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Rome |
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Rome
Rome, more than most cities, is a place where the tourist attractions are popular for a reason. There are few cities on earth that have as many beautiful things you should see with your own eyes as the Eternal City. (“Eternal” is a slight exaggeration; it has actually been around for less than 3,000 years.) Whatever you do in Rome—shop, dine, drink, sightsee, stroll—you’re doing it in the shadows of some of the greatest artists and architects in history.
Activities and Attractions:
Photos can’t do some sights justice. A few places, like the Colosseum and Pantheon, just have to be visited. Ditto the Vatican with Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and other baroque treasures—you could spend weeks in St. Peter’s Basilica and not see every cherub in the place. Follow Peter’s footsteps down the Appian Way, and Caesar’s across the ruins of the Forum. Imagine chariots thundering around the Circus Maximus a la Ben Hur. Toss a coin in the Trevi fountain if you must—legend says that doing so insures your return to Rome, but by then, you’ll probably be planning on it anyway.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that you don’t have to go into every attraction. You can take in many sights during the course of a traditional passeggiata—an evening stroll. Most monuments show their best sides when lit up dramatically at night.
Rome may not be the arbiter of fashion that Milan is, or have quite the variety of fine local crafts that Venice offers, but it’s an excellent shopping destination in its own right. Rome’s most posh shopping street is the Via Condotti, which begins at the Spanish Steps. You’ll find a concentration of high-end clothing boutiques catering to the best-dressed Romans. Via Giulia was quite a fashionable clothing district itself in Rome’s recent past—only 400 years ago. Now it’s famous for its antique stores and modern art galleries. For leather shoes and bags, stroll the Via Nazionale. But do it carefully; the traffic is atrocious.
Finally, no visit to Italy would be complete without sampling the culinary scene. Whether you eat in a formal ristorante or a casual trattoria (where the food may be simpler and less expensive, but not necessarily any less tasty), the table is one place where you should definitely do as the Romans do. By all means, indulge yourself with a rich gelato, or a thin-crust, wood-fired pizza, both treats found all over Italy. But be sure to sample some Roman specialties, too. Regional favorite dishes include scampi alla griglia, a grilled shrimp dish; rabbit cacciatore; shellfish soup; roast lamb; and cannelloni, tubes of pasta stuffed with cheese or meat. (Romans do love their pasta, but it’s rarely the main dish as it is in Italian restaurants at home.) Wash it all down with a glass (or two) of dry white Castelli Romani wine, made in the hills surrounding Rome.
Above all, remember that Italian mealtimes are meant to be savored. Looking back, you may find that your best Roman memories involve sampling Italy’s glorious cuisine, and you wouldn’t want to rush that.
Insider Tip:
With its Mediterranean climate, almost any time is a good time to visit Rome. Savvy travelers avoid August, though, which can be hot and humid. It’s also when Romans go on vacation, leaving their city to the tourists.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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