{"id":8366,"date":"2014-03-26T06:32:36","date_gmt":"2014-03-26T06:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=8366"},"modified":"2015-02-16T09:21:01","modified_gmt":"2015-02-16T09:21:01","slug":"ancient-plots-parakeets-best-pizzas-rome-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/ancient-plots-parakeets-best-pizzas-rome-day-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Of Ancient Plots, Parakeets and Best Pizzas – Rome Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"1-IMG_3945\"<\/a>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<\/a>, via a\u00a0quick 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!).<\/p>\n

We past the lengthy queues and offers from local students to show us around, and headed for the hill behind, \u00a0and to the very gateway to The Forum itself… \u00a0 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…<\/p>\n

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As I have said before<\/a>, every single one of us has been to Rome already in a strange kind of way… \u00a0 \u00a0We 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. \u00a0 \u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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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. \u00a0 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, \u00a0whilst 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.<\/p>\n

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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. \u00a0 \u00a0There’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, \u00a0you 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. \u00a0 \u00a0We 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…<\/p>\n

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Later we spent the afternoon and early evening at Explora<\/a> before enjoying the pizza of champions at the excellent Da Francesco<\/a>. \u00a0 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. \u00a0The 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… \u00a0The Tiramisu also makes a laughing stock of many I have sampled elsewhere.<\/p>\n

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And after all that, believe me, no-one got up early the next day…<\/p>\n

Tips: \u00a0 A 48 hour ticket to visit the Forum\/Palatine Hill and Colosseum – 16 Euros per adult\/8 Euros per child. \u00a0Do make sure you go as early in the day as possible to feel like you have it all to yourself. \u00a0 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…\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Visit Da Francesco for the best pizza, and exquisite Tiramisu: \u00a0piazza del Fico 29 \u00a0Tel: +39 06 6864009<\/em><\/p>\n

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