Rome… Ahhhhhh, Rome… I love you so much! You are like a summer fling – seducing, warm, interesting and beautiful. I have been to Rome several times and I just fall in love more and more each time. It always delivers!
The great thing with Rome is that it is only a short flight away from almost everywhere in Europe so going for a long weekend is fairly easy!
A quick flight across the Alps and you will be there for dinner on a Friday. Find a nice little restaurant not far from where you are staying and unwind to the sound of Italian voices.
On Saturday, head to the Colosseum.
Yes, it is a touristic cliché, but it really is worth visiting. You will feel like Russell Crowe in Gladiator for a couple of hours. Note that it is important to buy your tickets in advance to beat the queue.
Rome offers also plenty of touristy photo opportunities. So go on, be a tourist and proud of it!
Now is a good time to grab a late lunch. All places around there will be quite touristy so don’t desperately look for something special, just pick between panini and pasta. Or even better, pack a sandwich from a local baker, so you can enjoy it at our next stop, the Roman Forum!
From the Colosseum, just head to the other side of the street and enter the Roman Forum. The site is mainly in ruin, but it gives you a great idea of how the Ancient Rome must have looked like. You can imagine the little food markets, the shops, the temples and all the activities going on in the very old streets.
From the Forum, head uphill to what used to be the ‘posh’ neighbourhood of the Ancient Rome. The Palatine Hill is where the emperors and the cool-kids used to live. I did Latin for 2 years, I don’t remember any of the derivatives but I do remember this! My parents would be proud…
The views of Rome’s roofs are wonderful from there.
At the top of the hill, you will find Emperor Augustus palace. You will also see on the other side of the hill what remains of the Circus Maximus (drop movie reference here: Ben-Hur)
After the Palatine hill, head toward the Piazza del Campidoglio, where you will find the famous Capitoline wolf statue. You can then head downhill to the Piazza Venezia and the high street area.
By now it should be late afternoon, perfect time for a gelato or an Aperol spritz! When in Rome…
Claire Imaginarium 
4 thoughts on “A weekend in Rome – part 1”