still not see all the places of interest.
Very helpful guidance before planning a trip to Italy.
I have been to Rome on my own twice. The best thing to do is to learn some Italian. It goes a long way. Secondly be confident and challenge prices. i.e public transportation prices because they always try to add on a couple of euros just say no! and ask for the normal prices for a bus ticket? Thirdly relax you’re there to enjoy yourself!! Whatever you do, always throw yourself into their way of life. Don’t eat or drink near a tourist spot. Go into the back streets where the Italians go, much cheaper and a better experience. And finally, this is the best time you’ll ever have. When in Rome.
I just came from a 10 days trip to Rome. I’ve been to many countries around the world. Rome was the only city I felt really sad to leave. it was just beautiful.
Rome is an amazing city. All of Italy is amazing.
I wonder how they preserve the architectures there. It’s also very puzzling.
This city seems like you don’t really have much to do other than sightseeing. Sounds a little boring to me.?
If I would visit Rome, it would mainly be because of the architecture. I don’t think there’s a lot of things to do here unless you really take pride in being a Catholic and you want to go to the Vatican. Bu personally, I’d prefer a city that packs a lot more activities other than city tours. I get bored in city tours. Plus, they’re so tiring. You have to walk really fast just so you can keep up with the group! Not so exciting for me. I’d rather hike in mountains or go to places with beaches.
Never been here but this article made me feel like the place was amazing even though it’s a very simple city.
Heading to Rome in a couple of weeks. I’m really excited but I’ve heard a lot of people complaining about pick pocketers in the city.
In almost any city, that’s very common. Just ake care of your belongings.