Welcome to part three of my trip to Italy. After we left Florence, Pisa, and Assisi, we headed to Rome where we wrapped up our time in Italy. If you missed parts one and two, you can find them HERE and HERE.
Rome
I was so excited to make it to Rome for so many reasons, first and foremost of which was the history of the city. Rome is probably one of the oldest cities I have ever visited and I was awed by the sheer antiquity of the city.
The Roman Colosseum
The Roman Colosseum was on the top of my list of historical sites that I was looking forward to seeing and it did not disappoint! I had not done much research on the Colosseum before I arrived and most of the pictures I had seen were only the outside. The inside, however, was so impressive to me.
The history nerd in me would love to take the time to bore you with lots of facts about the history of the Colosseum and how it was used but I’m not sure how many of you are actually interested in that. I will tell you that it has a fascinating history and if you plan to visit the Colosseum, I highly recommend reading up on it a bit before you go.
The Roman Forum
Something I didn’t expect to be impressed by in Rome was the Roman Forum. I had heard of the Roman Forum but hadn’t really spent much time looking into it. I knew it was on our itinerary but I think I was more enamored with the thought of visiting the Roman Colosseum and Vatican City than I was the Roman Forum but the Forum really blew me away.
The Roman Forum is still an active archaeological dig site. Only a small portion of it has been fully uncovered. Much of it is still blocked off so that archaeologists can continue to work. The part that is open to tour is pretty impressive though. One of the most awe-inspiring things in the Roman Forum is Julius Caesar’s funeral pyre! That is pretty awesome! I was also impressed by the original cobblestone streets. There is just something crazy about knowing that you are walking on the same streets as such well-known historical figures like Caesar and Marc Antony.
Another impressive feature in the Roman Forum is a partially preserved Roman house. It is pretty cool to see how people lived in Rome. If you are in Rome, I definitely recommend checking out the Roman Forum. You won’t be disappointed!
Vatican City
Besides the Roman Colosseum, the other thing I was most looking forward to seeing in Rome was Vatican City and it did not disappoint. The first thing I found surprising about Vatican City was the size of it. It was actually much larger than I had expected it to be.
The art in Vatican City is impressive to say the least. Vatican City is probably most known for the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica but the art collections contained in the Vatican Museums are pretty awe-inspiring. The Vatican holds a large art collection with pieces from some of the most famous artists in the world, including Michelangelo and Raphael. Make sure you carve out some time to wander through the Vatican museums, the Raphael Rooms,and the Borgia Apartment. Unfortunately, I feel like we rushed through this. I plan to get back to Rome and spend some more time in these areas of Vatican City.
The Sistine Chapel is one of the highlights that most people rush to get when they enter Vatican City. The Sistine Chapel was incredibly beautiful and definitely worth seeing but be careful to not neglect the rest of the art in the Vatican. The Sistine Chapel was much smaller than what I had expected and unfortunately, you are not allowed to photograph the chapel in order to preserve the artwork. It is definitely worth a visit though!
Our last stop on our Vatican City tour was St. Peter’s Basilica! What a beauty! Everything piece of art in St. Peter’s is marble or mosaics so you can take all the pictures you want and I did! It was definitely one of the most beautiful churches I have ever been in.
There were two main highlights for me in St. Peter’s. The first was the tomb of St. Peter’s. It is not open to the public but the altar above it is quite impressive! Pictures do not do the size of this altar justice. It is absolutely enormous!
The other highlight and my absolute favorite part of visiting St. Peter’s Basilica was seeing Michelangelo’s Pieta. The skill of Michelangelo is so obvious in this piece. It is just stunning! In 1972, the Pieta was attacked by man wielding a knife and damaged. It’s now behind protective glass so getting an great picture of it is pretty hard, unfortunately.
Other Sites in Rome
There are, of course, lots of other things to take in when visiting Rome, such as the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. All are worth taking in but be warned that they are all almost always super crowded. We visited the Trevi Fountain around 10 pm and it was packed with tourists. But, what is a trip to Rome without seeing the Trevi Fountain?!?
Rome is definitely a city that I fell in love with and I really hope to get back there soon. Like most major cities, there is so much to see and do in Rome, you really can’t do it all in one trip which is fine with me! I’m always up for trips to Italy!
