A Weekend in Rome
Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning.
Giotto di Bondone
So, let’s be honest right from the start here, a weekend isn’t long enough to see EVERYTHING in Rome, not even close! However, if you fancy a cheeky weekend away in Rome, go for it because you can still take in lots of it’s splendour and majesty, you’ll just have to go back again, and again!!
According to the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Rome is the place for foodies. Spend one weekend in Rome and I can assure you that you'll be back for more pizza, pasta and wine. However, beyond the epic gastronomy and lovely Italian food, Rome is a city of the most amazing history. It's also where you can visit the Vatican, independent city-state enclaved within Rome itself. It's a magical city where locals are intense and passionate and will welcome you with open arms in their unique and endearing Roman way! What follows is a whistle stop tour of some of the highlights!
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre in the world and seen as one of the greatest works of engineering and architecture. It could hold around 80,000 spectators. It is still well preserved and I recommend getting a tour so you can learn more about its history and get access to otherwise off-limits places around the Colosseum.
Fun fact! The Colosseum is also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre because it was built during the Flavian dynasty. It is now one of the most visited attractions in Italy and it is the symbol of Rome.
Either way, make sure you purchase your tickets WELL in advance as otherwise, you will spend hours in a very, very long queue. I recommend you get the combo ticket which includes the Palatino and Roman Forum as well.
Palatino and Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a beautiful piece of historical significance and a true glimpse into the founding of Ancient Rome. I love it even more than the Colosseum with its beautiful ruins and open space. The Forum was essentially the market place of the city but it later became more than that: a gathering space for celebrations, trials and of course, gladiatorial games.
Fun Fact! The Forum was buried deep down and it wasn't until 1898 that archaeological excavations discovered what we can see today!
The Palatine Hill is home to the Lupercal Cave. This is the famed cave where according to the folk tales the twins Romulus and Remus were found by Lupa the wolf, the she-creature who raised them. The Palatine Hill was also a high-class residential district during the times of the emperors.
The Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings which has been in continuous use. It is a former temple which is now used as a church. Initially, the temple was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa but later completed by Hadrian, although we cannot be certain of the exact date of construction.
The Pantheon is managed by the Italian government. It attracts over 6 million people a year.
Fun Fact! The word Pantheon comes from the Ancient Greek "Pantheion" which means to all gods!
Fontana Di Trevi
Throw a coin and make a wish, Fontana Di Trevi has been featured in so many romantic movies. Fun fact! It is estimated that over €3,000 is thrown in the fountain every single day. The money collected and the coins are used to fund food for the poor.
Coins are meant to be thrown using the right hand over the left shoulder, so make sure to follow the rule if you want for your wish to come true!
I think one of the most formidable things about Fontana Di Trevi is how big and impressive it really is, it’s one of those things you will have seen in movies, books and magazines a thousand times but when you see it for the first time you can’t help but be blown away by the sheer enormity and splendour of the thing! The attention to detail is perfect and the statues look majestic, making this one of the most exciting places to visit in Rome.
Vatican City
The Vatican City is a city-state enclaved within the city of Rome. With an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of 1000, it is the smallest internationally recognised independent state in the world by both area and population. It is ruled by the Bishop of Rome-the Pope.
It is free to enter the Vatican city but accessing the museums costs money. I again recommend getting tickets in WELL in advance to avoid queuing on the day. The Vatican museums are incredibly popular so ensure you arrive as early in the morning as possible. Be patient, as there is normally a dedicated queue to those who purchased tickets online as well.
The Sistine Chapel
As part of the visit to the Vatican City, you cannot miss the Sistine Chapel. Although mainly known for its frescos that decorate the interior, there is more to the chapel than meets the eye. The Sistine Chapel can get very busy even during early hours so spending time around its rooms can be a bit challenging. However, when in Rome, one must allocate time to seeing one of the world's most renowned frescos on the Sistine Chapel ceiling: The Last Judgment by Michelangelo, another “wow” moment!
As far as places to visit go, I’m going to leave it there however, I’ve not even touched on things like the Piazza Di Spagna which you reach by going up the Spanish steps, the Pincian Hill with its spectacular views, the Jewish quarter with it’s own unique history, the Circus Maximus where Ancient Romans raced their chariots, and the list goes on! I do want to touch on the food though. Yes the city is cram packed with fabulous Michelin Star restaurants however, at some point, you must try some Roman Pizza, I mean, its famous all over the world however, it was invented in Rome, despite the claims from Naples and Milan that the dish was invented there!
Genuine, traditional Roman Pizza is unlike anything else you've tried before, I promise. The pizza base is thin and perfectly done in a wood burning oven. Toppings on Roman pizza however, are not as prominent as what you tend to find in New York or London, for Romans it’s all about simplicity and the quality of the ingredients! I’ll leave the pasta and the wine for now as that’s a whole blog post on it’s own!
What’s on this week?
Head & Eyes – LeLutka EvoX Avalon 3.1
Face Skin – DeeTaleZ Skin *Hanna2* for LELEVOX Velour-CHANTILY
Tattoo – Kaos Tattoo-BoM 50% TSURU TATTOO
AO – BodyLanguage SLC Bento AO Mila plus Additional poses
Shape – DeeTaleZ Shape for Lelu EVOX Heads "Nora" - Tweaked!
Nails – . PUKI . (FIX-MID-ONLY) Square Nails. Maitreya
Necklace & Earrings – (Yummy) Zoya Set @ this round of Collabor88
Rings – (Yummy) Undying Love Ring Collection [Lara] V2
Bikini – erratic / daphne / white baroque
Pictures taken at Native Soul, part of the Elysium sim but, it's not really about the location today, it's about the AMAZING raft I took the pictures on! The Quarantine With Me Love Raft is by Rattletrap Shipyards and, as you would expect from the wonderful Coca Yven, the level of detail and the animations are off the scale!
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