Rome is one of the most fascinating and beautiful cities in the world. It has a rich history, culture, and art that span over two millennia. Whether you are interested in ancient ruins, Renaissance masterpieces, or modern cuisine, Rome has something for everyone.
Visiting Rome had always been on our bucket list, so when we finally got the chance to visit this incredible city. we made sure to pack in as much as we could and It was everything we hoped for and more. Here;s some of the highlights of our weekend.
Day 1 - Arrival and Football
We arrived in Rome on Friday afternoon, after a smooth flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport. We took a taxi from the airport to our hotel which was located about 1km from the Trevi Fountain.
The hotel that we chose after researching and reading reviews was the IQ Hotel Roma. First impressions of the hotel from the lobby were great, it looked clean and comfortable, whilst also being modern and quirky. Upon arrival we were greeted by friendly staff that were very helpful and upgraded us to a large corner room which contained 2 queen beds rather than a sofa bed for Charlie and there was a bottle of bubbly waiting in the room for us. We dropped our luggage, freshened up and headed out to explore the city.
Being a family who love sport, we knew that we had to visit the sports complex, Foro Italico, which includes Stadio Olimpico, home to A.S. Roma and Stadio del Marmi, a stadium encircled by 60, 4 metre tall classical statues of athletes made from Carrare Marble. Prior to our trip we checked to see if there were any A.S. Roma football matches while we were in Rome. It turned out that there was one on the day of our arrival and tickets were reasonably priced so we booked these in advance. Watching A.S, Roma was an incredible experience that we will never forget!
Day 2- Trevi Fountain & Vatican City
After a delicious breakfast in the hotel we headed out to see the beautiful sights of Rome. Our first stop was the Trevi Fountain, which was around 1km from our hotel. It was a stunning sight, with its majestic sculptures and cascading water. We tossed a coin into the fountain, making a wish to return to Rome someday. Then we took some photos and selfies, admiring the beauty of the fountain.
Next we headed to the station to take the metro towards Vatican City, the smallest country in the world and the headquarters of the Catholic Church. We pre-booked tickets to visit the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St.Peter's Basilisca.
The Vatican museums houses one of the most impressive collections of art in the world. We walked through many rooms and corridors, admiring paintings, sculptures, tapestries, maps, and other artifacts from different cultures and periods. We hired the audio tour headphones which talked us through each piece that we saw, this was around €7 which was well worth the money and completely enhanced our visit.
We were especially amazed by the Sistine Chapel, which was covered with frescoes by Michelangelo and other artists. The ceiling of the chapel depicted scenes from the Book of Genesis, such as the Creation of Adam and is simply stunning. The chapel was silent and solemn, and we felt a sense of awe and wonder. After leaving the Sistine Chapel we headed out in the direction of St Peters Basilisca. On the way we saw people queuing to visit the dome which we would have loved to see but we hadn't booked in advance and the queues were long so we unfortunately missed this.
We entered St. Peter's Basilica, the largest and most famous church in the world. It was breathtaking, with its high dome, its rich decorations, its marble floors, and its priceless artworks. The artwork and sculptures inside are a beautiful extension of the Vatican museums, We saw the Pieta, a sculpture by Michelangelo of Mary holding the body of Jesus and also saw the tomb of St. Peter, the first Pope, along with many other Popes. Walking out of the Basilisca and into the square which was surrounded by columns and statues took our breath away, its huge and so beautiful. Charlie loved watching the Swiss Guards in their colourful uniforms.
Our last stop for the day was Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. It was full of life and color, with street performers, artists, vendors, and cafes. We enjoyed watching the people and listening to the music and also admired the three fountains in the square, especially the Fountain of the Four Rivers, which was designed by Bernini. We ended our day with a dinner at a cozy trattoria near our hotel. We had some pasta and gelato for dessert, which was creamy and refreshing. We went back to our hotel feeling happy and satisfied.
Day 3 - Colosseum Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
On day 3 we had breakfast at our hotel, which consisted of croissants, yogurt, fruit, juice, and coffee.then we headed to the historic centre of Rome, the Colosseum, one of the most iconic landmarks of Rome. The Colosseum was huge and impressive. It was built as an amphitheater for gladiator fights and other spectacles in ancient Rome. Again we had pre-booked our tickets which included fast track entry and entry to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. We learnt about the gladiatorial games and the bloody spectacles that took place here. Then we walked along the Roman Forum, the political and social heart of ancient Rome, where we saw ruins of temples, basilicas, and arches.
After spending a few hours exploring the area we continued our sightseeing tour, heading to the Pantheon. The Pantheon was one of the most amazing buildings we have ever seen. It was built as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome, and it is still standing after almost 2000 years. The dome of the Pantheon is the largest un-reinforced concrete dome in the world, and it has a hole in the center that lets in natural light. We entered the Pantheon and marveled at its architecture and history. We also saw the tombs of some famous Italians, such as Raphael and Victor Emmanuel II. Inside there was what appeared to be a school choir and orchestra performing which was spectacular,
After that, we decided to eat at a nearby restaurant for more authentic Roman cuisine. We ordered pizza margherita, spaghetti carbonara, and tiramisu for dessert. The food was delicious, and the portions were generous. We also had some wine and coffee, which were very good. Walking back to the hotel in the evening is a lovely atmosphere, the lighting is romantic, the music and chatter fills the small streets from the local bars and restaurants and there are beautiful sights to see around every corner
Day 4 - Spanish Steps, Shopping and Departure
We woke up late on Monday morning, feeling a little sad that our weekend in Rome was almost over but we had hours to spare before our evening flight. We packed our bags, ate breakfast in the restaurant and checked out of our hotel. There were a few more landmarks that we wanted to tick off our list and first was the Spanish Steps. We climbed up the steps, taking in the view of the city. At the top of the steps, we saw the Trinità dei Monti church, which was very impressive. There are so many amazing churches all over the streets of Rome another that we visited was Church of Santa Maria Della Vittoria, where the Bernini sculpture of The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa can be found, outside this church is the beautiful Fontana del Mosè which is also not to be missed.
We spent a few hours indulging in some shopping, Rome offers everything from high-end fashion and luxury items to more affordable and trendy clothing. There are some amazing boutiques and designer stores such as Prada, Gucci, Armani, and Valentino on Via Condotti which was great for a bit of window shopping
After few hours shopping we decided to relax at one of the many cafes or restaurants in the city centre in an attempt to savour our last moments in Rome. Then we took a taxi to the airport, where we boarded our flight back to Liverpool
We had a wonderful time in Rome, and we will never forget it. It was a dream come true for us, and we are so grateful that we had this opportunity. Rome is truly a magical place, and we hope to visit it again someday. Thank you for reading our review blog about our weekend in Rome. We hope you enjoyed it and found it useful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Ciao!
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