The Roman Empire

We loved staying in this area of Rome - it was accessible to all the places we wanted to go and see while not being too crowded with tourists. We are big walkers, so we walked to the central tourist area near the Colosseum and Trevi fountain. There was also a tram and bus stop right outside the hotel, which we used a lot.

Bar Lima was one of the local breakfast spots near our hotel, and we chose it because my husband is from Lima, so we liked the name. It’s a small takeaway place filled with locals and tourists starting their day the Italian way- with a cappuccino and a pastry.

We spent our first morning exploring Rome by walking between our hotel and the major tourist sites. One of my favorite things about European cities is the interactions between the residents and various street stands that create a community feel. This flower stand exemplifies that and made for the perfect photo op.

If you’re planning your first trip to Rome, the Trevi Fountain is likely in your mind. Be prepared for lots of tourists and pretend you are living in the Lizzie McGuire movie!

I typically wouldn’t choose to eat lunch in the middle of the most touristy area in Rome, but we did enjoy our lunch here. We had nice outdoor seating, and the food was delicious- carbonara is my favorite. I’m glad we stopped here instead of wandering around looking for a more local place (or less touristy one, for that matter) because of the time and our experience.

This national monument honors the first king of a unified Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. You can explore the memorial and walk up the stairs or stay near the bottom. There is also a lot of shopping around this location.

Our trip to Rome was centered around running the Rome marathon. So we took the train to the marathon expo at the Salone della Fontand. This won't be on many peoples agenda, but it's always worth a Google search to see what events are happening here during your trip. Or spending the afternoon taking the train to a different place of Rome.

For our first night, we ate dinner near our hotel. We were tired from traveling overnight and wanted to be well-rested for the rest of our trip. Many people recommend only eating pizza for dinner in Italy because the oven needs to be turned on hours before the pizza is cooked.

We didn't take any pictures at breakfast but ate at Bat La Licata after finding it on a blog on the best breakfast places in Rome. It was busy, but there was a fast turnover, so we got seated immediately. The food and ambiance were great, and it was such a convenient location before heading towards the Colosseum.

Our second day in Italy was very relaxed as I was limiting our walking so I would be ready for the marathon the next day. We took the train to the Colosseum and walked around this neighborhood. We didn't go into the Colosseum, but if you'd like to, I recommend buying tickets online in advance because the ticket booth does not always sell them, and there is no reliable Wifi in the area.

This is a large park with some monuments to explore and hang out and look at the views. I love spending time in parks and find so much life happening in European parks.

We stopped for an afternoon drink on Via Panisperna, and it was quiet as it was between lunch and dinner and sitting outside on the street was very peaceful.

Spaccio Grosso is a wine bar thats open between lunch and dinner. We stumbled upon this place while looking for an early dinner, which was challanging to find anyplace open before 7:30. Since I was running the marathon in the morning I can't comment on the wine.

Our third day in Rome was the marathon, which meant an early morning and most of our day was spent around the event.

After the marathon, I spent time walking and eating gelato! Remember, when getting gelato, look for places without tall peaks and brown pistachio, not green.

We spent the late afternoon napping and resting before going out for the evening.

Came for dinner in Nomentano near the Bologna metro stop. The area is a happening place for dinner and is popular amongst the locals. We first stopped at Vinoteca Tempere for charcuterie and loved the staff and the food.

We finished the night with sushi for dinner. Amazonia did have a table for us, but it was crowded, so I recommend making a reservation if you know you’ll eat here ahead of time. There are so many other restaurants around if you can’t get in.

We took a morning tour of the Vatican, which is, of course, a must when visiting Rome. It was an excellent tour

After the Vatican tour, we walked back towards Rome through the Fontana del Moro

We decided to walk to the key hole (next on the itinerary) so took the metro in that direction and got off at the park. There was a clown out entertaining children and some university students hanging out.

I learned about the keyhole from my friend who studied abroad in Italy. It’s an old door, and you look through the keyhole to see a perfectly symmetrical view of St. Peters. It’s a bit out of the rest of Rome, but it’s through a charming neighborhood and many people around. Once you are done, rent a bike and bike back along the river.

After the keyhole, we spent time in this park that overlooked the river and parts of the city. It was a little windy in the late afternoon of March, but it was a cool place to hang out with pretty views.

We ate outside for dinner at Ristorante Nino and loved the food and the ambiance. We made friends with the table next to us, and the servers were friendly and fun to chat with.

After dinner, we visited the Spanish Steps. They are known for being a late-night hangout and a great place to eat pizza or drink wine.