The BLT Guidebook

Have you ever been to the eternal city? Rome is named the Eternal City due to its long two-thousand-year-old history. Rome is one of the top 20 most visited cities in the world with over 35 million visitors annually. I knew that Rome was a place I had to see, but I didn’t know I would be dreaming about it a year later!

This post is part of a larger European itinerary, but Rome could be its own trip if you wanted it to be!

Arrival- Night One

The Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport was the closest airport to Trastevere, the location of our Airbnb. We landed around 7 or 8 PM. Thankfully, the airport had easy access to a train that took us directly to Rome called the Leonardo Express. Even though it was our first time there, it took no time at all to get off the plane, find the train, and be on our way!

Trastevere is a hidden gem with streets filled with people and nightlife. It’s the type of place any person would want to stumble upon when visiting a new city. The narrow alleyways, hidden architecture, and cobbled streets are part of what makes Rome a dreamy city. It is also home to the historical Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

We lucked out and had an apartment next door to Ristorante L’Archetto Due Roma. They eagerly waved us in despite the late hour and served us a delicious meal. We didn’t know Italian, and they didn’t know English, but we made it work!

Day 1- Vatican City/Vatican Museums

I remember teaching about Vatican City just three years ago to a group of eager 7th graders and learning about it when I was a 7th grader myself. It is no wonder this city-state is as iconic as it is.

We heard that you needed to book tickets in advance to visit any attraction in Rome. I’m not sure that this was necessary in December, but it did help with peace of mind to already have tickets and not miss out.

For the Vatican Museums– I would recommend booking directly through this link. There are other websites that pass off as being official and they charge you 3 times as much. We did the guided tour and it was worth our time! I wanted to go back again the next day.

Some highlights of the Vatican were the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms, the mosaics everywhere you look, and of course, the main event- Sistine Chapel. (Note: You cannot take photos in the chapel.) It was an incredible experience to learn about this piece of history and then see it in person!

By noon, we moved on to find the city center and explored a small piece of the city. We huddled in around the Trevi fountain and walked through the piazzas then back to Trastevere to find the meal we’ve been waiting for- Cacio e pepe at Locanda Tonnarello.

Day 2-The Colosseum & The Forum

Bright and early (for December), we walked to our next tourist destination- the Colosseum! I would book tickets in advance for this one. They go online a month in advance and sell out quickly. We set multiple alarms for the European time just in case! We chose the full tour with underground access and entry into the Forum.

After spending a sunny morning exploring the archeological sites, it was back to city center to find our next meal at Piccolo Arancio. This place was tucked away minutes from the Trevi fountain and had a real family-oriented feel.

That night we explored Trastevere and the vibe between the neighborhoods was vastly different. You can walk 10 minutes and feel like you are in a different city. We spent time wandering the streets and into one or two pubs including Bar del Cinque.

Day 3-St. Peter’s Basilica

Our final full day in Rome was wide open! The first stop was back to Vatican City to check out the line for St. Peter’s Basilica. St. Peter’s Basilica is open to the public and free. You can go in there as an added tour or wait in line. We chose to wait in line. It wasn’t too bad and well worth the wait! Every piece of art, alter, and statue was beautiful. This link has a wonderful overview of what to see/not to miss.

Entering the basilica also gives you access to climb the dome! This is a unique experience. If you are not a fan of heights (like my husband), this may not be for you. But if you are wondering how people get the perfect vantage point of Vatican City, it’s up there! And the mosaics at the top inside the dome are beautiful.

We took the afternoon and wandered around the city center to see if we missed anything. Without realizing it, we stumbled upon The Patheon. There was no line, so we bought a ticket at the digital kiosk outside and entered almost immediately after. I’ve seen pictures of this building online and will tell you that they do not do the size justice (including the picture below.)

Another highlight of this area is the Piazza della Rotonda, Piazza Navona, and some yummy gelato.

Dinner that night was at Rione 13 Ristorante– complete with limoncello!

Departure

On Day 4, we walked to the train station that would take us to our next destination- the Cinque Terre. This train station was nothing short of amazing- easy to navigate with endless shopping opportunities. If you have never taken a train before, this is a perfect way to travel through Italy!

If we had more time, I would have loved to visit the Vatican Museums again, spend more time walking to viewpoints or through the city at night, or visit the Castel Sant’Angelo! There’s always next time!

Final Note

Rome was a perfect vacation location because there is good food, art, and architecture everywhere you look- even if you don’t have time/money for a tour or just want to stay out of the crowds. It is also a prime location to take a train to visit other major cities.

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Have you ever been to Rome? What are your favorite places to stop?

Cheers,

C

*Note: all photos taken by me or my husband, with an iPhone or a Canon EOS