Best Bets: Two Days in Rome
With it being a jubilee year and our first visit to Rome, we decided to stay only two full days for our first Roman experience. Two days were enough to give us a taste of what Rome has to offer and leave us wanting to return someday.
Where We Stayed:
Campo de 'Fiori Apartment
https://www.vrbo.com/6830999ha?referrerId=HOT.HIS.Share.Landed.Copy_Link
Traveling with big & tall guys makes it difficult to find hotels that can accommodate us comfortably and affordably, so we usually opt to stay in rented apartments when we travel. We found this gem through VRBO, located just off the bustling Campo De Fiori piazza. The apartment is on the third floor of the cutest building on the cutest little street. With one bedroom and a spacious living room featuring a pull-out bed and an extra couch, the apartment was comfortable for the three of us. Having a fully stocked kitchen was also great, as the piazza has a daily market full of delicious food to take home with you. The hosts are absolutely amazing too. Easy to communicate with, and they even came and picked us up from a coffee shop down the street when we could not find our way.
What We Did:
The Vatican
The Vatican was my son’s one request for the trip and so we braved the crowds and went. And boy, it was crowded! I was shocked at how many people they allowed in at one time. Make sure you get tickets well in advance because they sell out really fast. It was really cool to see so many great works of art in one space. The museum is vast and grand. My favorite was the Sistine Chapple. It is the marvel everyone says it is. What shocked me was how tourists were leaning up against the walls of these rooms where murals are housed and literally rubbing their bodies against these priceless works of art. It was the most crowded and most uncomfortable museum tour we went on during our trip. Definitely a “one and done” kind of experience due to the insane crowds and little crowd control. This was easily my least favorite adventure.
The Colosseum
I was prepared for the colosseum to be a repeat of the Vatican with huge crowds and general misery, but I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived. Yes, the place was super busy, and it was hot outside that day, but it was easy to enter with a timed ticket purchased in advance (do this for everything!) and we had a pleasurable experience touring the ruins. The place is so gigantic that it is easy to get in all the views you want without hoards or people blocking everything. I had perpetual goosebumps as we walked through the ancient halls and viewed the artifacts. We all were very impressed and felt the thousands of years of history seep into our bones.
Wander Rome:
Make sure to spend time just wandering Rome. Visit a market and haggle over the price of a hunk of parmesan. Sit at a café and eat a pile of pasta. Explore the many piazzas, especially Piazza Narvonna, just a skip from Campo De Fiori. There is enough to see on foot - statues, buildings, fountains – without paying one entrance fee.
Our Favorite Place to Eat:
Giordi https://www.giordicampodefiori.it/
Out of all the places we ate in Rome on our whirlwind forty-eight hours, this one stands out above the rest. My tartar with truffles, pecorino, and a perfectly fried egg yolk was memorable. The Cacio e Pepe was spot-on. It was served with light-as-air deep-fried Pecorino chips that were so addictive! Hayden gave is seal of approval on the pizza diavalo - the real Italian version of pepperoni. Spicy and meaty, it’s hard to go back to the American version after your first Diavolo!
Final Thoughts on Rome:
Rome is always awake and moving. We enjoyed our time there more than expected and look forward to returning someday to dig deeper. We felt extremely safe walking through the streets, even at night.
