Roaming Around Rome

Rome, Italy is a fascinating city of culture and history. Around each corner, there is something new and unexpected. Each street is like a whole new world just waiting to be discovered. Almost every structure had it’s own special story to tell. It felt like all the history of the world was within my grasp.

SPOILER ALERT: I did not expect Rome to be one of the best places that I have been to, but it was!

Iconic Sights of Italy

The Colosseum

Getting off of the subway and literally walking into the Colosseum was an unforgettable moment in my life. As I walked up the stairs of the subway, the sight of this humongous structure just took my breath away. The stories of this place are almost endless. From hosting Gladiator fights to housing a city, the Colosseum has done it all. On the walls of the building, the Gladiators that have fought in battle have carved their names into the weathered stones. After the age of the Gladiators, the Colosseum had a new use. A city began forming within the beaten walls of this immense battlefield. The city never fully formed, but the ruins of the construction of the houses is what you can see in the Colosseum today.

   

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is an old building in Piazza della Rotonda. Formally a Roman temple, the Pantheon is now a working church in Italy. The building is round with enormous granite columns under a prominent inscription. This inscription reads “M. AGRIPPA L.F. COS TERTIUM FECIT.”, meaning, Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, three-time consul, made this. The dome of the Pantheon, even after 2,000 years, is still the world’s largest untouched concrete dome. The Pantheon is perhaps one of the best preserved pieces of art in the ancient world.

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is an immaculate piece of art located in the heart of Rome. The beautiful marble and ivory just left me in awe. The patterns and columns were so detailed and the sculptures were immaculate. Hundreds of people were taking pictures and selfies, so we did what any civilized person would do. We joined in on the fun! Legends tell that if you throw a penny over your shoulder with your right hand into the fountain that you are destined to come back someday.

 

 

Personal Experiences in Rome

Look no Further for the Perfect Ring

Do you have a difficult time getting the size ring you need? Look no further! All you need to do is go to Rome and look for the exact spot where the right ring vendor is located. I had been looking for a ring since we got into Europe, but I just couldn’t find one that was good for me. Just as I decided to give up, we passed a guy that asked if we wanted to buy his merch (not that he was the only one), so I asked what he had and he said that he had rings. I thought I should give it a try just to be nice. Well, instead of rings, he had a hammer and a ring-sizer. It turns out that he used metal and hammered the ring to your exact finger size. First, you picked out the ring that you wanted, and then he did all the work from there. If it was too big, he would take his little hammer, and beat it until it was just right, and if it was too small, he would heat up the metal and push it onto a cylinder-like piece of brass to widen the band. After a few minutes, I walked away with a perfect Italian coin ring for only five dollars. I still wear that ring today.

Having a “Gelato” Fun in Italy

Imagine the creamiest and most flavorful ice cream on the planet. Say hello to gelato. Native to Italy, gelato is made with a milk base, cream, sugar, and your choice of flavoring. These are the same ingredients as are put into American ice cream, just in different proportions. This creamy deliciousness is ironically lower in fat than other types of ice cream. My personal favorite was the cafe. I am a total coffee lover!

10 Things that you Might not Know About Rome, Italy

• Lasting 721 years, the war between the Romans and Persians was the longest conflict in human history.
• Paris was originally a Roman city.
• A Roman Emperor once made his horse a senator.
• Polar bears fought seals in water-flooded amphitheaters.
• The Colosseum would cost $380,000,000 USD to build today.
• Charioteers earned more money than today’s international sports stars.
• There was once a full naval battle hosted in the Colosseum.
• Rome had 900 public baths by fifth century A.D.
• Roman Empire was the 28th largest in human history.
• Ancient Rome was eight times more populated than New York.

Overall, Rome, Italy was 100% in my top 5 favorite place that I have visited. Getting submerged deep into the culture was what made this place so special. Seeing so many things preserved for the world to see just made me happy. And, if you ever get a chance to go, remember to try the pizza…AND THE GELATO!!!