I hate to be one of those people who is all “where did the time go” but I really feel like whoa, I cannot believe our Italy trip has come and gone! Ha.
Anyways I of course took tons of photos to share from our September 2nd through the 12th, family vaca in Rome, Italy and here are just a few.
First up – the Spanish Steps. A popular tourist attraction that I have to admit wasn’t as exciting as I thought. There was a beautiful picture of the steps in our hotel that showed plants and flowers on various steps and no fencing or wood structures blocking the arches etc – looks like it is under construction and I was also told that they have had major issues with controlling loitering.
Another must see = The Pantheon.
Previously a Roman temple, it’s now a church.
The hole in the top of the dome across the ceiling with its beam of sunlight shining in, makes it the most unique and fascinating structure!
Italy’s “largest and most famous Baroque fountain (Baroque = a popular European art form between 1600 and 1750)” is the Trevi Fountain. I wish we could have spent a little more time here exploring each and every angle but it is extremely crowded and hard to get to close, because of all the people.
Take a look at City Hall…So many intricate details in the architecture, from top to bottom.
That whole area including the Colosseum (even though it too had construction going on) really peaked our interest and we spent lots of time looking around “The Old Rome – the noteworthy medieval and renaissance center of Rome.”
Selfie time! Here we are at Vatican City. The weekend prior to our visit, Mother Teresa was declared a saint by Pope Francis, which explains all the chairs and fencing!
We did not go into the Sistine Chapel but instead opted for the St Peter’s Basilica.
Multiple masses were going on, so people were just about everywhere. But you could spend hours in there looking at every last detail of Michelangelo and the other talented architects and artists who took part in building this massive church, where even tombs of previous popes sit.
I can’t wait to share food photos, our day trip to Florence, and the reason why we went to Italy in the first place: the husbands cousins wedding in Umbria!
Have you been to Italy? What sights were your favorite?
Looks like Rome is under a lot of construction. Guess that happens when your old.
Italy is a lot older than America , right? And if our roads and stadium are bad, imagine theirs.
Does the Roman soccer team play in that big stadium under construction? Did you go to a game.
The only exception thing that was confusing was Spanish Steps. Did you take a side trip to Madrid?
No Roma plays soccer in Stadio Olimpico – the husband Sal and his brother and dad did actually go to a game ! The Colosseum is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions – “In A.D. 80, Vespasian’s son Titus opened the Colosseum–officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater–with 100 days of games, including gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights,” according to history.com 🙂 Spanish steps are in fact in Italy – nope no side trips to Spain !
My favorite place is Florence with Lucca a close second.
I loved seeing The David and Uffizi Museum.
Did you see them?
You get my postcard?
We didn’t actually have time to go to Accademia Gallery to see David or to Uffizi 🙁 It was just a day trip walking around, shopping, taking photos, and we stopped for lunch and later dinner before taking a speed train back to rome 🙂
I’ve heard, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Did you follow that advice?
And if yes, what do the Romans do?
Is it diffent than what the Bostonians do?
???
Ha yes – definitely did as the Romans do – spending a week with the husbands family meant we followed their time schedules and eating habits and where they shop and where they go out to eat or what they eat at home ! no huge differences – besides of course the language, trying some new recipes, eating a lot later, etc and starting off a meal with a pasta course followed by your protein and veggies, and afterwards sipping a digestive like limoncello before indulgent gelato ! I noticed a lot more people smoke cigarettes – and air conditioning / fans arent as much of a necessity to them.
❤it….
Did you learn any Italian? Does anyone still speak Latin? Maybe some whose families go back to Caesar still speak it.
How were the Italian subs? Filled with salami and provolone?
Were you happy that you and Sal could light up a cigarette with your limoncello? I’m from Vietnam and they luv their cigarettes too.
I always smoke when I visit. When in Saigon do as the Vietnamese do….hahaha
What time do they eat? After The Evening News?
Around 7, 7.15? Do you have snacks before eating that late ?
What’swith no AC? That’s crazy ..
Cigarettes and no AC is a bad combo… agree?
Is it like the North End where all the grease balls wear those wife beater tee shirts? Makes sense if you don’t have AC to wear those wife beater tee shirts?
You see the Pope?
I tried so hard to learn some new italian words !
i actually did not hae italian subs often while i was there !
I dont smoke cigarettes but it is interesting how many more people smoke there!
The meals were a lot later – later lunch – like 2 / 3 – dinner anywhere from like 9 / 930 ! Breakfast was the best – cappucino and croissants right when you wake up 🙂 Snacks included olives, cheese, bread, stuffed breads etc
No we didnt see the pope !
Did you meet any of Mother Theresa’s family?
Did they have a party when the Pope said “You’re now a Saint – Bravo Mother Theresa…mille grazie Mama Theresa . Molto Bene.”
Wait, cappuccino and croissants when you wake up…did you go to Paris too?
Stuffed bread….how do you that? Take out the center and fill it in side the crust? Or is that just a fancy Italian way of saying sandwich?
check these out ! yum ! https://www.stefanofoods.com/italian-foods/stuffed-breads-deli/
Great article. We visited Rome last year with my friends and all I can say is that all worth the visit.
yay ! thank you ! such a great place visit 🙂