My Roman Holiday
I’m sure it will come as no surprise that Rome, Italy has always been on my travel bucket list. After dreaming about coming here for so long, I wondered if Rome could really be as magical as I had dreamed…and it wasn’t…it was even more spectacular than I had imagined!
Seeing all the rich history here with my own eyes was incredible and far exceeded my expectations! Before my trip, I contacted LivItaly Tours about a private tour for the day. Having never been to Rome I didn’t want to waste a moment of my time. And while one day in Rome is definitely not enough, my cruise ship was only in port for 12 hours, and I was determined to make the most of it!
My ship docked in Civitavecchia, which is 50 miles from Rome. As part of my tour, LivItaly provided me with a private driver and car service for the day. My driver met me as I disembarked the ship, and in an hour I was in Rome meeting my marvelous guide for the day, Dario. It ‘s important to work with a reputable company if you are planning a tour in Rome. Unlicensed guides are not only illegal, but they also lack years of specific education and do not carry the specialized credentials licensed guides do. Dario was as passionate as he was knowledgeable about Rome and its history. He shared fascinating facts I would not have discovered on my own.
My first stop was the Roman Forum, which is not to be missed. I was able to enter the gates first thing in the morning before anyone else, and it was incredible to have such vast history all to myself. The forum was the epicenter of ancient Rome, and walking down the path that once led to the city center stirred up many emotions. Sunlight poured on the Arch of Titus, which stood tall over 8m high. I took my time to gaze at the intricate details carved nearly 2000 years ago.
At the foot of Palatine Hill, I visited the House of the Vestals. The Vestal Virgins held unique and great power in ancient Rome. They could vote, own property, and they even had the ability to free condemned prisoners and slaves. If a man was set to be executed, but caught a glimpse of a Vestal Virgin he would be freed.
Of the many temples we visited, one of the most fascinating had to be the Antoninus and Faustina Temple. Built in 141 AD, the temple is well preserved because it was converted into a church in the middle ages. As you look more closely you can see a tall dark space between the foot of the steps and the elevated bronze door. The ground was actual level with this door before archaeologists excavated the area…and now it is impossible to reach due to that 20 foot gap (which had been covered by ground and dirt for centuries).
Making my way out of the forum, I exited under the Arch of Constantine, the largest surviving triumphal arch. Built in 315 AD and standing over 21m tall, this massive arch (comprised of three arches) is a powerful presence next to the Colosseum.
In 2018, over 7.4 million people visited the Colosseum, so you can imagine how many people were waiting in line at 10AM when I arrived. The queue lines were already packed with thousands of visitors, but LivItaly provided me with a specially timed priority skip-the-line entry pass. I recommend purchasing your tickets in advance and making reservations for the earliest available entry time because the Colosseum gets more crowded as the day goes by.
It was incredible to have a view point high in the stands and look down at the Colosseum floor, where dozens of trap doors and elevators once worked seamlessly. While the Colosseum is a magnificent sight to behold, it’s also quite sobering to reflect on the hundreds of thousands of people and animals that lost there lives here in the name of sport and entertainment.
After visiting the Colosseum, I stopped at one (well maybe two) of the many local gelaterias on my way to the the famous Trevi Fountain. Locals say that if you throw a coin in, you are guaranteed to return someday…so it was a joy to sit down and toss my coin. All the coins collected (over €1 million a year) are used to help the poor and needy.
The fountain is absolutely jam-packed with people all day…so if you want it to yourself, be sure plan a sunrise trip and not the middle of the day like me! However, if you’re willing to wait for a few minutes, you can still snag a front and center seat even with the crowds.
Built of travertine stone and standing over 85 feet tall, the Trevi Fountain was one of my favorite stops of the day. Listening to the water rush and watching hundreds of others smiling, taking pictures and throwing their coins into the water was delightful.
I decided that I didn’t want to spend over an hour of my time in Rome at a sit down restaurant for lunch, so my guide recommended Marinella Pizza su misura Roma. It was so delicious…I ate it all before I could even snap a picture! My driver then drove me past the Altar of the Fatherland to Terrazza Viale del Belvedere to enjoy stunning views of the city, while eating my favorite dessert from Pompi, Tiramisu.
My next destination was Vatican City, the smallest country in the world and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. In planning for my private tour, LivItaly made sure I had skip-the-line passes, and Dario knew exactly where to go so I could see everything on my wishlist within my limited time here.
I was overwhelmed by the Vatican Museums, and I easily could have spent an entire day here as Dario shared important facts and the history of what I was viewing. I then made my way to the Sistine Chapel…there is a very strict no photography policy inside the chapel, but I assure you it is in every way as wonderful as one can imagine. Without a camera in my hand I could fully enjoy Michelangelo’s famous masterpiece.
The last stop of my tour was a visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica. One of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture, the basilica is the largest church in the world. It is widely acknowledged as the burial place of the Apostle Peter and it was a fitting way to end my day in Rome.
As the afternoon sun faded away, I said goodbye to Dario and thanked him profusely for his time. Then my driver delivered me to my ship and I started planning my next visit to Rome! There is so much more I want to see, and many places I look forward to visiting again.
If you had a day in Rome, where would you go?
