Unlike the Amalfi Coast, which sparks an immediate urge to capture every beautiful sight, Rome invites you to pause and reflect on its charm from a distance.
All roads lead to Rome, as the saying goes. On an early summer Saturday morning we arrived at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, blinking into bright sunlight that would later press down on us as we explored the city.
Rome is incredibly hot in August.
With its abundance of stone, concrete and paved plazas and only limited green space, summer in Rome is a season of heat. Even as the mercury climbed to 36°C and the sun beat down relentlessly, the city’s history and atmosphere kept pulling us forward.
(Come wander the streets of this magnificent, ancient city with me…)
The Colosseum, perhaps Rome’s most instantly recognizable landmark, was our first stop that afternoon. Under the harsh sun we listened to our English-speaking guide, who narrated the building’s history with a charming Italian accent. She described how gladiators—often poor men or prisoners—fought in the arena that once held up to 55,000 spectators, and she explained how and why those fights eventually ended.
Over the next two days we explored the Roman Forum and wandered through the Centro Storico, where the Trevi Fountain (under renovation during our visit) and the Pantheon preside over the old streets. We also made our way to Vatican City, a tiny sovereign state with its own laws and customs where Pope Francis leads the Catholic faithful.
“The Eternal City” truly feels as if it has existed forever.
Walking among the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the Pantheon, you get a sense of the vast span of Roman history. It’s almost unfathomable that these ruins have stood for centuries and will likely stand for many more. Modern buildings sit beside ancient remains in ways that continually surprise and impress.
Beyond the monumental landmarks, it was Rome’s narrow, charming streets that stole my heart.
I loved that an afternoon of wandering could lead to countless different paths—each similar yet uniquely distinct. As we walked the cobbled lanes, leaving footprints one step at a time, I soaked in a mix of old and new, grand and intimate.
Simple, everyday moments moved me—like the farmers’ market at Campo de’ Fiori.
Morning markets brim with produce so fresh you can still sense the earth on it: bright cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, fragrant peaches, green beans and pomegranates filled the stalls and the air with color and scent.
I love Rome’s streets—stone pathways layered with stories from millennia: Romans, travelers, artists and emperors all leave traces here.
This is Rome.
