In my quest to plan the perfect overseas trip, I solicited advice from those who had gone before me. I had heard a mixed bag about Rome… some loved it, some hated it. I can say that after our short stay, my husband and I both fell into the former category and were crushing on Rome big time. The simple magnitude of everything is what blew my mind away. Sure, Australia has history, but nothing to the scale of what Rome has. The monuments are, well, monumental! Take the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (below) nicknamed ‘The Wedding Cake’ – it is the largest monument in white marble ever created.
But, I am getting ahead of myself. Firstly, after getting our luggage we took a bus from the airport to Roma Termini, and then caught a cab with our non-existent Italian to our accommodation (note: have a few key phrases written down so that even if you get the pronunciation wrong, you can show them the text). We checked in, showered (the best part of getting off a long-haul flight) and walked to Campo de Fiori – a cool hub of activity. We ate at Mercato’s, sharing bruschetta, a margherita pizza, and four-cheese gnocchi with local wine and live music in the square.
Since we were only staying in Rome for 3 nights, we decided a 2-Day Hop On Hop Off pass would be ideal. We did a lap of the city first to get our bearings, and then joined a walking tour of the Colosseum, skipping the queues and learning so much we didn’t know. The Colosseum was much larger than I anticipated and interesting even for a non-history buff such as myself. We saw a stretch hummer with pink bow and a newlywed couple stopping to take advantage of the backdrop for their photos!
Being a massive rom-com fan and lover of all things, well, love-related, I was excited that Trevi Fountain was our next stop. I was mesmerised by that beautiful fountain with clear water and flecks of gold thanks to the countless tourists throwing a coin over their shoulder to ensure their return to Rome. We went back later that night and witnessed a guy getting down on bended knee to propose – so sweet and the crowd was cheering!
The next day brought 90% chance of rain, but thankfully it only had one downpour. Our first stop was the Pantheon – enormous outside and elaborate inside – with a group of architecture students sitting sketching on the steps. Imagine having that type of learning environment in your backyard!
With limited knowledge of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, we again opted to join a tour. The patterned and painted ceilings throughout the Vatican were by far my favourite, and 4 hours later we headed for the Spanish Steps for more gelato. Goodbye diet!
Overall, I was a little in awe of Rome. It was a fantastic place to start our trip, and we honestly could have spent a lot longer there. Rome would be a great destination for those wanting to sight-see and get a taste of Italy on their honeymoon.
Images by Mr + Ms Chevron
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