MM and I love Italy. For MM, the love started the first time we went, back in 2011. Rome was the first leg of our belated honeymoon trip (that included Amsterdam, Paris and western Ireland). He easily understood how to get around the city, and had no problem figuring out what we wanted to do every day.
We’ve been there a total of 6 times now, and I’ve fallen for the city as well.
Over those times we’ve experimented with where we go, what we do, and how we prepare for it. And now, dear reader, it’s time to share these ideas with you (MM’s additional thoughts are in italics)!
Location, Location, Location
MM and I found a good hotel the first trip and haven’t deviated from it since. We love staying close to the center of the old city, which gives us the ability to talk walks to all the main sites. I highly suggest that if you can find a room, and if you can afford it, to do the same. Doing so makes it so easy to take that 15 minute stroll to the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, and a 10 minute stroll to Piazza del Popolo. The hotel we love is minutes away from Pantheon, making it possible to end every possible day we could with gelato and a view of the oldest church in Rome.
There’s one major downside to staying in the center of the city: it’s not easily walkable from the main train station (Roma Termini). It’s not that the distance is overwhelming, but dragging your suitcase across the cobblestones is a real pain. We get a car from the airport, provided through the hotel, and then grab a cab whenever we train into the city.
Water
The first time MM and I went to Rome, we followed the philosophy of distrusting the local water. Instead, we’d find a store and purchase a bunch of bottled water so that we could avoid drinking any tap water. And then we went on a tour, during which he said that getting bottled water is a waste of money.
You see, there are public water fountains located throughout the city of Rome, and they are awesome! The can be located at the corner of a building (coming right out of the building in some cases), or up out of a sidewalk. The water that flows from them is tested quite often (we’re told every 90 minutes), and is used by natives as well as tourists. You can fill up at these water stations, or drink directly from them by plugging the spout and catching the arc from the top. MM doesn’t fully trust the native Romans, so if there’s a fountain on the sidewalk, he’ll fill up from the arcing spout instead of the potentially dog-licked one.
Do yourself a favor – buy a water bottle and bring it along with you. You can fill it up at the airport after getting through security so that you have enough to keep hydrated on the flight, as well as use it throughout your stay in Rome!
Wandering
Strolling about the city is a lot of fun. That is, if you keep in mind that the European version of personal space is NOT the same as the US version. It’s also a bit of a culture shock dealing with the traffic. To be clear, the large roads work pretty much the same way as those in the States. But those tiny streets in which it’s a lot of fun to just wander through can easily fit small cars and scooters, which will usually slow down enough for you to get out of the way. And when I say out of the way, I mean pressed up against the building.
Your hotel will most likely offer a paper map with all of the sites, but the tiny roads often twist around on themselves, and change their names frequently, so they can be difficult to navigate with. Google Maps does a pretty good job as well, but if you’re at an intersection, it appears to get confused on exactly which of the streets you’re heading down. The best way to get around is keep a general sense of direction in your head, and set off for a major landmark. You’ll soon discover which of the main roads lead in which directions. You can basically walk on the same road all the way from Circus Maximus (though I have no idea why you’d want to be there), all the way up to Piazza del Popolo on the opposite side of the city.
I love wandering around, at a slow stroll, and just experiencing the small streets, the front stoops that are right on the street, and the random restaurants and cafes that just appear out of nowhere. It’s interesting to me to see the little ladies bringing groceries home and imagine what life would be like for MM and me if we lived in the city.
It’s amazing to walk through those streets, take a random turn and end up next to a structure that’s been present for over 2000 years. The first time we visited, MM basically surprised me with the Pantheon, coming at it from the side and not telling me where we were headed. We were walking down a somewhat small street, hit the end of it at a Piazza, and then I looked up, and there it was. My current favorite place in Rome.
While you’re wandering…
People are always looking to separate you from your money. It’s just the way of the world. But when it comes to Rome, there are three or four types of people that you need to be aware of.
Panhandlers – they’ll try to prey upon your sympathies. Usually older women, often with their faces wrapped. We’ve seen packs of these folks on a break, or commuting. Men and women of all ages are in on the scam, which is why they’re typically wrapped up.
Trinket pushers – These are the people that haunt the major sites, trying to sell random stuff – scarves, sling-shot whippoorwill toys, rubber balls with gelatinous insides that high pitched groans when they slam into the ground, laser pointers, water, those hard plastic paperweights with major sites etched on the inside, and, our favorite, selfie sticks (“Selfie? Selfie, selfie??”). These guys are really annoying, and have to be ignored.
Rose sellers – If given the chance, they’ll try to hand the female in your group one or more of the aforementioned flower, indicate that it’s a gift and will walk away. They’ll keep you in their sights, though, and after a few minutes will come back and request payment. Their strategy is to thrust the rose into an open hand, where your instinct is to accept whatever’s being thrust upon you, then refuse to take it back.
Trinket Pushers mark 2 – These are usually African gentlemen dressed in colorful robes or baggy clothing. They’ll come up to you, or grab your hand as you’re passing by and ask where you’re from. Do not engage. I REPEAT, DO NOT ENGAGE. If you do, they’ll act all friendly, putting bracelets or necklaces on you, or other give you other knickknacks from their country, saying that they’re gifts because they love the your country SO MUCH. And then, once they’ve pulled you in, they’ll ask for money. If you don’t give them anything, they’ll take everything they’ve given off of you, sometimes roughly, and in general get pissy with you.
Most Importantly…
Enjoy yourself! Explore the city. Take in every moment that you can. Go wandering, fill your water bottles throughout the city, walk along the Tiber, imagine what the forum looked like in antiquity, gaze at the massive St. Peter’s Basilica. Eat past and pizza, artichokes and flat bread. Drink the house wine, and watch the locals.
You can’t beat it!