I had booked a hotel close to the Trevi fountain so as soon as I had checked in and dropped my bags in my tiny room, I headed out for a walk to the fountain. While I had seen lots of photos of the fountain on the web, it still did not prepare me for the first time I saw it in front of me. The narrow streets leading to it suddenly widening and there in the middle of a sort of junction, right on the side of a historical building was this elaborately carved fountain.
As I walked about the streets, it felt like walking around an open-air museum. This post is a photo tour of the visual treat that Rome turned out to be.
Piazza di Spagna
I visited the Keats – Shelley house overlooking the Spanish steps. This is the house, where John Keats died at the age of 25. The library in the house, with its collection of 8000 volumes, was not there during Keats time. The house also showcases English writers, such as P.B. Shelley and Mary Shelley, Lord Bryon etc. who made Italy their home during the early 19th century.
While in the other cities, I had for most parts had a loose itinerary that I modified according to my mood, it was not so in Rome. I felt the city’s past called out loudly to the visitor and claimed one’s attention. I felt that I had to visit some of the historical sites and ended up packing in a whirlwind tour in my three days there.
The next day, I visited the Colosseum, the Roman forum and Palatine Hill in the morning and the Largo di Torre Argentina in the afternoon. Having had to memorize the first part of Antony’s famous speech at Ceasar’s funeral, from Shakespeare’s play, during my childhood and having spent hours practicing voice modulation on that speech, I felt I needed to see the place where Ceasar was assassinated. In the midst of a bustling place surrounded by modern buildings on all sides, the tiny square with the ruins of the theatre of Pompey where Ceasar breathed his last is closed off to the public but can be viewed from the outer perimeters.
It was a very hot summer day in Rome so I stopped to enjoy a lemon granita on my way back to the hotel. Granita became one of my favourite food during my time in Rome.
On my third day, I visited Vatican city in the morning and then wandered about the city in the afternoon, visiting Circus Maximus, which was the largest venue for public games in ancient Rome.
Circus Maximus
Aventine Hill
I ended my day with a visit to Altare della Patria (National Monument to Victor Emmanuel, the first King of unified Italy).
National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
I guess when one visits Rome for the first time, one does tend to try and pack in as much sightseeing as one can fit. Hopefully the next time I visit, I will take a more leisurely pace to enjoy the city better.
[Other posts part of the travelogue of my 2008 travel around Italy – Torino, Venezia, Firenze, Siena and San Gimignano, Vatican City]
I am linking this post to City Tripping #47, hosted by Wander Mum and Mummy Travels.
Perspectives Quilt 
Ya, when one is in a city for a short time and there’s so much see, enjoying the city vibe often takes a back seat. Good read. Happy travels.
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Thanks, Anna.
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Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Continue to enjoy Ahila! 🙂 xx
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Rome is calling me Ahila! Lovely post and I so relate to the rushing to squeeze out n all the sights. Next time I’ll be slowing right down and soaking it up too!
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When a place calls out to you strongly, you just have to visit it soon! Hope you will be traveling to Rome within the next few months, Katy!
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What a great introduction to the city. There is just so much to fit in and it has always been hot when I’ve visited too. I agree that on a first trip, you have to see the big sights but it’s lovely getting to wander from square to square with gelato, soaking up the atmosphere. I hope you have a return trip to do that. #citytripping
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Thank you and I know that someday I will return to Italy to revisit Rome 🙂 There are some cities that you simply promise yourself that you will return.
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I know what you mean about walking in an open air museum. I was so amazed the first time I visited Rome. I’ve enjoyed reading your series on Italy. Thanks for sharing! #citytripping
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Glad you enjoyed reading my series on Italy! Hope to revisit the country someday.
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There IS so much to see in Rome. I am glad you made the most of your time there. I think we have all been a bit haunted by memorising lines from Shakespeare. Good to associate the lines with the places. Thanks for linking to #citytripping
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I agree. Rome is a city that one needs to revisit over years to fully experience it.
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OOOH I love Rome! There is always so much to see and do its impossible to see it all! I hope to go back again one day! #CityTripping
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I hope so too. Rome is certainly a city one needs to revisit.
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Wow, what a great empty shot of the Colosseum inside! You’re absolutely right about the open-air museum thing. That’s absolutely what it’s like. I’ve been there twice now but have yet to see everything on my wish list. I’d love to go back soon! #citytripping
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Thank you. I’d love to revisit Rome as well.
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What a beautiful post!I love the idea of a city as an open-air museum. Keats is one of my favourite poets so I’d love to visit the house where he died.
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Thank you, Nell. I really liked the Keats-Shelley house as it was a little museum and while mainly dedicated to Keats had also included artifacts, letters etc. of other English writers in Italy around that same time period.
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Well you certainly packed it in! And you’ll just have to book a return trip so as you can take it at a slower pace (any excuse!) Glad you had fun. #citytripping
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I am certainly looking forward to revisiting Rome 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Alex.
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When I visited Rome, I was like checking off all the places including Colosseum, Vatican City and Trevi Fountain on my list at hyper speed. It was exhausting but really memorable. Definitely if I were to return, yes I would do it at a much more leisurely pace. #CityTripping
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Yes, I remember I was also exhausted by the end of my visit to Rome. I guess Rome and many other cities in Italy need to be revisited at a more leisurely pace 🙂
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I’ve been to Italy twice now but somehow never to Rome. You’ve made me very keen to do so!
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I hope you do visit Italy during your next travel to Italy!
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So true! And I love that museum 🙂
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Glad to hear that 🙂
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An accurate and clear description. I ❤ Rome
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Thank you!
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