Rome in the fall
Written: Oct 23 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fun, safe, easy to walk from place to place.
Cons: Better pizza in New York.
The Bottom Line: Excellent place to visit! Nice people, relaxed atmosphere.
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| maninmaui's Full Review: Rome |
If you have the means, you should go to Rome. It is an awesome city steeped in history. I spent three days there this past September of 2002 and loved it. I have a very short attention span and travel alone so three days was enough time see what I wanted to see. All currency stated below is in US Dollars.
If it's your first time to Rome, get the guidebook by Dorling and Kindersley. Kinda steep at $28 but worth every penny!!
Here's the 25 cent tour:
Arrived Friday at 4pm from London via Alitalia (excellent cheese - so good I wrote a review on the airline). Customs was very long and inefficient, the most unpleasant thing about Rome. Take the express train from the airport to Termini. It is only about $9 and takes about 15 minutes. I don't travel with cash so I purchased my tickets from the credit card machine. Seems the cash window had a much longer line. Way to go! Stayed at the Hotel Quisianna near Termini. OK accommodations and would stay there again but only during the fall and spring as the rooms are not air conditioned. Room was $90/night tax inclusive.
Walked to the Colosseum and stood in awe of this masterpiece. To think that it could hold 70,000 and had a system whereby a roof could be pulled over the top to protect against the elements.....amazing! The Arch of Constantine next door was impressive as well. But really, what truly amazed me was how old these things were!
Got up early Saturday morning (6:30am - dunno why - but glad I did) and decided to walk to St Peter's. It was a nice 40 minute walk through the streets of Rome. Early morning is definitely the best time to be walking the streets as they are nearly empty. It's just you and the quiet city. As I turned the corner around the Piazza Venezia a HUGE white structure called the Victor Emmanuel Monument literally took my breathe away. It was awesome. Though I read a little more about its not-so-savory history, it was nonetheless a gorgeous sight unspoiled by tourists or buses this early in the morning. A few more steps and over the Tiber I went and I was in the Vatican. St. Peter's Square and the basilica are breathtaking. Huge beyond comprehension. If you have been to the Grand Canyon and told your friends that words simply cannot tell how beautiful and majestic it was, you would know how I felt about looking up in the basilica. Just awesome. Walked to the top of the basilica as well (worth the $5 entrance fee) and saw a nice view of Rome. One of the only bummers about Rome - noticed a lot of graffiti on the walls - and this is St. Peter's Basilica! Is nothing sacred?
Next went to the Vatican Museums with the sole purpose of seeing the Sisteen Chapel. Again, words cannot describe the sight. I think it amazing that the figures are all over 15 feet in length and Michelangelo could not possibly see the feet as he painted the head and yet everything is in perfect proportion. I don't think he penciled things out first! Wow. Only bummer here is that it is crowded. In the rest of the Vatican Museums, it looked as though there was no great effort at preserving these objects of antiquity. Many sat in open air galleries with all the windows open. Antique tables were within touching distance. I know because I touched one and was promptly and sternly scolded by a guard. Dust seemed to cover everything and there was just too much to see. Note also that the items do not have labels so you really don't know what you're looking at. Guess I coulda gotten a guide but there was just too much stuff to look at. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything - you seen one piece of 17th century furniture and you seen 'em all, right? Even though I raced through the galleries, it still took me two hours! And even though I had no clue what I was looking at, I had a blast! Boy, ignorance IS bliss!
Next it was on to the Pantheon and a stop for some gelato. After I sat and admired the facade, I went back to the Victor Emmanuel Monument with its cool views of Rome and the Forum. Must have spent almost an hour here just soaking in the views. Onto the capitol area and then I descended into the Forum itself. As I sat on a "rock" sipping my Coke, I put my hand down and felt a sharp edge. I looked down and the "rock" I was sitting on was actually part of a fallen column, probably carved before Julius Ceasar walked these cobblestones over 2000 years ago! Wow. It was just amazing how these buildings, literally two millenia old, are in better shape than some of their neighboring buildings built in the twentieth century! Next to the Forum was the area called Pallatine and it is where we get the word "palace". Believe me, I have a new appreciation for the word "Palace" because this place is amazing. Read up on this area, its history will blow you away.
The ruins in this area are remarkable. What's even more remarkable is the fact that for many centuries, much of Rome lay under dirt as successive generations built up more and more. Evidently the ancient Roman version of urban renewal is to bury the old and build new over it. This actually worked out to future generations' benefit as the dirt preserved many of the structures. As archeologists continue to dig and uncover history, it struck me: what is there that we have yet to discover under areas where we haven't dug up - like the Colosseum, or the Forum itself. Who's not to say that as amazing as these structures are they weren't built over something else maybe even more incredible? Awesome thought.
Sunday was my day to explore the northern reaches of the city. The Presidential palace, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain. Went back to the Victor Emmanuel Monument. I just can't get over the scale of this thing. Had a bite to eat from a street vendor and took in the Trajan's Markets. Remarkable history. Imagine a two thousand year old shopping mall and you'll kinda get the picture. Pretty cool - and I don't even like malls! Went back to the Forum. Man I love this place!
One of the best things about Rome in my view is how neat everyone seems to dress. Not necessarily dressy per se, but stylishly appropriate. Teenage boys don't do the baggy pants thing here!
Left 7:30 Monday morning so I really only had two days in Rome. It was enough to satisfy my desire and having read the Dorling Kindersley guidebook carefully before arriving, I left feeling that I had seen all that I wanted to see. Granted I didn't get to see everything but there's always next time!
By the way, I do not speak any Italian and had no time communicating or finding my way around. The only problem I had was walking into the women's restroom (by mistake) at the Vatican but hey, the place is about forgiveness, right?
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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Epinions.com ID:
maninmaui
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Location: Waikele, Hawaii
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 0 members
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