What a lovely way to kickstart Summer 16 by spending it exploring the cobblestone streets of Rome. Truly a breathtaking city, every corner has so much character. Filled with passion, history, art and perfectly placed bicycles… But of course it's much more than that.
Paige and I sure didn't take our time here for granted. With only 4 days, we packed it full with iconic sights, whilst still having downtime and soaking up the city. We stayed in the Grand Hotel del Gianicolo located in Gianicolo hill above Trastevere which offered beautiful panoramic views across the city. The hotel itself was lovely with the Italian interior and its beautiful gardens. Our daily agenda consisted of early mornings indulging in the yummy breakfast located on the roof top balcony to prepare us for the day. After a long day seeing the wonders of Rome, we really enjoyed winding down by the hotel pool. Perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of tourist crowds. The best of both worlds, eh?
Exploring is always best by foot, that way you receive the real charm and soak in all the local ambience. A lot of the main sights are very close together. I recommend having a paper map always at hand in case the old Google maps decides to glitch. Paige and I worked very well together locating ourselves around this huge city. I feel as though if I can conquer Rome, I can now conquer any city!
Rome sure wasn't built in a day and definitely can't be explored in a day! With so much to see and do, it was near impossible to fit everything in. I can't wait to return again in the near future and explore more of Rome as well as visiting other places in Italy. Florence is calling my name! But for now, here are my travel snaps and my favourite places in Rome. I'm by no means a travel guide expert and writing is not my forte. I simply know I'm in love with it here. I love to travel, experience new things, wonder and capture life's beauty. I hope to inspire you as much as Rome inspires me. I feel the photos do so much more of the talking than I could ever articulate into words.
Trastevere is such a quaint neighbourhood. Enchanting lanes, full of depth and buzzing with life. A real treasure trove of cafes, shops, restaurants and market stalls. One of the oldest churches in Rome is located here, Basilica di Santa Maria. With Granicolo hill only a walk away. It's a great location to be amongst the locals. By far Trastevere has to be my favourite place to explore in Rome!
Beautiful botanical gardens tucked away behind Parco del Gianicolo. Only a 10 min walk away from Basilica di Santa Maria church. (You all know I can't go any where without visiting nature). Orto Botanico is such a hidden gem, with fascinating plants everywhere to be seen. Including A Japanese Garden, several greenhouses, bamboo groves, medicinal plants, and all sorts of fancy Cacti plants… It was very quite and peaceful, the perfect place to have a picnic, while escaping the busy city of Rome.
Stay tuned for part 2 of my Rome trip!
Beautiful photos Adora,I can see how you fell in love with Rome.