Italia: Parte 3 - Rome

The following day, we took a train from Venice to Rome. We checked into our hotel and immediately walked to the Colosseum. This was, most definitely, my favorite part of the trip. We had lunch right next to the Colosseum and I couldn’t get over the fact that I was eating tortellini alfredo with a perfect view of one of the most famous buildings in history. We bought audioguide tours and walked around inside of the Colosseum for a couple of hours. Despite the heavy crowds, I felt like I could close my eyes and imagine being there, spending my afternoon in the stands and watching a gladiatorial fight (instead of a Reds game). The building itself was remarkable…and it even used to have an awning that could be put up to shelter audiences from rain and intense sun. Amazing. That night, I had perhaps the best meal of the trip: fettuccine alfredo with ham and delicious mushrooms.

My dad had the insight to book a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Rome to get a quick taste of it. We took this tour and stopped at the Vatican. There, we paid to by-pass the incredibly long line and go straight into the Vatican Museums. Inside, we saw what the Catholic Church does with all of its donation money – make a huge museum. It had an immense mummy exhibit, sculptures galore, ornate tapestries, paintings, busts of all the Roman emperors, etc. It also included the Raphael rooms which house his famous School of Athens. Finally, we made our way to the Sistine Chapel, home of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment and the room where the papal election votes are counted. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was awesome and we sat for about an hour, simply admiring everything around us.

Next, we went to St. Peter’s Basilica and saw Bernini’s famous Baldachin, Michelangelo’s Pieta, and the Throne of St. Peter. Underneath the world’s largest church, we saw the Tombs of the Popes, including its newest addition, Pope John Paul II.

After exploring the Vatican a bit more, we headed back to check out Palatine and the amazing Roman Forum. I was absolutely awe-struck by the ruins of the nerve center of the Roman Empire. I could easily imagine citizens of ancient Rome traveling from place to place, conducting daily business. Within the Roman Forum is the place where Julius Caesar’s funeral pyre burned for seven days. There are still fresh flowers left on it daily by tourists and Romans alike.

The next day, we went to the Circus Maximus (where the chariot races were held) and the Pantheon. The Pantheon, which was built in 126 AD, blew me away by how well-preserved it is. Next, we walked to the famous Trevi Fountain, where I made a couple wishes. We also saw the Spanish Steps and the home where Romantic poet John Keats died of tuberculosis in 1821. We had lunch in the ritzy Barberini Square before going to the Crypt of the Capuchin Monks. The Crypt houses the skeletal remains of thousands of monks, some of which still have leathery and shriveled skin stretched over their skulls. Needless to say, the atmosphere was a bit creepy.

All in all, I enjoyed my time in Rome, but was somewhat disappointed. Like every other big city, it seemed dirty to me and very, very crowded. Although I was constantly overwhelmed with the city’s amazing history (trust me – there is something of importance at every street corner), I hated fighting the crowds and I personally found it to be the least romantic city I visited in Italy (despite its name).