A way to add more value to your Italy holiday is to book a city tour to delve deeper and gain a better knowledge of the places you are visiting. One of the main reasons travellers visit Italy is to enjoy its cuisine. With the best food tours of Rome, you will sample regional and Italian delicacies … [Read more...]
10 wonderful romantic things to do in Rome
Let's just start by saying that literally every corner in Italy's capital is romantic. Which means that, if you are looking for romantic things to do in Rome for couples, you won't have to look too hard. If you are sensitive to art and beauty, you are bound to get emotional at every step. However, … [Read more...]
Best apartments in Rome, find the best homestay in the Italian capital
Some prefer the luxury of a five-star, some are fine with more affordable hostels, others just want to enjoy a relaxed holiday without thinking about making breakfast or washing towels. Many, however, want to enjoy their holiday with the privacy of a home and the independence of making their own … [Read more...]
What to do in Rome for Christmas 2018
Are you joining the crowds to feel the Yuletide spirit in the Italian capital? Find out what to do in Rome for Christmas to enjoy the city in the winter festivities. Being the capital of Christendom, it's only normal that for Christmas Rome is very popular among travellers. Christmas markets, … [Read more...]
Best Rome hotels near the Vatican
Whether you are visiting Rome for Christmas, Easter or any time of the year, both if taking a tour or exploring the city by yourself, chances are you are going to visit St. Peter's Basilica or see the world-famous Sistine Chapel. We found the best Rome hotels near the Vatican to make your trip run … [Read more...]
San Pietro in Vincoli Basilica in Rome, see the chains that held Saint Peter captive
There is a church in Rome that, even though in the city centre, is far from the immediate tourist eye, hence often neglected. San Pietro in Vincoli Basilica is certainly mentioned in the guidebooks, but probably for its position tucked away on top of a steep staircase or for not being included in … [Read more...]
Best hotels in Rome near Termini station
Finding a good and cheap hotel in Rome is not always easy. With so many options and deals, often tourists feel overwhelmed and end up making the wrong choice. We wrote a complete guide to the best Rome hotels near Termini station so that your accommodation in the capital is central, well-connected … [Read more...]
What to do in Rome when it rains
Autumn is starting and while it's one of my favourite seasons, in Italy it can be pretty wet. If you are worried about what to do in Rome when it rains, fret not. First of all, there are many places to visit in Rome with a bad weather, and second, even in Fall you will find lovely days. Autumn in … [Read more...]
What to pack for summer in Rome, your guide to what to wear in Rome in August
The holiday season is already here and we are preparing to leave for our vacation. What to bring with us? If you are planning a trip to Italy, I would sure suggest leaving a little space for your shopping, but there are also some essentials you can't forget. After leaving here for more some 15 years … [Read more...]
What to pack for Rome, your guide to the essential Rome packing list
You are super excited to be traveling to Italy but not sure what to include in your Rome packing list? Whatever season you are planning to travel, there are some items you should always pack for Rome. Years of experience both traveling abroad and living in Italy provided us with enough confidence … [Read more...]
3 Rome itineraries for the independent traveller
With so much to see and do, visiting Rome in a couple of days or even a week is challenging at best. To help you make the most of your trip, we have come up with themed Rome itineraries that you can follow if you want to save time or dig deeper into a specific topic or moment of history. We … [Read more...]
Where to stay in Rome – The guide to the best Rome boroughs for your holiday
So huge and overwhelming, it's not always easy to decide where to stay in Rome. With so much to see and do, if you are not familiar with the city, booking a hotel in Rome can definitely take you more time than you expect. As one of Europe's most popular and cherished mainstream tourism … [Read more...]
Finding the best food markets in Rome
Why do we travel to Italy? Architecture? Art? That, too, but let's face it, some treats of Italian culinary tradition are as inspiring as the Colosseum. With each neighbourhood basting its own character, the food markets in Rome reflect the nature and personality of their rione. Fresh seasonal … [Read more...]
Hidden gems in Rome, how to visit Rome like a local
So popular among tourists from all over the world that finding some hidden gems in Rome is becoming harder by the day. Hard but not impossible. Of course, places that once were considered strongholds of "secret Rome" are now not so secret anymore. Guides from many travel outlets, mainstream and … [Read more...]
The best Rome private tours to explore the city’s history and enjoy its delicious food
With so much to see and do in Rome, planning a trip your own can be frustrating and stressful. While it's true that wherever you look, there is something to do, a palace to visit, a church to photograph or an ancient ruin to see, having a Rome itinerary is very helpful. More to that, booking one of … [Read more...]
7 amazing day trips from Rome, Italy
Rome is huge and there are a million things to do, places to visit and restaurants to try, but that's not all. A holiday in Rome, in fact, offers more than the city itself. If you want to spend a day out relaxed and far from the mental traffic, take a train and enjoy one of the fantastic day trips … [Read more...]
A complete guide to the best vegetarian restaurants in Rome
Meat-centric capital of spaghetti all'amatriciana and coda alla vaccinara, due to the always higher demand from both locals and tourists, the capital, too, had to adapt and start offering vegetarian dishes. Careful not to disappoint who expects the best from the Italian food in Italy, the … [Read more...]
The best budget hotels in Rome
For many tourists, traveling to Europe is scary because of the costs. Even though very popular, a city break to Rome can sound intimidating especially if you are traveling on a shoestring. However, with some careful planning, you can easily organize a trip without breaking your bank. You can find … [Read more...]
The best five-star hotels in Rome
When traveling in Italy, what's a better way of pampering yourself than picking your accommodation among the best five-star hotels in Rome? Our guides empower you to find the best hotels in Rome for your needs, depending on how much you want to spend and which area you want to stay. We are here to … [Read more...]
Things to do in Rome, your guide to the eternal city
With thousands of years of civilization under its belt, the eternal city can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, but depending on how much time you can stay, our tips on the things to do in Rome can come in handy to anyone. While even a month is not enough to see everything Italy's capital … [Read more...]
Visiting the Vatican City, the ultimate guide to the Holy See
One of the most visited landmarks in Rome, the Vatican City is the world's smallest state. Located in the heart of the Italian capital, it has been shrouded in mystery since its very inception. Small but boasting an overwhelming wealth of artwork, visiting the Vatican City can be … [Read more...]
A complete guide to Rome public transport
Rome public transport is notoriously unreliable, and after some ten years of living in Rome, I can't deny that. While if you are on holiday you might notice less than if you were waiting for a train to go to a business meeting, or at least give it less importance, the constant delays, the missing … [Read more...]
Ancient pharmacy Santa Maria della Scala, a hidden gem in Rome
A gem, maybe not so hidden, but truly a gem. The ancient pharmacy Santa Maria della Scala in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood has been serving customers and healing patients from the 16th century up to 1954, when the friars who were managing it stopped growing their own herbs and spices in the … [Read more...]
What to do in Rome in three days
You've either been dreaming about it or already organizing a holiday in the Italian capital, but with so many historical sites, pieces of art, beautiful piazzas, you can't stop wondering what to do in Rome during your three-day stay. Your concerns are very much justified since a lifetime is … [Read more...]
Cat bistrot in Rome, deliciously vegan Romeow
"Don't ask us for cuddles, wait for us to ask you." This is one of the rules cats laid out to welcome their hungry guests at Romeow, the delicious cat bistrot in Rome. This cozy and minimalist cat café in Ostiense neighborhood is their house, after all, and we are their guests. As long as we … [Read more...]
Popstairs, new street art project in Rome
The other day, leaving home and going to catch the train, I was met by a lovely surprise: Rome's street art fever had reached my otherwise anonymous neighborhood, and now thanks to great street artist Diavù (Instagram https://instagram.com/diavu), it turns out I live near Ingrid Bergman. After … [Read more...]
Grezzo, Rome’s first raw vegan pastry shop
It happened, at last. Rome finally has her own raw vegan pastry shop, Grezzo, that actually claims to be the first pastry, chocolate, and gelato shop in the whole world to serve fully raw, vegan and gluten-free recipes using only organic ingredients. A daring, bold and somehow audacious … [Read more...]
Ancient Rome around every corner of the modern city
A while ago I joined a fascinating tour in the footsteps of the notoriously famous Borgia family, starting from pope Alexander VI and his lovers Vannozza Cattanei, with whom he had all his children, and the beautiful and young Giulia Farnese once he sent Vannozza to be retired, and strolling around … [Read more...]
Rome Carnival between history and tradition
After attending and loving Venice Carnival, this year's Mardi Gras I decided to follow the parade organized for the carnival in Rome, a city where I lived for almost ten years and where I ignored they even had such a ceremony for this festival. Probably for its past papacy reign that ruled Rome … [Read more...]
Street art and community roots at Rome’s Quadraro neighborhood
So you thought Rome was all about BCs and ancient artwork. Understandably so, if we think of all the beauty and art and frescoes and carvings scattered all around town from imperial times to the Renaissance period. As its moniker suggest, however, art production in the eternal city looks quite alive … [Read more...]
Faith and history at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme Basilica in Rome
It's been a while since I haven't updated this little blog of mine, and for a number of good reasons, among which are a heavy workload, my decision to redecorate and refurbish my house (almost done!), and frequent updates of my other blog focused on my international travels, Chasing The Unexpected. … [Read more...]
Sarees, chopsticks and coconut milk, welcome to Rome’s multicultural heart
Scent of curries, chopsticks clinking and head-swinging greetings. Fret not, you are still in Rome, very likely in the Esquilino neighborhood around its namesake market. This is the heart of multicultural Rome, the best place if you are looking for colorful sarees, coconut milk and spices for … [Read more...]
Incredible discovery at Ostia Antica: child’s grave protected by a curse
A short while ago I wrote about the new diggings taking place in Ostia Antica, the ancient Roman city next to the capital and located on the seaside at the time, diggings that revealed it was almost double than what we previously thought, even bigger than famous Pompeii. Led by the Rome's … [Read more...]
Rome before the Romans, discovering Etruscan Cerveteri
For as famous, powerful, organized and resourceful as they were, life and splendor in Italy didn't start with the Romans. Last week I was invited by cultural association CoopCulture and tour company Walks of Italy to explore the beautiful town of Cerveteri, the surrounding hamlets and their … [Read more...]
Uncharted and traditional Rome, Italianness in Garbatella Lots
Colosseum, ancient ruins, immortal masterpieces, Caravaggios and basilicas. While Rome is all that, there are many other fascinating areas of the city shadowed by such timeless jewels, and one of them is Garbatella Lots, that even I discovered haphazardly during the photography course I recently … [Read more...]
Shapes, lights and patterns of Rome’s grand mosque
Designed by Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi with the collaboration of Iraqi architect Sami Mousawi and Italian engineer Gigliotti, Rome's grand mosque is reportedly one of the largest (if not the largest) in Europe. Mutual talks about the project started in the early 1970s between Italy and Saudi … [Read more...]
5 places to admire the best mosaics in Rome
With a couple of thousands of years of history, art and aqueducts under its collective belts, many are the experiences the Eternal City has to offer its visitors. History buffs are in their very element, leaping from a century to another one in the same day, from the BCs to Renaissance years up to … [Read more...]
New diggings in Ostia Antica show the city was bigger than Pompeii
It's been recent news that new archaeological diggings have found evidence that the ancient city of Ostia Antica was bigger than previously thought, almost double the size we know and can visit today, and much bigger even than Pompeii, the city near Naples tragically destroyed and buried by lava and … [Read more...]
Close up and personal with gladiators in the Colosseum dungeon
As part of my leisure time, it is no secret that I love wandering the streets of both ancient and modern Rome. Many times I've been to the Colosseum, and while I'm aware that it's not exactly a hidden gem of the Italian capital, I admit that every time I visit or even just stare at it, I find new … [Read more...]
Photo essay – Rome street art in Ostiense neighborhood
Apart from ancient art, Rome boasts also some pretty exquisite modern craft, and one of the most accessible and easy to find is the street art in Ostiense neighborhood, right near the city's old gasometer. Here are some shots I took, the first post I devote to Rome street art, in the wait to explore … [Read more...]
When the Vatican Museums open only for you
What happens when you get the chance to visit the Vatican Museums without the usual, never-ending crowd? You can easily get used to it. And spoiled, very spoiled. With an average of some 20,000 visitors per day, these holy galleries and their legendary Sistine Chapel are no doubt among the most … [Read more...]
Ostiense old Gasometer, a relic of Rome’s industrial archaeology
Managed by Eni, the Italian gas and oil company, probably the only Italian body, someone would argue (and I would agree), that actually has an independent foreign policy in the interest of the country, Ostiense old gasometer is obviously not in use anymore, and the local council has been trying for … [Read more...]
So you love Piazza Navona. Try beneath and visit colossal Domitian Stadium
That's right, in Rome, wherever you start digging you are bound to find a new wonder, just because the ones under the sky are not enough. A great place to start exploring underground Rome is its Domitian Stadium beneath Piazza Navona. If you've been to the Eternal City, no doubt you've … [Read more...]
Tears and beauty, charmed by the Non-Catholic cemetery in Rome
As spring had begun just in time to fill the city with colorful flowers, I waited for a slightly rainy day to inspire some shots at the non-Catholic cemetery in Rome, known also as the Protestant Cemetery, in Testaccio neighborhood. Here is buried a wealthy collection of artists, writers, poets, … [Read more...]
Uncovering secret Trastevere with Scopri Roma
Who has been to Rome even only once is now thinking that a tour in Trastevere is probably wasted, as this is possibly one of the most popular, touristy and well-known neighborhoods in the city. While the first two (popular and touristy) are quite true, the third attribute is not quite … [Read more...]
Rome underground tour to explore what lies beneath the surface
One of my favourite tours in Rome is the one I took with Walks of Italy where we explored what lies beneath the surface of the Italian capital. Our Rome underground tour brought us to the most ancient times of Roman civilisation. One of the best underground Rome tours, we had a diverse range of … [Read more...]
Wine and food tasting in Rome with Eating Italy Food Tours
Why do we travel? Landmarks, palaces, artwork, all great reasons, but when we want to experience authenticity, what do we think of? Food, of course. I took a food tour in Rome and discovered Roman cucina povera in the trendy Testaccio neighbourhood. Let's face it, Italy's culinary tradition isn't … [Read more...]
Gore and entertainment, digging into Rome’s Colosseum
Been, or planning a trip to Rome? I'm positive that one of the first attractions you'll consider visiting is the mighty Colosseum. Hardly in need of any introduction, the Amphitheatrum Flavium is one of Rome’s most visited and photographed landmarks, one of those must-sees no guidebook would … [Read more...]
Mandaloun, Lebanese food haven in Rome’s exclusive neighborhood
I went to this restaurant twice in less than two weeks, and obviously not because of a lack of eateries in Rome. I like Lebanese food, but I also like other types of food, so what brought me here for the second time in a row instead of choosing another place? Apart from the chilled out atmosphere … [Read more...]
Exploring the Appian Way, Queen of the Roads, and other hidden gems in Rome
Someone said that to explore Rome a lifetime is not enough, and the more I explore the more I realize that probably nowhere in the world this thought can be more suitable than here. I always find it very fascinating to picture ancient times, people, customs right where I find myself walking in that … [Read more...]