Up at the crack of dawn (as is usually the case when we share a room – I bet you the Seven Year old isn’t such an early riser when he hits his teenage years!!), our second day began with an early morning pilgrimage to The Forum, via a quick and scenic ride across town by vintage pistachio green tram (I had well and truly given up on the Subway by now!) which spat us out on the very doorstep of The Colosseum itself (not quite as colossal as your mind’s eye would have it, but still breathtaking nonetheless – more on that later don’t you worry!).
We past the lengthy queues and offers from local students to show us around, and headed for the hill behind, and to the very gateway to The Forum itself… And it is here that I would advise you to opt for the 48 hour ticket by the way, as it not only includes the Forum, but the Gardens of the Palatine Hill, and entrance to The Colosseum…
As I have said before, every single one of us has been to Rome already in a strange kind of way… We have visited through the medium of film and television – through books, the travel tales and photographs of friends and through the history lessons we had at school. It’s one of those places that you think you know inside out before you’ve even been there, and yet nothing prepares you for when you see certain aspects of Rome for the very first time – The Forum is most definitely one of those places.
As you stroll amongst the historic ruins of temples devoted to favourite Emperors, past basilicas, statues, and altars built in honour of Gods, shrines and mythical watering holes (it’s all here) – this once ancient seat of power, and the very kernel of Roman life itself really is awe-inspiring. I was particularly lucky to have a mini history buff on one side to fill me in on who exactly roamed these very Roman paths, whilst on the other, I had my very own mini Steve Backshall, interested in what he was surveying – but also equally content in chasing the bright green lizards that dart between monolithic slabs of ancient stone.
A happy couple of hours spent in the company of Roman ghosts (and as the place was now beginning to fill up) we left through the back entrance and made our way to the slighter greener environs of Villa Borghese, 148 acres of parkland smack bang in the centre of Rome. There’s so much to do here too, with art galleries and villas to visit, zoos to inspect and electric bikes to steer (we were tempted!), and just when you think you have seen it all, you turn a corner to find a near exact replica of London’s Globe Theatre (also home to the Royal Shakespeare Company from time to time) – where the citizens of Rome watch Romeo and Juliet amongst other plays throughout the year. We didn’t do any of the above however, it was such a gorgeous day we were just happy to relax amongst the noble (and very Harry Potter-esque trees, which must have some tales to tell if they could!), whilst bright Green Parakeets squawked overhead and completely reminded me of our own inner city parks at home…
Later we spent the afternoon and early evening at Explora before enjoying the pizza of champions at the excellent Da Francesco. This bustling local restaurant is well worth waiting for a table for (as you might well find yourself doing), but you won’t be disappointed. The service is friendly and attentive, and the pizzas are divine… The seasonal specials are well worth investigating – such as my wild asparagus with Pecorino topped with a perfectly cooked egg… The Tiramisu also makes a laughing stock of many I have sampled elsewhere.
And after all that, believe me, no-one got up early the next day…
Tips: A 48 hour ticket to visit the Forum/Palatine Hill and Colosseum – 16 Euros per adult/8 Euros per child. Do make sure you go as early in the day as possible to feel like you have it all to yourself. Make sure you visit the toilets here too – this might sound slightly odd, but they happen to be in the midst of the archaeology museum which you might not know about otherwise – the courtyards and corridors of the place are packed with ancient statues and stones…
Visit Da Francesco for the best pizza, and exquisite Tiramisu: piazza del Fico 29 Tel: +39 06 6864009
Loved every picture that you did!!!!!
Thank you Nicole! :) x
Looks like you had an amazing time. Rome has so much to see and do – it really is an amazing place. Glad you got a nice sunny day as well! The combined ticket is definitely the way to go as well! Thanks for sharing and safe travels!
Thanks Travis! Can’t wait to go back! :)
I love Italy but have yet to visit Rome. Your great photos and post have made me think about booking that flight!!
Just added you on Twitter so I can follow your adventures :)
Thank you so much Selina! :)
Great photos. Wow! We are headed to Rome this fall and your glimpse has definitely got me more excited. Thanks for connecting via Bronwyn!
Thanks so much Sue! I am sure you will absolutely love it! :)
I just love Rome too. The forum is awesome! I will never forget the first time I saw the Parthenon. I was just wandering around and suddenly it was in front of me. So amazing, especially for a 21 year old Australian on their first trip to Europe.
Thanks Sharon! :)
Would love to see the Forum again.
And that pizza does look divine!! #hungry xx
It’s incredible isn’t it? Thank you! :) x
Lovely photos! Oh I wish to visit Rome someday! Dropping by from Bronwyn’s Noticeboard, have a great day!
Thanks so much Jhanis! I shall pop by the board later! :)
Beautiful photos! It really looks like you had the place to yourselves. It is so amazing to walk through those ruins. We loved walking around Rome too. My kids would have been so interested in that lizard too in the midst of the ancient ruins.
Thank you Mary, it was beautifully quiet when we first arrived… Definitely worth turfing everyone out of bed for! :)
Love the pictures! I really enjoyed my time in Rome and it looks y’all did too :) Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler! :)
Thanks Ashley! No problem! :)
Wow, that pizza looks amazing. I want a bite! I’ve never seen lizards that brightly green before. Your little one must have had a lot of fun chasing them around. Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler!
I think the sunlight helped me with his colouring, but he was quite vivid! Thank you, he certainly did! :)
I love how you have explained the pull of Rome, what makes it so different from Europe’s other historic cities… sitting with Roman ghosts… love it! And love the look of that Roman food, too!
You are too kind Caitlyn, thank you! :)
What wonderful photos, you truly captured all of the history! I can’t wait to travel here!
Thank you Lauren, I am sure you will love it! :)
Rome has many wonderful places to see. The Colosseum was one of our favorites. I could only imagine what it was like back in the days with the Gladiators fighting. It looks like you enjoyed your stay.
I know, can you imagine? We did thank you! :)
i have been to italy many many times but never to rome. i have noted the pizza place and added it to our list!
Oh you must V, your photography could do it so much more justice than mine! I have a few more foodie places coming up, I think you would like those too! :)
Rome…the place where i went for my 1 year wedding anniversary. i loved it there and i would love to go back with my kids in tow too. rome it’s one of my 10 must see cities!
Thanks Otilia, it is incredible isn’t it? I would put it in my top ten too! :)
I love your pictures, there is something about sunshine on the cold day that makes photographies to look great!
Thank you Marysia, we were so lucky with the weather! :)
I have only ever been to Rome for a day and I loved it. One day I’ll get back there.
I hope you do Rosie! :)
Man, I am so jealous that you had such great weather. When we were there it was BUCKING down, and it was all muddy and miserable. Thanks for once again linking up with me for #SundayTraveler
No problem. Promise I will finish up on Rome soon enough! :D
I can never grow tired of Rome. It’s such an amazing city. Villa Borghese is one of our favorite places in Rome. Like you said there are just so many things to do there. And the view over the Piazza del Popolo is great too.
Thank you… So much to write about too, which is why there is yet ANOTHER Rome post from me! :D
Oh, isn’t Rome just the best! I just loved walking around amongst all these grand historic remains. Makes you feel really small.
Have a great Sunday,
Esther (found you through Sunday Traveler)
Thanks so much Esther! :)
Such beautiful pictures. Rome is most definitely on our to do list x #betterphotosproject
Thanks Kirsty! :)
Oh this makes me miss Rome! And the restaurants. Wish I’d been on a tram last time instead of praying like crazy as I was whizzed everywhere at dangerous speeds on the back of a motorbike by a mad cameraman (I was last there as a journo).
But that does sound quite exciting!! :D Thanks Kriss! :)
That first photo is absolutely astonishing in its beauty. I’ve not been to Rome since my student back packing days but it did make a huge inpression on me. Sounds like it has on you and the family too. I don’t remember the parks but they look like a great way to let little ones fun free on a cultural trip. Thank you for sharing on Country Kids
Thanks so much Fiona… I did debate about whether to add it to country kids as it’s obviously not country, but it is outdoors so I didn’t think you would mind! :) xx
Everytime I read this post I get to the end and hanker for pizza. Lovely photos – especially that top one!
Thanks Annie! :)
I am an architecture graduate and this is like porn (please excuse the language) for me. I have always dream to go and visit these places but it is expensive =(
But seeing other people’s travel photos are nice as well =)
#countrykids
Thanks so much Merlinda! I hope you get there soon enough, I am sure you would be in heaven! :)
I have actually been to Rome, I was 15 and I really didn’t appreciate it, although your photo’s do take me back there – but much more beautiful than I was able to realise at the time :)
Thank you Jenny, it’s funny the things you don’t appreciate when you are younger isn’t it! :D
Wow, that sky is so blue. Great photos, we really should get around to visiting Rome at some point. I went to Florence in my teens and loved it. #betterphotoproject
Thanks so much Hellie! :)
The Forum was one of our favourite spots too. I remember Rory was the perfect age to start appreciating the history.
Beautiful photos, especially the first one.
Thanks Trish! Bet he loved it too! :)
Takes me back to when I visited Rome in my early 20s. I definitely want to go back with the kids and show them how beautiful it is x
Thanks Donna! You should! :) x
They certainly know how to make a fantastic pizza in Rome and that topping is my food heaven! I love tiramisu too. : ) Great photos.
Thanks Louisa! :)
This really does look like the most awesome trip, I would definitely like to go there and I love the picture of the trees with one of your little ones.
Thank you Michelle, those trees are just amazing there, they look like something out of a film set…! :)
It still amazes me although Rome is viewed as an ancient city how advanced the Romans were compared to the rest of the world.And now I want a pizza with an egg on it.
I know, but it does say a lot for how advanced they were when so much of their stuff is still standing doesn’t it? Thanks so much Aly! :) x
wonderful Emma! I’ve always wanted to visit Rome, but really, Really want to go now! I’ll be hanging on to these posts x
You must go T, I know you will love it! :) Thank you…
Amazing. I can so relate to that feeling. It’s like jumping into a time machine, it’s just amazing and the reason why I love Europe so much, and Italy in particular. I haven’t been to Rome in a long time, but I cannot wait to take my family there and explore it once more! You are absolutely right, nothing prepares you for it! Lovely post.
Thanks so much Elisa! :)
Wow such gorgeous photos! Love them x
Thanks Steph, glad you like them! Emma :)
WOW Rome is one of those places that I really want to visit, I have a thing for ancient ruins and the ocean. As long as I am near one of those whilst on holiday I will be happy.
I would love to go to Rome and wander around all of the ruins, the kids might get bored so I might wait until they are a bit older
I think if they are in the 6+ age group, you might get away with it… Thank you! :)
That all sounds so, so amazing…. I’ll bet it was so awe inspiring, so much history and myth, and those trees do look magical. When I lived in West London, I was treated to those green parakeets in my local park, noisy little blighters. And that pizza looks outrageously tasty. X
Our back yards for many years were Richmond Park and Bushy Park… There are flocks of them there! :D Thank you! xx
Wow, beautiful imagery again, it looks like you are having an amazing time!
Thanks so much Jen… Still catching up with posts from when we were away… :)
What beautiful architecture
Thank you, clever weren’t they? :)
Wonderful! I SO hope you win in the MADS!!!
Aw, thanks Maggy! :) xx
Oh how beautiful – another to add to my ‘travel wish list’ ! That pizza looks yummy. You will be my mummy yes?
Of course! :D Thanks Annie! :)
This looks so gorgeous! My cousin has just returned from a trip to rome (her boyfriend is Italian) and now I’m even more jealous! It’s definitely on my list of ‘places to go ASAP’!
I am sure you would love it Alice, so much to see! Thank you! :)
It’s sounds like a great city for a family visit, you’ve really brought it all to life for us.
Thanks Cat! Promise there will be a different topic soon enough! :D
Looks an amazing place to visit, so much detail. Glad the restaurant was good – bet you were all so hungry. And yay for that lie in.
Thanks so much, it was a lovely place… Yes, I was most appreciative! :D
Wow what a day!!
It looks absolutely amazing, I’ve never been to Italy but I would love to.
Your photographs are, as always, stunning.
Thanks so much L! :) x
I have never been to Rome but it is somewhere I would like to go. I am always put off as everyone I know that has been always complains about how busy it is and when I am on holiday I want to relax outside of a crowd! I like your idea of fitting everything in early and then wandering the beautiful parks and green spaces.
Thanks Kirsty… I imagine it is heaving in the height of summer… Spring and late autumn are the time to go for fewer people apparently… :) xx
Loving all your posts on Rome. I visited with my boyfriend (now husband) when I was 18 but most certainly would like to go again. I will definitely be keeping your posts in mind when we do eventually arrange a trip.
Thanks so much Debra, yes, you must go back… Book it, book it now! :)
Ah Rome ..how beautiful I have a place for you in my heart
Thanks Becky, it is lovely isn’t it? :)