The last weekend of November found me in Rome, eating ice cream, walking kilometres every day and enjoying the warmer climate. I went there to attend a friend’s wedding and I’ve decided to take a few extra days to visit the city.

This was my first time in Rome, so I’ve tried to see as much of the city as possible, but without really trying to tick off the list all the important tourist attractions. I did visit the Colosseum, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, but I skipped the Vatican, for example. I’ll have a day dedicated to it on my next visit. Rome is a beautiful city. Everywhere you go, you are surrounded by history and impressive architecture. A friend was (half) joking and saying that in Rome you can find a church or a temple at every street corner. That’s not far from being true, at least in what regards the city centre. But its beauty has a downside: being such a popular holiday destination, is overcrowded with tourists. Trying to find my way through the crowds was making me tired, almost as much as all the walking I’ve done.

Luckily, there are still areas where one can enjoy the beauty of the city without having to slalom through the crowds and ambulant salesmen. In the Monti neighbourhood it was more quiet, the same in Trastevere. And for sure a bit outside of the city centre the situation is substantially improved. Only that if you are there for the first time, you probably want to be in the centre.

I loved the narrow streets and colourful houses of Monti, as well as the ones of Ponte, on the way to Piaza Navona, dotted with lovely boutiques and cosy restaurants. I was amazed by the Colosseum and the view from the Campidoglio. I loved watching the sunset from the Spanish Steps and the view over the river Tiber from Ponte Palatino – the autumn colours were just like a painting! I had some very good bitter almonds ice cream at the gelateria Antonietta Cecere and a divine pistacchio and cardamom ice cream at Verde Pistacchio.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend I’ve spent in Rome, and I do hope to come back, maybe in August — I’ve heard that the city is less crowded and the temperatures are insanely high!

P.S. The wedding was great too!

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