Rome
History and energy. The two words that we would use to best describe Rome. It has such a unique feel to it, that there are countless ways to have a perfect day in Rome. This would be one place where we would definitely spring for a tour or two, since getting the full story from a trained guide can make all the difference. It is a place where you must carefully plan your time, since there are amazing restaurants, neighborhoods, and experiences to be had; but a visitor with limited time can easily be stuck waiting in long lines, or succumb to intense hunger by grabbing a bite at a place that is perhaps a little too touristy, overpriced, or just not authentic. Rome has always been one of our favorite cities in the world. It is a walkable city that exudes so much history that locals are almost blasé to the thousands of years of ruins around every corner. It is also a city that has reinvented itself over and over again, and seeing it come into the 21st century is such a treat.
One place often overlooked in Rome is the Jewish Ghetto. It is a beautiful part of town, full of heartbreaking history, delicious food, and a great mix of high- and low-end style. It is only a short walk from Campo dei Fiori, and well worth the walk.
Of all the culinary magic that Italy does well, I’m going to go ahead and say that breakfast isn’t one of them. Don’t get me wrong — Italian food is multo multo bene, and a large part of the reason we return to Italy year after year. I swear that I dream about the paper thin pizza and Chianti Classicos on the regular. But you know what foods aren’t particularly memorable? The breakfast foods. And because of that, I encourage you to conserve your caloric intake for all the glorious Italian food and drink that come later in the day! Those Italians know how to do lunch and dinner.
I love reading about Italy, I love reading books set in Italy, I just love Italian culture. But I must say, it's not always easy to find engaging, well-written books that sweep me off my feet in this genre. I've done the legwork for you, and here, I outline the top books I've come to love over the years that have an Italian twist.
Beautiful Ruins
You know those books that you don't want to end? This was one of them for me.
This little work of fiction had elements of real life (i.e., Elizabeth Taylor), that mingled with made-up towns near Cinque Terre.
Oh Rome, it is a city so beautiful. The big energy, the constant nods to history, and the food -- oh, the food -- makes me think of this city often.
If I were dropped in Rome for just one day, this would be my rough plan for the perfect day; a mix of off-the-beaten path destinations and a few of my favorite highlights. Oh, and food. Lots of food.
Looking for the perfect day in Rome? Let's get started.
It's official, folks, we're headed back to Italy!
We decided we just couldn't get enough, so we're headed back with some slightly different goals in mind this time around.
Guido the Guide. He was the man on our Walks of Italy tour of the Colosseum. We started bright and early, with warm temps welcoming us to the epic structure. We learned that building the Colosseum was like building with Legos -- it was a feat of organization more than anything. Stones were cut off-site, and then cheap labor was brought in to simply place the giant stones in the correct spots.
The morning of our early Pristine Sistine Vatican tour we awoke to pouring rain that luckily subsided after our breakfast espresso and croissant. We walked from our hotel over to meet our tour guide, dodging puddles and sprinkles and got ready for our 7:30am start time. It was a wet, slightly chilly day, but we were pumped.
We had heard of Rome's famous appertivos, and decided we should really try one out...for the culture, of course. We found 'Gusto, a swanky little spot not too far from our hotel, to kick off our night out in Rome.
We spent an afternoon exploring the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome, which we instantly fell in love with. Upon the recommendation of our friend, we had a wonderful lunch at the quaint Trattoria da Lucia.
There is so much of Rome to see. But if you’re like us, sometimes you need a break from the fast-paced city.
Enter a bike tour to the Appian Way. We can’t imagine any other way to see it!
We met at 10:30 in the morning for a lengthy day of biking. Once we got outfitted with our bikes, helmets, and rain ponchos (which were thankfully never needed!), we were off to see the catacombs, Appian Way, and aqueducts!