Rome is the capital city of Italy which is well known for the history of the Roman empire. Rome combines a rich blend of ancient history, religious significance, and modern Italian flair, making it one of the most visited in the world. Its streets are also filled with a mixture of historic sites, trendy neighborhoods, cafes, and modern stores.
Finally I made my second visit to Italy since/after 10 years ago. The first time I went to Italy was to explore the Lombardy region. I was travelling solo during winter break while I was a student in the UK. It was a fun experience to try solo traveling as a backpacker. At this time, I want to explore the capital city of Italy which is Rome in the autumn.
There’s advantages whether you choose to travel during autumn or winter. Firstly, The weather in Rome is typically still warm , pleasant, even though the temperature in winter is milder than in northern Europe. Southern Italy can be too hot during summer and the hot weather is dry, less humid than in tropical countries. Some people prefer to enjoy summer in subtropical rather than tropical countries. It depends on your preference. Secondly, the flight ticket is a lot cheaper than spring and summer season which is a good deal for a tight budget. The last reason you should travel in the autumn is to avoid tourist crowds which are popular during summer.
I spent only 6 days where I had a wonderful experience in Rome as follows :
- The Colosseum and Roman Forum
The colosseum is the historical landmark which used to entertain the Roman Emperor. I learnt about it in school and I also watched the Gladiator film which made me more curious to see the colosseum in person. During the night at the colosseum, the area and atmosphere are beautiful. I felt like I was living in ancient times.
After I walked around inside and outside the colosseum, just a short walk away, there is an ancient building which used to be a marketplace called Roman forum. Unlike the Colosseum, you can see the Roman forum from two spaces between outside and on the street. But if you want to walk inside, you need to buy a ticket. You can book the entrance ticket for the Colosseum and Roman Forum here
2. Trevi Fountain
The most popular fountain in Italy with a stunning Baroque style which has a tradition of tossing coins for good luck. The area is full of tourists so you need to be patient to walk and squeeze in the crowd to see the water fountain and architecture. It’s free entry and you don’t need to book a ticket. Be aware that random people try to have friendly talk which is actually selling an item then asking you for money.
3. Spanish Steps
A wide staircase leading up to the Trinità dei Monti church, located in a lively square that is a popular gathering place for both locals and tourists. You’re not allowed to sit on the steps anymore. It’s part of Rome’s effort to preserve historic sites. If you see there are some people sit on the steps, the staff will approach them and forbid to sit down.
4. Pantheon
Rome has so much wonderful architecture that you want to visit each place. My next visit is the Pantheon where the location is in the city centre. The Pantheon was a temple during the emperor Hadrian which has an unique rotunda style. I was curious to see inside the building and the interior but the queue was too long so I could not be bothered.
I decided to go to a local meat shop near the pantheon. It caught my eyes because it was busy with customers.
5. Vatican City
When you think about Rome, you might think about Roman Catholicism. The roman catholic church is located in Vatican city which is the smallest country in the world which is located in Rome. It’s the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church where the pope lives. I was interested to explore inside of St Basilica but I couldn’t be bothered to stand in the queue. It was a much longer queue than the colosseum. It’s about more than 100 meters so I decided to walk around the Vatican.
My first thought about the Vatican was a small country which had some small businesses such as offices, shops, restaurants or cafes. It turns out there’s only a massive catholic church.
6. Lake Bracciano
While I couldn’t sleep at night, I had a spontaneous idea to visit the countryside. I did research on google maps and I found a beautiful two spaces between lake and castle near Rome which is called Bracciano. Lake Bracciano is a volcanic lake which also has a beautiful landscape and small villages. Luckily, I still had enough time which is only one hour by train from Rome and go back to the city in the afternoon.
Due to the Autumn season, some shops and restaurants are closed and the water in the lake is cold. Therefore, there are no people swimming in the lake. However, I still was able to visit castle Castello Orsini.
If you like to go swimming in the lake, I highly recommend visiting Bracciano in spring and summer because the water in the lake will be warm. On the other hand, Autumn and winter are still an ideal place to avoid the crowds in Rome city. You can buy the train ticket to Bracciano from Rome via app Omio.
7. The Cuisine
Italian food is popular for the pasta, pizza and mediterranean diet lifestyle. You will find it difficult to decide where you want to eat in Rome because of the amount of choices. Most of the roman food looks good and has a delicious taste including the local family owned restaurants. In addition, there are a lot of options for dessert too including gelato, tiramisu, cake, and pastry. One of my favorite desserts in Rome is Tiramisu from Pompi. It’s a takeaway dessert with the box packing so you cannot eat it at a place like in the normal cafe. One thing that you should try is to sip espresso in the morning. Find a local coffee shop and start your morning with bitter flavour espresso.
Final Thoughts
Italy is always worth visiting whether you like the food, ancient culture, art gallery, or mediterranean climate. I wish I could spend more time exploring southern Italy. Rome offers a rich experience that leaves a lasting impression on anyone who visits.