Rome - a place to be

Rome - whether ancient or modern - is a beautiful city. Many narrow streets and small shops make this place unforgettable and unique. The residents are super nice, polite, and always helpful.
From museums to small cafes to attractions, there is something for everyone. History lovers like me enjoy visiting ancient Rome and rushing into museums.
On the day I arrived (Monday afternoon) of my nearly 6-day trip, I settled into my hotel first and took a short rest before starting. Then no one could stop me anymore. With the help of a map, I explored the city center and oriented myself to the bell tower of the "Santa Maria Maggiore", which was only a few streets away from my hotel.

In the evening, I visited the Trevi Fountain, which unfortunately was dry and under repair. Then I walked to the Spanish Steps, which are always crowded, and sat on the steps to process my first impressions.
(Small tip: If you are visiting a new, even larger city for the first time, always find a point of reference near your hotel. If you get lost, you always have a small point of reference and don't panic so quickly :))

"Fontana di Trevi" - the Trevi Fountain

The Spanish Steps from above

After sitting for a few moments, I continued and found a cute restaurant in a small side street where I had my first, truly Italian pizza - hardly comparable to a pizza from Germany!
After a wonderful first evening, I went to bed satisfied and immediately fell asleep.

I spent my first full day in Rome walking several kilometers through the city and exploring. Starting at the Colosseum, then to the former "Palatine", where I saw the ruins of ancient life and the Circus Maximus (highly recommended!), and finally to the "Campo de Fiori". Afterwards, I went to the "Ara Pacis", a monument to Emperor Augustus. This monument was enclosed by a building in 2006 for protection, which has now become a kind of museum. Then I continued to the Castel Sant' Angelo. A beautiful view awaits you there when you visit the inside of the Castel Sant' Angelo.

The Colosseum from the outside

The Colosseum from the inside

The top of Castel Sant' Angelo

The day was coming to an end, it was getting dark, and so I left the Castel Sant' Angelo. Rome at night is even more beautiful than during the day!

I found a small restaurant and ended the evening with a wonderful Italian dish. Full of anticipation for the next day.

It was Wednesday. I didn't have much on my program for today, but it was extensive nevertheless. I visited some "squares" and explored the former "Aventine" hill. (A city map with the visited squares and buildings is at the end of my post.)

Then I walked to the "Piazza del Popolo", visited some chapels and the so-called "twin churches".

The "twin churches"

The "Piazza del Popolo" from above.

Afterwards, I visited the "Galleria Borghese", which is not far from the square and has a stunning and huge park. To get to this park, you have to climb a long staircase, as it has several height differences compared to the "Piazza del Popolo". Once you are up there, you have a breathtaking view of the square - you can even see the Vatican from there!

To get to the gallery, walk several kilometers through the beautiful park.

Beautiful buildings, including villas and churches, can also be seen in the park

In the gallery, there are incredible statues that seem super lively with their many precise details, as do the paintings and pictures! A visit is definitely worth it. The gallery was a villa in the 17th century, which was already known for its art treasures. At some point, it became a museum or gallery. Some rooms (such as the fireplace or the bedroom) remained true to the original and unchanged. Time goes by quickly there, and suddenly it was evening again.

On Thursday, a kind of excursion was undertaken. I went to Mount Vesuvius, a volcano that completely buried an entire city in 79 AD. Mount Vesuvius is located on the Gulf of Naples, about nine kilometers away from Naples.

The ascent was very exhausting. Although it is only a few hundred meters to the summit, it takes quite a long time (about 15-30 minutes depending on fitness). I took a guided tour at the top. The guide provided a lot of information and explained the rocks and a possible eruption. There is a narrow path around the crater of the volcano - but be careful, there are many trip hazards due to the loose rocks! If you follow the path, you will come to a small kiosk and a small wine shop (including a tasting). Another tip is to be careful at the top during a thunderstorm! Due to the height and electromagnetic fields, lightning is literally drawn there.

..Then storm clouds moved in - but only in the valley. (The volcano peak remained dry)

The crater

On the way down, the bad weather started. The lower you got, the stronger the rain became, making the descent difficult as the wet path turned into a slippery slide.

When I arrived at the bottom, completely soaked, I still wanted to go to Pompeii and visit its ruins, so I set off. The rain subsided a bit, and I entered the "Pompeii site" and walked through an amphitheater, where I was suddenly greeted by a stray dog.

The theater - or rather: the ruins of the theater

Back at the hotel, I just wanted to go to bed because a trip to Mount Vesuvius already takes about three hours - depending on traffic. And then my eyes closed.

It was now Friday, and my program was packed. It was time to visit the Vatican. The sun was blazing down on me. When I arrived at the Vatican, I got a shock. St. Peter's Square was full of chairs, and there was a huge line winding around the square - now my patience was required. The positive thing is, I had time to admire the beautiful decorations and statues around St. Peter's Square.

St. Peter's Basilica

Saints statues all around

After what felt like hours (and it really was at least two) and a security check, I finally got to visit St. Peter's Basilica from the inside. Due to the many people, you can't see much, but it was still beautiful.

After navigating through the crowd and seeing some corners and rooms, I went outside again after about an hour. Once outside, I went to a small restaurant and then back to the Vatican Museums - a must for history enthusiasts. It's hard to comprehend and grasp so many impressions. After spending about three hours in the museums, I definitely wanted to see one more church.

As a fan of Dan Brown's thriller "Angels & Demons", it was a must for me to visit all the locations mentioned in the book/movie. Since I had already seen the Castel Sant' Angelo, the "Chigi Chapel" (Element Earth) at the "Piazza del Popolo", and the plaque "West Ponente" (Element Air) at the foot of the obelisk in St. Peter's Square, only a few locations were missing - including the church "Santa Maria della Vittoria" (Element Fire) at the "Piazza San Bernardo".

Since I hardly used the train during this vacation and had already walked dozens of kilometers, my feet were burning and hurting without end. So I wanted to take a short break and walked with my last strength to the Hard Rock Cafe, where I had a big dinner to end my last night and last hours in Rome. Late back at the hotel, I went to bed full of anticipation for the next day, but also filled with a longing for Rome.

Now it was Friday - my last hours in Rome had come. My program for the day was very manageable. I visited the Pantheon and smiled as I thought about the plot in Dan Brown's thriller.

The Pantheon - there is a fountain in front of it.

My last destination of the vacation was the "Fountain of the Four Rivers" (Element Water - and thus the last element in Dan Brown's novel) in the center of the "Piazza Navona". The four statues are supposed to represent the four rivers known for their continents:

-Danube

-Nile

-Ganges and

-Rio de la Plata

To conclude a "perfect" trip, I bought an ice cream at the "Piazza Navona". I have never eaten such a delicious ice cream - you must try it!

Afterwards, it was time to pack up and leave! Rome has found a significant place in my heart this week, and a return to this place is definitely on the agenda. I will be back!

It was a wonderful experience and I recommend it to every travel enthusiast - see it for yourself and collect your own impressions. I can hardly stop raving - even if the traffic shouldn't be underestimated, few people know about red lights and crosswalks there ;)