A Day in Rome

May 8, 2014 • Blog, Travel

By Dawn Richards

While on work-related trips I’m usually in and out of cities, but when I can get out of stuffy meeting rooms I head straight for some fresh air and sightseeing. Last fall, I visited Rome for the first time and arranged a weekend arrival prior to my meeting. November’s crowds were bearable and while the rainy weather posed a few challenges, I came prepared with umbrella in hand.

My pre-trip homework included deciding on a few sites to see and pinpointing where they were located. With limited time I prefer to do my own thing as opposed to joining a tour, so I opted for public transportation and walking as my main method of getting around Rome. My airport driver, who casually pointed out the Colosseum as we passed by, also acquainted me with a few must-see sites on the way to my hotel.

After checking in and unpacking, I headed out the door toward my first stop, which as for most first-time visitors, was the Colosseum. Spectacularly situated in the middle of the city, I walked around its grounds to soak up its magnificence and history, imagining what it must have looked like when it was first built. Circling the periphery, I managed to steer clear of the gladiator-dressed gents peddling their paraphernalia. Despite their best efforts, they did not obstruct my views of the nearby Forum and its surrounding excavations.

Rome’s easy-to-navigate subway took me from the Colosseum to the Vatican in no time, and from the station I walked about 10 minutes to St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica. Though I’m not a religious person, I have to admit that it was an experience to see the immenseness of the Square and the beauty of the Basilica’s exterior and interior. The Basilica’s art and architecture defy my words, however, I can offer that the site’s grandness, opulence, and sheer scale were overwhelming. The adjacent papal tombs weren’t part of this visit as I instead went to the Sistine Chapel (part of the Vatican Museum). Although the Chapel was small, pew-less, and basic, Michaelangelo’s ceiling was wonderful and left me speechless and puzzled as to how such masterpieces were painted. Due to efforts to minimize noise in the Chapel and a no picture/video policy, my time there was spent revelling and being lost in my own thoughts.

I slowly made my way back to my hotel, popping in and out of shops and stopping for delicious Italian espresso. I wandered the Via del Corso shopping area, walked the Spanish Steps, and visited the Trevi Fountain at night. I topped off my day with some pizza, since, well, when in Rome….

Dawn Richards is an avid traveller and freelance writer who hasn’t visited nearly enough countries in the world. To follow her adventures with her hubby, visit www.adventuresof2ds.com or @TO_dpr.

Dawn Richards Rome