I Fell in Love with Rome

If you've followed my recent adventures on Instagram, you probably know that I was in Rome for a few days just about a week ago. If you've paid close attention, you probably know that not everything went according to plan 🤣 Indeed, I've had a pretty bad experience with an airline which cancelled my return flight at the last minute, and had to spend 8 hours in an airport. Then the airline arranged everything so that I could spend 3 nights at a hotel near the airport (45-min from city center) and gave me food vouchers.  The problem was, I couldn't really get out of the hotel because : I had to work remotely in my room during the day (otherwise I would have missed 2 days of work) and my credit card got blocked so I couldn't go downtown Rome at night because I had no way of paying for anything. Not to mention I had only taken clothes for 3 days, and now I was staying 3 additional days lol.. what a mess! The perks of travelling; it's not all roses!

Nonetheless, the bad ending didn't prevent me from keeping A-MA-ZING memories from this gorgeous city. I went to Rome to meet with my friend Vanessa whom I hadn't seen for over a year now. We stayed at the Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa near Villa Borghese; what an amazing hotel! 

To sum up, here's what I've seen and done in three days. 

Città del Vaticano

Vatican City is an independent state located within the city of Rome and ruled by the pope. There are many things you can visit there, but most famous are St. Peter Basilica and the Vatican Museum, which includes the Sistine Chapel where famous Michelangelo painting is located. Since it was high season, we purchased our tickets in advance to ensure we wouldn't have to wait in line. Warning: Vatican City has tons of stairs, it gets HOT and CROWDED, so be prepared and patient! Other than that, just be ready to admire, because it is gorgeous. The basilica has to be the most beautiful church I've ever seen, and each room of the Vatican Museum is a piece of art in itself.

Fontana di Trevi

It is best to visit this world famous fountain at sunrise to avoid crowds. I must say I think the fountain looks good in picture, but it looks 10 times better in real life. If you're motivated enough to wake up early (which I strongly encourage you to do, you can always go back to your hotel after to nap), then definitely go to the fountain before the crowds arrive (around 6AM). There is a cute fruit stand right beside the fountain if you want to get something fresh!

Piazza di Spagna

Located not too far from the Trevi Fountain, you'll find Piazza di Spagna which is composed of a square, a fountain, a magnificent stairway called the Spanish Steps, as well as a church at the top of it. If you go early morning right after visiting the fountain, I bet you shouldn't meet too many people! I really enjoyed waking up early and having the city to ourselves in the morning. The streets were empty, and the temperature was bearable (during the day it was like 45 Celsius degrees).

Colosseo

Probably Rome's most famous touristic attraction. We made the decision not to visit the inside, so again, we went early morning to catch the site at sunrise with no people. The sky was a bit grey, which was disappointing, but we manage to snap some photos with absolutely zero people in them :)

Piazza Navona

By far my favourite square in Rome and also probably the most romantic. There are tons of restaurants, gifts shops, but also majestic fountains and musicians playing romantic music. Definitely check it out!

Pantheon

Although I didn't go inside to see the rotunda, the Pantheon was on my way to Trastevere (see below) so it made sense to stop and snap a quick picture. This temple is one of the best preserved Ancient Roman buildings.

Ponte Umberto I Area

This bridge is located not too far from Vatican city and will give you the best view on St. Peter Basilica, especially at sunset. It is located just in front of Rome's Palace of Justice, which is also gorgeous. From there, you can start a nice walk by the river (either down the bridge, or up the bridge). You'll find old booksellers and you can walk up to Castel Sant'Angelo.

Trastevere

This has to be the coolest neighborhood in Rome, and I loooved it! It's full of gorgeous tiny streets and flowers, you'll also find tons of cafés and bars where you can sip an Aperol Spritz (or two 😉) 

*Restaurant recommendation: Alfredo alla Scrofa - Via della Scrofa, 104/a, 00186 Roma. Home to the original Alfredo sauce 🤤