Rome - The Eternal City
From living in the city that never sleeps, to visiting the eternal city - I have never felt more humbled. Although our Rick Steves tour was winding down, the adrenaline for exploring Rome was rushing through me.
After our wonderful afternoon at the winery in Umbria and a nap on the bus, we arrived in Rome! Again, a Rick Steves perk, a wonderful local guide met up with us to help us get oriented in our new neighborhood, including a stroll by the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and 2,000-year-old Pantheon.
After our wonderful afternoon at the winery in Umbria and a nap on the bus, we arrived in Rome! Again, a Rick Steves perk, a wonderful local guide met up with us to help us get oriented in our new neighborhood, including a stroll by the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and 2,000-year-old Pantheon.
Fast Facts
- Did you know the Piazza Navona has served many purposes throughout history? The site has been a stadium, a city market and now a common meeting place for Romans and tourists.
- Did you know it is a crime to steal coins from the Trevi Fountain?
- Did you know that the Pantheon dome remains the single largest, unreinforced concrete dome in the entire world? At about 142 feet in diameter, the Pantheon's dome is bigger even than the dome of St. Peter's Basilica!
The Vatican Museums and St. Peter's
Day 8 in Rome is one that I have dreamed about since I first took a theology class at just 15 years old. We focused on Renaissance Catholic Rome, and got to take a trip to the Vatican Museums and see Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, in real life! We also got to see the the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica before having the rest of the day to explore Rome...
... and when I say 'explore' Rome, I really mean eat and drink!
Ancient Rome
Seeing Ancient Rome is like stepping into a time machine, but still seeing modern life thriving all around you. On our last full day of the tour, we explored St. Peter-in-Chains Church, the Colosseum and the Forum - all incredible sights that truly encompass the enteral city. With free time for the rest of the afternoon, I went off on my own to do a Vespa Tour and live out my wild Lizzie McGuire dreams!
Hey now, Hey now - This is what dreams are made of!
Farewell to New Friends
To wrap up the trip of a lifetime traveling around Italy - a goodbye dinner to celebrate the strangers turned friends in just ten short days - an unforgettable tour that I will never forget - and a wonderful, unique way to ring in my 25th year around the sun.