22 MUST DO EXPERIENCES IN ROME
WHEN IN ROME THERE IS TRULY A PLETHORA TO EXPLORE, EA, AND ENJOY. THIS CITY IS NOT SHY IN EXPERIENCES AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE EITHER WHEN YOU'RE INDULGING IN THEM! THE AMOUNT OF HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS IN THIS PLACE IS ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING AND IS WORTH SEEING AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE.
ON MY TRIP TO ROME, I SPENT 3 FULL DAYS AND 4 NIGHTS THERE. IT WAS SUCH A GREAT CITY TO START MY EUROPE ADVENTURE IN AND WAS ONE OF THE CHEAPER PLACES TO FLY INTO AND HAS A STRAIGHTFORWARD TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM LEAVING THE AIRPORT SO I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND STARTING THERE.
FUN ATTRACTIONS & HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
1. THE COLOSSEUM
THE COLOSSEUM IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST! I WAS HONESTLY A LITTLE NERVOUS TO GO JUST DUE TO THE ENERGY AND HISTORY THAT HAS HAPPENED THERE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SUPER OVERWHELMING. BUT THE TRUTH IS, I'M SO HAPPY I WENT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AS ENERGETICALLY DRAINING AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. SEE THE STRUCTURE, THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY THAT WENT INTO THIS SPACE WAS FASCINATING! NOT TO MENTION IT WAS BUILT AROUND 70 AD.
2. THE VATICAN AND
THE SISTINE CHAPEL
THIS IS A PIECE OF HISTORY I WILL HAVE TO SEE ON MY NEXT TRIP BUT WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU MAKE TIME FOR THIS WHEN YOU'RE IN ROME. THE SISTINE CHAPEL ALONE IS WORTH IT, BUT AGAIN THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE ART THAT WENT INTO DESIGNING THIS CITY IS A MUST SEE. I DIDN'T MAKE THIS A PRIORITY DUE TO SOME RELIGIOUS TRAUMA I HAVE AND NOT WANTING TO GO INTO A CHURCH, BUT I DID REGRET IT. WHEN I FINALLY DECIDED TO GO IN, I DIDN'T HAVE AN OUTFIT THAT COVERED MY SHOULDERS, SO BE SURE YOUR KNEES AND SHOULDERS ARE COVERED.
3. THE CATACOMBS OF ROME
IN ROME THERE ARE THAN 60 CATACOMBS, THESE UNDERGROUND SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGEWAYS WERE USED TO BURY THE DEAD FROM THE DEAD FROM THE SECOND TO FIFTH CENTURY! TRIPPY RIGHT... SOME OF THE DIFFERENT CATACOMBS OF DOMITILLA, AND CATACOMBS OF SANT'AGNESE.
4. ROMAN FORUM
THE ROMAN FORUM TOOK OVER 100 YEARS WITH 3 DIFFERENT ARCHES STARTING FROM 29BC TO 203AD. IT WASN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL 1803 WHEN CARLO FEA BEGAN EXCAVATIONS.
5. TREVI FOUNTAIN
THE MOST FAMOUS FOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD, TREVI FOUNDATION IS A MUST WALK THROUGH. THERE IS ALSO TONS OF SHOPPING AND CUTE RESTAURANTS AROUND SO RELAX AND GRAB AN ESPRESSO AND MAYBE EVEN BRING A BOOK.
6. PIAZZA NAVONA E CAMPO DE FIORI MARKET
PIAZZA E NAVONA IS A PUBLIC PLAZA WITH THE CAMPO DE FIORI MARKET RIGHT THERE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOUVENIRS DEFINITELY SHOP AROUND THESE SQUARES.
7. ST. PETER'S BASILICA
THIS CHURCH WAS BUILT DURING THE RENAISSANCE AND IS INSIDE THE VATICAN AND HOLDS THE SISTINE CHAPEL SO CHECK IT OUT WHEN YOU GO THERE!
8. PANTHEON
THE PANTHEON IS A FORMER ROMAN TEMPLE AND WEIRD FACT THE FIRST PANTHEON WAS BUILT IN 27BC BUT BURNT DOWN IN THE GREAT FIRE OF 80AD. THEN THE SECOND PANTHEON WAS BUILT BUT BURNED DOWN IN 110 AD FROM A FIRE AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
9. PIAZZA DI SPAGNA & THE SPANISH STEPS
PIAZZA DI SPAGNA IS ONE OF ROME'S MOST FAMOUS SQUARES AND IS RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SPANISH STEPS SO YOU GET TO HIT BOTH WITH ONE TRIP.
10. VILLA BORGHESE GARDENS
THIS GARDEN HOLDS SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING PLACES SUCH AS THE PINCO TERRACE VIEWPOINT, THE TEMPLE OF DIANA, AND THE TEMPLE OF AESCULAPIUS. DEFINITELY SPEND SOME TIME HERE AND BRING A BOOK OR TWO.
11. ARCH OF CONSTANTINE
THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE COLOSSEUM AND SO YOU CAN KNOCK OUT TWO IN ONE TRIP! AND THE ARCH IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL.
12. GALLERIA BORGHESE
THIS IS ALSO IN THE VILLA BORGHESE, I WOULD TAKE SOME EXTRA TIME TO EXPLORE THIS MUSEUM.
13. PROTESTANT CEMETERY
THE NON-CATHOLIC CEMETERY
FAMOUS GRAVES & STATUES:
* THE ANGEL OF GRIEF
* THE PYRAMID OF CAIUS CESTIUS
14. VEGAN FOOD TOURS
GUIDED WALKING TOURS THROUGH ROME DAILY WITH HISTORICAL INFO AND A SELECTION OF FOOD AND DRINKS INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE AT THREE DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS! I DIDN'T GET TO GO ON THIS BECAUSE I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AFTER MY TRIP BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY GIVE IT A GO AND WILL BE DOING THIS ON MY NEXT TRIP!
15. CAPITOLINE MUSEUM
THIS MUSEUM HOLDS SOME OF THE MOST INTRICATE ART AND STATUES. WHEN YOU STOP BY HERE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE CEILINGS! I THINK THEY WERE MY FAVORITE OF ALL. ALSO BE SURE YOU KNOW THE STORY OF ROMULUS AND REMUS, THE LEGENDARY FOUNDERS OF ROME. IT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY BABIES ARE SUCKING ON WOLF TITTIES. -SIDE NOTE: ONLY PICTURES HERE, NO VIDEOS ALLOWED.
16. TRASTEVERE
COLORFUL TRASTEVERE IS A FUNKY, BOHEMIAN AREA THAT CLINGS TO IT'S CENTURIES-OLD, WORKING-CLASS ROOTS. IT'S KNOWN FOR TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE TRATTORIAS, CRAFT BEER PUBS AND ARTISAN SHOPS, AS WELL AS SIMPLE B&BS AND BUDGET HOTELS. FROM THE PRE-DINNER PASSEGGIATA [PROMENADE] UNTIL LATE, A YOUNG CROWD BUZZES AROUND PIAZZA DI SAN CALISTO AND PIAZZA SANTA MARIA IN TRASTEVERE, THE SITE OF GILDED, MOSAIC-FILLED CHURCH.
VEGAN FOOD & DRINKS
17. VOODOO BAR
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THIS BAR WAS SO FUCKING COOL AND I HONESTLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING. I TAGGED ALONG WITH SOME GIRLS FROM MY HOSTEL AND WAS SO STOKED TO COME TO THIS RITUALISTIC YET TROPICAL VIBE BAR.
- SIDE NOTE: WHEN YOU GO UP TO THE BAR, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR DRINK AND GET A TICKET, THEN TAKE IT TO THE BARTENDER.
18. ICE CLUB
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YUP, JUST AS IT SOUNDS, THIS IS A BAR MADE OF ICE. THEY GIVE YOU THESE GIANT BLANKETLIKE SHAWLS SO GUESTS CAN ACTUALLY STAND TO BE IN THE BAR, BUT ALSO SIT AND POSE FOR PHOTOS.
19. ROSEMARY
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* NEAR TREMINI
* VEGAN OPTIONS
* BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO GRAB BREAKFAST OR LUNCH ON YOUR WAY TO CHECK OUT SITES, THIS PLACE IS SUPER CLOSE TO TREMINI AND HAS SOME TASTY TASTY OPTIONS!
20. RIFUGIO ROMANO
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* VEGAN OPTIONS
* LUNCH & DINNER
* TRADITIONAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT
LOTS OF OPTIONS FROM VEGAN PIZZA, TO PASTAS BRUSCHETTA, AND EVEN SOME DELICIOUS DESSERTS! THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A PLACE I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THAT NIGHT YOU WANT SOME TRADITIONAL ITALIAN FROM A NICE RESTAURANT.
21. ROMEOW CAT BISTROT
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* 100% VEGAN
* BREAKFAST, LUNCH & LATE-NIGHT
* RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
NOT YOUR AVERAGE CAT CAFE THIS IS A REFINED VEGAN BISTRO THAT OFFERS HEALTHY BREAKFASTS, LUNCH, AND A GOOD AFTERNOON SNACK. BECAUSE AS IF CATS WEREN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR HAPPY, NOW YOU CAN ALSO HAVE BOMB ASS, HEALTHY, VEGAN SNACKS!
22. IL BORGO VERDE
* 100% VEGAN
* ORGANIC FOOD & WINE BAR
A TRUE ITALIAN WINE BAR, THIS SPOTS MENU IS ALWAYS CHANGING AND OFFERS RAW OPTIONS AS WELL. DEFINITELY TRY IF YOU'RE FEELING FANCY AND WANT TO TREAT YOURSELF TO A NICE GLASS OF WINE.
FOR MORE TRAVELING TIPS AND WHERE TO STAY IN ROME READ 3 DAYS IN ROME!
