For years, I was reluctant to travel to Italy, worried that my Italian won’t hold up. Although I did go to Milan back in 2020, it was a compromise due to Covid, and not exactly my own choice of destination.

But I have really wanted to see a concert of my favourite Italian singer, Patty Pravo, and where else would that be? So, on the last day of March 2023, I went to Rome to catch her live, do some sightseeing, and… put my Italian into practice.

Arriving

Flying in from London, I was in for a treat, and I didn’t even know. My plane was landing at the Ciampino Airport, which is south from the city. As we were descending, the whole of Rome was spread out below as if on the palm of my hand! Thankfully, I had the window seat on the right side, and pulled out my phone it time.

Central train station Roma Termini in the bottom left, Piazza dei Cinquecento and Piazza della Repubblica in the centre

Can honestly say that Rome made a good impression on me even before I set my foot in it!

Colosseum

Of course, the first attraction I went to see was the Colosseum. It’s the symbol of Rome and a monument as iconic as the Eiffel Tower or the Big Ben. Although I wouldn’t be a fan of activities that were originally going on there (gladiator fights, animal hunts, executions), I couldn’t stop looking at it in awe. In fact, I went there three times on this four-day trip.

Entry to the Colosseum is free each first Sunday of the month. Not knowing this before, I felt grateful for my lucky timing. I didn’t mind queuing for an hour and a half on a chilly morning to get in as soon as I can. If you think that’s excessive, you should have seen the queue at 11 am, when it was circling the Colosseum and stretching way down Via Celio Vibenna!

Roman Forum

Right next to the Colosseum, you’ll find the Roman Forum (Forum Romanum). Once the heart of the Ancient Rome, today it’s a sprawling ruin with only fragments of surviving structures. Still, millions of visitors stroll these grounds every year, wondering what the Forum looked like in its glory days.

Entry to the Roman Forum is included in the ticket to the Colosseum.

In front of the Roman Forum, with the Colosseum in the background and the Palatine Hill on the right

Trevi Fountain

One of the top Rome attractions is the mid-18th century, Baroque-style Fontana di Trevi, with Palazzo Poli as an effective backdrop. It’s said to be “the most beautiful fountain in Rome”, and even among the most famous ones in the world. Is it really, though?

It surely is one of the most crowded. So much so that you can barely see it when you arrive in the small piazza. When you eventually squeeze your way to the front, you’ll be competing with other tourists for a quick photo opportunity.

After Rome capped the number of visitors to the fountain at the end of 2024, the crowd would have subsided. But it was still large during my visit, even in the mornings. I had a much better time looking at the majestic lions of Fontana dell’Acqua Felice.

Piazza Venezia

Rome is full of lavish piazzas. One of my favourite ones was the busy Piazza della Repubblica near where I was staying. Every time I walked across it, I couldn’t help but take yet another video of the the semi-circular architecture and the elaborate fountain in the middle! But I also enjoyed breakfast just off the much quieter Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore the other day.

I think everyone would agree that the grandest of them all is Piazza Venezia. Although named by the nearby Palazzo Venezia, the square is dominated by the Victor Emmanuel II Monument – Vittoriano for short – majestically sitting on its southern side. Piazza Venezia is a true central hub of Rome, with lanes of bustling traffic and a constant flow of tourists.

Opposite Vittoriano, there is Palazzo Bonaparate where I went to see a Van Gogh exhibition. That was a good timing as minutes after I got in, it started to hail! The weather was very warm and sunny otherwise.

Vatican

Your trip to Rome can’t be complete without a visit to the Vatican City. Even if you’re not religious, you might want to at least roam around St. Peter’s Square for the sake of visiting a new country! It was my 20th, and I have to admit it was a highlight of this trip.

Walking past the many confessionals inside St. Peter’s Basilica, I couldn’t help but think of that scene from EuroTrip! 😃

Patty Pravo live

My last evening in Rome couldn’t be any more special! As I said, the main purpose of this trip was the Patty Pravo concert at Teatro Sistina, not a long walk from my accommodation. It was as exciting as it always is to see one of your favourite artists live for the first time. You can read more about it in a separate post if you’re interested. Or even if you’re not. 😝

Spanish Steps

The last attraction I ticked off before going to the airport was Piazza di Spagna. In the narrower end of this triangular piazza lies the boat-like Fontana della Barcaccia. But the true tourist magnet here are the famous Spanish Steps with the Church of Trinità dei Monti perched on top. Featured in many films, most prominently in Roman Holiday, the steps are a popular hangout spot.

Adjacent to the piazza is Via Condotti, a fashionable street with luxurious retailers.

View of the Spanish Steps from Via Condotti

Speaking Italian

So, how did I score on my Italian on this trip? I did pretty well, if I can say so myself. I pushed myself to use it at every opportunity, and resorted to English only when necessary. I’m not in any way fluent, and they weren’t advanced conversations, but I understood at least 80%. Considering it’s a language I have mostly taught myself, it made me proud.

I wish I could say the same about my German when I went to Berlin right after Rome! But that’s another story…

On the Vittorio Emanuele II Bridge, with Castel Sant’Angelo in the background – on my way to the Vatican

My impression

Rome is one of those intense cities with a lot to do, which can be overwhelming. Even four full days only allowed me for a bitesize introduction. Being one of the most visited European cities (often in the top 3), it makes you feel obliged to like it.

And I did enjoy my time there, but as someone who prefers less touristy places, I didn’t fall for Rome immediately. Looking back on this trip now, though, I think of it more fondly and kind of miss it. If an opportunity presented itself, I wouldn’t mind to go back.