Date of trip: May 2007

Will and I have been trying to plan a trip to Rome unsuccessfully for the past 5 years. Each year it was too expensive or another destination drew us away. That’s why, when I saw the airline Eurofly with a deal offering tickets for $368/person including taxes, I jumped on it. Although the plane ride was a bit of a nightmare, you can read my review on Eurofly here, the trip was amazing and Rome has definitely entered my list of favorite cities.

Highlights:

-The Vatican is the smallest independent nation on Earth and the home of the Pope, leader of the Catholic religion. You don’t have to be Catholic or even Christian to appreciate the Vatican’s position of power in history and its influence on world matters today. Will and I took a special tour of the necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica to visit the tomb of St. Peter. Although St. Peter was crucified around 64 A.D., his tomb wasn’t excavated until the 1930s which means for over 2,000 years the knowledge that his grave was located here was passed down and believed based on faith. Today, the tomb is uncovered and can be visited by reservation. As only 120 people are allowed on the tour daily, it is a coveted ticket. Contacting the Vatican is no easy task and you should expect at least a month to pass before you receive a response. Appointments must be requested via e-mail or fax. If your request is not possible you may not get an answer at all. I think the best tactic is to send it in with no expectations. If you manage to get in great and if not, you should have other plans.

-The Sistine Chapel is the most famous spot in the Vatican Museums. It’s a bit of a hike to reach it but worth the effort. Michelangelo suffered permanent damage to his eyesight and mental state as a result of the years spent painting its legendary frescoes. The Last Judgement is the first to catch your attention because of its sheer size. It covers the entire wall behind the altar and depicts the Apocalypse. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as your eyes dart up and down trying to take it all in. In the center of the painting, you will find a limp body which is a pile of skin. Michelangelo meant this shell of a man to represent himself and his complete and utter exhaustion after completing the work. On the ceiling are nine panels depicting scenes from the book of Genesis. The most well known is the Creation of Adam in which God’s hand reaches out to Adam, giving him life.

-The Pantheon is the best preserved of all the Roman buildings and a testament to their architectural genius. It’s influence on modern structures is undeniable. As there is a opening in the ceiling, the look of the inside changes with the weather and the amount of sunlight shining through. Built as a temple, it is the final resting place of famed artist Rafael and several Italian kings.

-If you’ve seen Roman Holiday or many other movies shot in Rome, you are familiar with the Bocca Della Verita, the Mouth of Truth. The icon is thought to have been part of an old fountain and legend says if you tell a lie with your hand inside its mouth, it will bite off your fingers. Will and I arrived too late to test out the theory as the gates of the courtyard it sits in were closed, but we got a good look.

-The most famous art gallery in Rome is the Galleria Borghese. It sits in the Villa Borghese park and is known for its collection of sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Bernini was a master and his work here ranges from a small piece called Goat Amalthea with Infant Jupiter and Faun, which he completed around the age of 12, to the ambitious and intricate Apollo and Daphne where he succeeds in making heavy stone look like light, weightless leaves. I highly recommend the audio tour as the backstories of the artwork are as interesting as the pieces themselves. A final note – you MUST make a reservation by phone or online to visit the Borghese. It is almost always sold out and impossible to buy tickets at the door.

-A short bus trip outside the walls of old Rome takes you to the Catacombs of San Callisto, an underground cemetery for 500,000 Christians. A tour will take you down through the massive halls where you will see hundreds of stone slots which served as graves. Among the dead was Saint Cecilia, famous for surviving three ax strikes to the neck. Her body has been relocated to another part of Rome and you won’t see any bones down here as most have long ago turned to dust or been moved to a deeper chamber. Although there are more than 40 such catacombs under the city of Rome, only a few have been excavated and can be visited. San Callisto has the most impressive tunnels dug out and is therefore the most popular.

-Everyone always talks about the food in Italy. Yes, it’s good, but I was most impressed with the gelato, or Italian ice cream. The most famous gelato in Rome is at San Crispino which has three locations in the city but Will and I preferred the more flavorful Caffe Greco.

-Nothing says Rome, like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. This area was the center of ancient Rome and it’s impossible to wander through these ruins without your mind conjuring images of gladiators and togas. Tours are offered at the Colosseum but we took one and I didn’t feel it was worth it. Wandering around the different levels, you realize how alike it is to our modern stadiums and again you feel the influence of Roman architecture. Like everything else in Rome, its immense size is its most striking aspect. Strolling through the cobble stone streets of the Forum, you pass temples, apartments and even the place Caesar was cremated. Tickets should be bought online in advance or at Palatine Hill across from the Colosseum to avoid huge lines.

-You haven’t “done” Rome unless you’ve climbed the famous Spanish Steps and visited the huge Trevi Fountain. Both are crowded around the clock but they are not to be missed. The view from the top of the Steps is unparalleled and only a coin in the Trevi will ensure your return to this amazing city!

Visiting Rome is like walking through a history book. Everywhere you turn a piece of the past is laid out in front of you. Many modern languages and traditions as well as architectural, creative and religious practices all began in this city. Most visitors, including myself, feel a deep connection to Rome and I know that anyone who walks through the Roman Forum wishes, if only for a moment, they could see the way it was in its full glory and splendor.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Rome Links:
Rome Official Site
Vatican
La Bocca Della Verita
Galleria Borghese
Catacombs of San Callisto
San Crispino Ice Cream
Colosseum