Tour de l'Europe: Rome

This is the first in a series of posts that are inspired by the semester I spent abroad in Rome, Italy last Fall! I will highlight a city, place, or museum in each post and try to describe a bit of the culture, giving you a "Tour de l'Europe." So, I thought it was fitting to start off with my "home city:" Roma.

Oh Rome. Where to begin?

Imagine: Cobbled, dusty streets warmed by the golden Italian sun. Vespas zipping along, red checkered tablecloths on outside restaurant tables, hear the sounds of foaming milk for strong cappuccino, street artists in Piazza Navona, and rich gelato dripping down the sides of cones. Storefront windows are filled with leather and the trickled down fashions from Milan.

People: Italians are friendly and laid back. Although in the city, like in any other, the people are less likely to slow down and chat.

Food: Pasta and pizza are offered in almost every restaurant, you are left to find which are the good places to dine. There are essentially two types of pizza offered in Rome: pizza by the slice and personal pizzas typically ordered at a sit-down restaurant. By the slice, the pizza has a thicker, crunchy crust with more sauce. Personal pizzas tend to have a thin crust with more inventive toppings (although my favorite is the simple margarita pizza with lots of basil). Gelato is a must in Rome. My favorite gelato in Rome is the dark chocolate gelato found at Giolitti's (a short trip from the Pantheon) and my favorite go-to gelato shop is Old Bridge, next to the Vatican. Of course, the wine and the cappuccino are, well, quite divine.

Places: The Colosseum. The Roman Forum. Scholar's Lounge. Trastevere (the coolest neighborhood in Rome). The Four Major Basilicas. Fiddler's Elbow. The Spanish Steps. Porta Portese. Keyhole at Knight's of Malta Headquarters. The Mouth of Truth (Audrey loved it, so do I). Finnegans. Gardens at Santa Sabina (great view of Rome). Climb the Scala Santa. Pantheon. Walk along the Tiber. St. Peter in Chains. Piazza Navona. St. Maria del Popolo. St. Luigi. San Eustacio.

Pictures: First, a picture of street artists on the top of the Spanish steps. Second, a commemoration to Rome's greatest gelato. Third, the cross inside of the Colosseum. Fourth, the merry-go-round at Piazza Navona's Christmas Festival. Lastly, the Spanish Steps.

P.S. Don't think I've forgotten the Vatican, I just thought it deserved a separate post because of how amazing it is :)

Photos by me