Waking up early to enjoy our final day in Rome was sad, but we were also excited to see what was in store for the day. There were a few things we wanted to do, so we set about getting ready. The sun was out and it looked like it was going to be a very nice day to be out exploring. We started today as we had with most of the other days on our trip with a stop for caffeine. Starting the day with a nice coffee is a must for me. It wasn’t much of a walk for us to reach our first stop of the day.
It was about nine in the morning when we made it to the Trevi Fountain. Having seen photos of the fountain online and in books, I knew what to expect. However, seeing it in person is a whole other experience. The fountain was surrounded by people ranging from couples, families, influencers, and art students. It seems like everyone wants to get their photos with the famous fountain. While the fountain has provided a backdrop for scenes in many movies, what is more impressive is that it served as a source of water for the people of Rome for more than 400 years. Now the water is recycled and there are other sources of water for the people of Rome
Despite the number of people being there when we arrived, we did manage to get some photos with the fountain. We also made sure to throw a coin into the fountain. There is a myth that says if you throw a coin into the fountain you will return to Rome. I’ll make sure to let you know if that comes true. The other great thing about the fountain is that most of the money collected is donated to various charities in Rome. The fountain collected $2.3 million in 2022 and was expected to collect even more in 2023.
We waved goodbye to the fountain and began to make our way to another historical site in Rome. The walk to our next destination was really nice. Most of the sites in the center of Rome are within walking distance. This might not be the best for people who have issues with balance though. This is a lot of cobblestone and uneven surface that could make it difficult to walk. Taxis are plentiful around the city at the designated locations. Apps such as FreeNow, itTaxi or even Uber are also available to use to get around. Rome has a good public transit system as well. You can take a bus to get close to most locations or even hop on the metro train if there is a stop near you.
Within a few minutes of enjoying the picturesque walk through Rome we came into view of the massive pillars of the Pantheon. When we visited, I had booked audio guides and a guide book, but we decided we didn’t want to use the guides. Also, at this time, you didn’t need to pay to get in. This has now changed and there is a charge to go inside. You can purchase tickets online or on site. There was no line when we got there around 10am, which made for a quick entry into the Pantheon. As it is still operating as a church, they do ask that you cover your shoulders and knees.
Once you’ve passed the massive doors and are inside the Pantheon the dome comes into view and you feel like you could stand there staring at it all day. The fact that it is about 1900 years old and still stands is a testament to the construction and ingenuity of the time. The Pantheon is different from any of the other churches I’ve ever been in. The rounded shape of the walls and the openness of the room was different. Most churches in Rome have a layout that includes different chapels that are either devoted to a saint or were funded by a family of means. The Pantheon was originally built to honor all of the Roman gods, so this makes for a very unique experience.
While we were there, the center below the oculus was roped off since there had been rain and the floor was wet. We walked around and found the tomb of the famous artist, Raphael. He was the first artist buried in the Pantheon. His tomb is pretty simplistic compared to some of the others in the church. We took our time making our way around, looking at the details of the different tombs and even the floor. We came to another tomb, the tomb of Vittorio Emanuele II, the one who helped to unite the kingdoms of Italy into the country we know it to be. He was the first king of a unified Italy.
After spending a bit more time enjoying the site, it was time for us to move along and continue on our adventure. The streets of Rome are filled with all types of shops and sites, but we had somewhere planned to visit, so we made note of a few places we’d like to come back to in a future visit and continued on our way to the Piazza Navona.
Where the Piazza Navona is now was once the site of the Stadium Domitian, where Romans would go to see sporting events. In the center of the piazza is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Fountain of Four Rivers, with a Roman obelisk topped with a dove. This was sculpted by Gian Bernini. In the same piazza is also the Fontana del Nettuno, Neptune Fountain, and the Fontana del Moro, Fountain of the Moor. Around the piazza were several restaurants and shops. We stopped in one that had a lot of trinkets that would make great gifts for someone who is really into gladiators or Roman soldiers.
Since it had been awhile since we’d eaten or had anything to drink, we decided to grab some breakfast. Several of the restaurants advertised American breakfasts, so we knew not to expect anything amazing, but we were more there for the view anyway. The food we had was actually pretty good and the value was as well. The staff were friendly as well. It wasn’t busy, so we took our time and enjoyed one of the last meals we were going to have in Rome.
We did have tickets for one last place that was just a few steps from the piazza, so we made our way there. The Stadium of Domitian museum is just around the corner from the Piazza Navona and seemed like it would be interesting to visit and see how the area looked back in the ancient Roman times. I’d booked tickets in advance, but there was no line when we arrived. The staff was friendly and offered the audio guides that were included with the visit. There is a lot more to see than I originally thought. The stairs take you down to some ruins of the stadium. The columns and archways we saw were really interesting and gave you a really good idea of what it would’ve been like to be back in 1AD.
There was a room with a video that showed what the area would’ve looked like during the time. Having just been in the piazza, it helped provide perspective. Seeing the spot where we just sat and had breakfast was pretty cool. I think if I were to go back and see the museum again, I’d do a guided tour to have a better understanding of what was there and its significance. It was definitely a great experience and an interesting look into more of the ancient roman times.
After leaving the museum, we decided to take a nice, slow, scenic walk back to the apartment. We still needed plenty of time to pack and prepare for our departure the next day, but there was still something along the way back to the apartment that we wanted to stop and see. Making our way to the Spanish Steps was a really enjoyable walk. Other than some areas where the paths might not be very level, it was pretty easy. We passed many high end shops as we approached the bottom of the Spanish Steps. One interesting fact about the steps is that they were designed by an Italian, funded by a French diplomat, and given their name because of the Piazza di Spagna, which they lead up to.
We stopped at the bottom of the steps and enjoyed the fountain at the base. After a few minutes of taking in the view, we made our way up a few of the steps. Since Mike was still recovering from being sick, we didn’t want to over do it before a long flight back home. There were several police officers making sure people kept moving and didn’t sit on the steps and loiter. I will say that they were very impressive and I would like to try and walk all the way up one day. The 135 steps can seem pretty daunting, especially if you’re standing at the bottom and looking up. If you don’t want to walk up the steps, you can take the metro to the Spagna stop and be at the top of the steps if you’re using public transit.
Once we’d taken in our fill, we started to make our way back to the apartment. There were a few shops along the way we stopped in and purchased gifts and knickknacks to take home with us. We enjoyed the scenery and the environment of the neighborhoods as we made our way back. During the trip back to the apartment, we realized that, with everything we’d purchased, we were probably going to need another piece of luggage. Fortunately, while I was roaming the streets for a pharmacy a few days prior, I noticed a place selling luggage nearby. While they didn’t have a huge selection, the pieces were brand names and the prices were pretty reasonable.
Getting everything sorted to pack was the next puzzle we had to solve. Over our many travels, we’ve learned how to wrap and pack things. Certain things we made sure to put in our carry-ons as they were too fragile for any checked baggage. By the time we had nearly everything packed, we were hungry and a bit drained from the day, so for dinner it was back to the pub for some pretty good pasta. Since we had an early departure to the airport, we showered and headed to bed early. While there were things that we didn’t get to see or do, we were both pretty happy with what we were able to see during our time in Italy. For now, it was time to head back home and back to our daily lives.
