Italy, Family, Food and Fun

Written on Monday, February 27, 2023 by Emma Whiting Travel

Our Italian adventure started with an early transfer from Rome airport into the city.  After the long flight I was relieved to have the driver waiting for us and we were taken to our home for the next 5 nights at Piazza Dell’Orologio –  a fabulous 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment near Piazza Navona.

I had forgotten how much I love Rome!  The beautiful cobblestone streets with so many places to eat and drink.  It was a feast for the eyes.

We had a great few days wandering around the gorgeous cobbled laneways and Piazzas, enjoying fabulous Italian coffee and gelato.  We found a place to sit and enjoy the crowded Spanish Steps with the colourful bougainvillea making it picture perfect.  We wandered to the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain taking it all in and enjoying the beautiful sunshine.  A balmy evening walk to the Vatican proved a treat as it was all lit up and with people singing; it such a beautiful atmosphere.

We chose to do a VIP Colosseum tour our as part of a small group. Whilst I had visited the Colosseum years earlier, it still amazed me at the scale and history of one of the most famous structures in Europe and even the world.   It was fascinating to see the newly opened underground area and tunnels beneath the arena floor where the wild beasts were kept before their battles with the gladiators.   We also took in the views from the 3^rd level where we could see the vast views of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.  I think watching the documentary “Secrets of the Colosseum” months ago really put it all in perspective as the re-constructed lift from the underground showed how the animals were transported to the arena.  Our guide Vincenzo really brought it all to life with his stories as we walked in the footsteps of the gladiators.

A big hit with the kids was the Rome Food Tour – This food walking tour started at Campo di Fiori where we learnt about the history of the area and market.  The square of Campo di Fiori was a place of public executions in the 1600’s and a statue honouring an executed philosopher now celebrates the freedom of thought and wisdom.  We wandered the stalls to see and learn about the colourful produce and tasted olive oils and balsamic vinegar with Italian breads.  Then onto smallgoods shop to sample salami and cured meats with vino rosso, followed by a cheese shop for variety of great cheese and vino bianco.   The kids were very adventurous with their tastings – even trying the liver salami!  Our tour was topped off with a pizza making lesson and a fantastic lunch enjoying our own pizzas with vino and gelato for dessert.

On our last evening in Rome we could hear some beautiful music and after looking out our apartment window, we saw an Italian man playing the cello in the square below our apartment.  What great entertainment without leaving our apartment – an open widow, a gentle breeze and beautiful music!  It was a moment I will never forget and proves why each time I visit Rome I throw a coin into the Trevi fountain to ensure I will return again one day.

 

If you want to read about the next part of our Italian holiday, click here