rome, italy

since i am coming up on the one year mark of when i left for my study abroad, i thought it seemed fitting that my first post was about rome!

rome is a city full of history and adventure. i have been to rome twice and i still feel like i could spend more time there. the first time i went was in december and it was really cold and rainy. the second time was in august and it was extremely hot and humid. i would recommend going in the fall or spring to find a good balance between the two.

there is so much to see in rome, in order to fully experience the wonderful city, i would set aside at least 4 or 5 days.

here are the things i would recommend seeing:

-colosseum: probably one of the first things you think of when you think of rome. the coliseum is an amphitheater where ancient romans would go for entertainment. here, gladiatorial battles would take place, as well as animal hunts and executions. the hours vary depending on the time of year, but most days, it opens at 8:30 am. tickets are 12 euros and are good for two days, as well as for entrance to the forum and palantine hill. there are tours of the colosseum levels not open to the public that just require an advanced reservation and an additional fee. for more information or to book your tour, visit this website.

-trevi fountain: this doesn't take much time to see, just stop by and throw in a coin and make a wish! forewarning: trying to get a picture of this is not as easy as it looks.

-spanish steps: same here as far as time, just walk up to the top and enjoy the view. there is also great shopping in this area!

-vatican: a must see, but it will take time to walk through the whole thing. the vatican is like a mecca for catholics. the museum is full of history and beautiful artifacts. my favorite part of all is the sistine chapel. the museum is open monday through saturday from 9 am to 4 pm and costs 16 euros for a one time entrance.

-st peter's basilica: st peter's is one of the most beautiful churches i have ever seen. all the bodies of the previous popes are actually buried here, which i find fascinating. the church is free to enter, but if you want to go to the top of the duomo, it is a 6 euro fee. keep in mind that to visit the basilica and vatican, you must follow clothing guidelines of modesty. no sandals may be worn and knees and shoulders must be covered.

-st paul outside the walls: this was my favorite church we visited. the grounds were all so pretty, but the chapel itself was breathtaking. there are artifacts dating back to the beginning of christianity, including bones of apostles. the chapel is open every day from 7 am to 6:30 pm and is free to visit.

-national gallery of modern art: the museum features such incredible modern art and also a few traditional pieces. i'm not personally a huge museum lover, but i genuinely enjoyed this one. it is open tuesday through sunday from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm and is 8 euros to get in.

-borghese galleries: this museum is not necessarily something exciting, per say, but it is a must see. there is beautiful artwork that is unlike anything else. the museum costs 11 euros to get in and is open tuesday through sunday from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm. reservations are required and generally fill up about a week in advance. to reserve a time, visit this website.

-catacombs: the catacombs were used as an underground cemetery and at one point housed 16 popes in addition to many christians. hours are tuesday through thursday from 9 am - 12 pm and 2 pm - 5 pm and entrance is 8 euros with a tour included.

-villa d'este: villa d'este is actually about an hour outside of rome in a town called tivoli. it is a garden that is supposed to represent a modern day garden of eve. the garden is absolutely beautiful and includes numerous fountains and is definitely worth the commute out there. it is open tuesday through sunday from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm and entrance is 12 euros.

there are plenty of other museum options, but these were my favorite things i saw. there are also many delicious food options, so if people are interested in hearing about my recommendations for that, let me know and i would be more than happy to post an update with that information!

happy reading and happy travels! xoxo -k