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Summer 2021 has been good to us. In addition to our week in Greece, June also found us in Germany (Cologne) and Belgium (Antwerp). And since three new countries in one month wasn't enough for these travel-starved adventurers, we kept things moving with a Fourth of July weekend in French wine country. One of these days, I'll sit down and write about each of those trips -- I promise! For now, I'll leave you with these cliff notes: Bordeaux is completely underrated, Saint-Émilion is as charming as the photos, German Kölsch goes down much too easy and Belgian moules-frites are the real deal. In today's post though, I've got a different topic on my mind. So sit down, pull up a chair, grab your tonarelli and let's chat about our most recent trip to none other than Rome, Italy. Seeing as this visit was a quick one, we knew up front we'd have to make some judgement calls on what attractions to prioritize in our stay. Based on the over 100,000 steps we clocked between Thursday night and Sunday afternoon, I think we put in a good faith effort to see as much as we could. While we're already planning our next trip back to see what we skipped, there were a few stops that just had to make the cut for our maiden voyage. If you're planning a visit to the Eternal City, here's our thoughts on 10 things you simply can't miss. 10 Must-See Stops on your first Roman Holiday1) Trevi Fountain"Awestruck" does not suffice -- I could not stop gaping at this beauty, which I made a point to visit both by night and by day. At one point I even remember closing my eyes and listening to the rushing water, committing to remembering every single detail of the moment I was experiencing. I probably could have sat here for hours if Jack's dedication to following our itinerary didn't nudge me along. Legend has it if you toss a coin into the fountain, it'll ensure good fortune and a quick return to the city. Fingers crossed! 2) The Spanish StepsThe place to see and be seen! I had me a bit of a Lizzie McGuire moment scoping out this scenic spot. Nestled between the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Trinità dei Monti, we enjoyed the melodies of street music as we trekked to the top. 3) The ColosseumI'll let these photos speak for themselves. This was one of those really amazing moments where you realize, "Wow, I've never seen anything like this in my whole life." We opted to do the entry option without a tour guide; no regrets. 4) Roman Forum + Palatine HillFor lack of a better description, I was pretty mesmerized by how much stuff was tucked away in this plaza. This was a neat opportunity to see the ruins of several important government buildings of ancient Rome. Much bigger and denser than we anticipated, it took a good chunk of time to walk through both this and the neighboring Palatine Hill. 5) Roman BathsHaving previously visited the Roman Baths in the aptly-named Bath, UK, I enjoyed seeing how Rome's version compared. No water to be found in these remnants, but the sheer scale was impressive nonetheless. 6) The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel + St. Peter's BasilicaLike good little Domers, our morning at The Vatican was honestly the highlight of our weekend. In a total pro move, we purchased tickets for breakfast in the Vatican courtyards. Not only was this a cool experience, it also got us early-access to the Vatican Museums so we could beat the rush of tourists clamoring to see the Sistine Chapel. No photos were allowed in the Sistine Chapel unfortunately, but you can see what you're missing here. It was a sight to behold. Apart from the famed Creation of Adam painting dead center on the ceiling, my favorite part were the walls, which were painted to look like 3-D tapestries. I couldn't get over how the paint sparkled and shimmered as it hit the light when you walked by. After the Museum came St. Peter's Basilica, where the Pope celebrates his famous masses. You better believe we walked all 550 steps to the top of the cupola. Worth it for the views! P.S. -- Did you know that Vatican City is actually its own country? Add another tally to our list. 7) Piazzas, Corridors + Scenic StreetsAs is typically the case on vacation, most of my favorite photos were not of planned attractions at all. Rome served up no shortage of views. While (much to my feet's chagrin) the cobblestone streets were enough deterrent to prevent us from renting a scooter, they at least made for some particularly magnificent photos. 8) The PantheonShockingly, seeing the Pantheon in Rome's Piazza della Rotonda was a slightly more memorable experience than visiting the Parthenon replica in Nashville's Centennial Park. Who would have guessed? We didn't go inside this time, but likely would on a future visit. 9) Orto BotanicoNot sure if this should have taken a spot on our list over some other notable attractions, but we enjoyed Rome's botanical gardens as a way to kill a spare hour. They contained a bunch of mini gardens (bamboo, Japanese, medicinal, etc.) and we enjoyed strolling around -- until I got eaten alive by mosquitoes in the tropical greenhouse. When in Rome...? 10) and last but certainly not least.... The EATS!The highlight of our trip, and the reason we're actually going back to Italy again next weekend... THE FOOD! Even as a notoriously committed pasta lover, I must say I outdid myself this weekend. With the exception of one stop at a Mexican restaurant (don't ask), I indulged in pasta for every meal that wasn't breakfast. Picture a kid in a candy store, and then give them a glass of Chianti, and that basically was me! My bland, Amsterdam-acclimated palate had itself a day. Jack also gives the Rome dining scene two thumbs up, enjoying treats of iced granita, cannoli, gelato, and most importantly, a selection of rare beers from the famous Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà. We were stunned to see stickers from our favorite Chicago brewery (Half Acre) and my local Lexington brewery (West Sixth) represented. Some of our dining highlights are below. 3 Quarti Pizza Della Madonaa al 42 by Pasta Chef Monti Kiarotti Wine Tacito Roma Pastasciutta Maybu Margaritas y Burritos La Palapa Eataly Roma La Enoteca Del Frate dal 1922 Giolitti All in all, it was a quick trip, but a good trip! I can't wait to see more of Italy in August. It's already climbing the ranks as a favorite destination... and that's not just my stomach talking. The history, culture, and beauty we found in Rome were something truly special.
Check back in a few weeks to see how the Amalfi Coast compares -- I'm already counting down the days til my first cacio e pepe! Ciao for now, - Lou
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