2 days in Rome

January 27th, 2024. – January 28th, 2024.

Our time in Rome was truly memorable. We enjoyed two fantastic days exploring the city. While it was chilly back home, we experienced the warmer and pleasant weather in Rome.

We landed early in the morning and spent some time wandering around the airport before heading to the train platform. We had bought our train tickets online for around 8:30 AM, but we arrived ahead of schedule. We asked about catching an earlier train and were told it was possible. Our tickets were valid for the earlier train since it was the same route. We had purchased our tickets from Fiumicino Airport to Roma Trastevere station through the Trenitalia website for 8 euros.

Day 1

The train journey took just over thirty minutes, followed by an additional hour’s walk from the station to the Vatican. Being early, we didn’t mind the walk, as we would have been waiting around anyway.

Upon reaching the Vatican, we were greeted by beautiful weather and stunning views. We wandered around, identified our meeting spot for the Vatican tour, Vatican Museums, and St. Peter’s Basilica, and then headed for breakfast. We discovered a highly-rated breakfast spot through Google reviews named Trecaffè – Vaticano. With some spare time, we rested, enjoyed a delightful meal, and prepared for the rest of the day.

We approached the entrance where a large crowd was gathering for the Vatican Museums, mainly to be assigned to their respective tours. Some might say we spent a lot on a guided tour, but I believe it was a worthwhile investment. We gained insightful knowledge about the museums, the artworks within, and the Vatican’s history. Plus, we skipped the long queues. On Saturday, the line was relatively short, but the following day, it stretched for what seemed like a kilometer. It’s astonishing to see people patiently waiting for hours to get into the museums. To clarify, the museums were bustling even on Saturday. In rooms with renowned artworks, the crowd was so dense that movement was restricted. We had to move along with the crowd’s flow.

The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are truly unparalleled experiences. The journey from one room to another offers breathtaking sights. If there were no crowds and time was no constraint, we could easily spend an entire day exploring. The volume of impressive art and historical artifacts is overwhelming, even for no-art enthusiasts like us. Our guide was a passionate woman deeply in love with Italy, Rome, and the rich tapestry of art and history. Her vibrant storytelling and profound knowledge drew us in the captivating tales of Italian and Roman culture. While I can’t recall all the specifics, I highly recommend opting for a guided tour, not only to bypass the crowds and faster entry but also to gain valuable insights while enjoying the sights.

The highlight of our experience was undeniably when we stepped into the chapel. Michelangelo, with his brilliance as an artist, has crafted numerous masterpieces, with the Last Judgment standing out as truly awe-inspiring. Words cannot capture the depth of emotion and wonder we felt gazing at that painting.

Following the chapel, our guide led us through St. Peter’s Basilica. The church, much like the entirety of the Vatican, is stunning. We learned several fascinating facts, with the most intriguing being about the destruction of the statue of Mary and Jesus. This left us shaken, struggling to comprehend how someone could destroy something of such beauty.

After saying goodbye to our guide and wrapping up our tour, we made our way to Piazza Navona where our hotel was located (Suite Art Navona). We took a slow walk to soak in the city’s ambiance in the early afternoon. Even though it was the off-season, the streets were bustling with people. Additionally, the weather was surprisingly warm, living up to Rome’s reputation of being hot and busy, and it was still January.

It’s hard to imagine how crowded and hot it must be during the peak summer season. That’s when the numerous water fountains really prove their worth. Yes, there were plenty of fountains with drinking water around. At first, we thought about counting them, but we soon lost track. With so many fountains and all of the information and sights, we quickly became unsure whether we had seen 10 or 11.

After walking for a little over thirty minutes, we arrived at our hotel. This lodging was suggested by “Putoholicari”, a Croatian couple who are active travelers and recommend budget-friendly trips to their followers. So, we followed their advice and booked the tickets and accommodation they suggested. The hotel was affordable yet decent, offering cleanliness, tidiness, and pretty big space – everything we needed. Plus, we were conveniently located near the city center and its major attractions.

After our extensive walking tour left us feeling tired, combined with our early morning flight, we decided to take a short nap to recharge. We rested for about two hours, woke up, and resumed our exploration.

We stopped by the Pantheon, but only admired it from the outside due to a scheduled mass around 6 pm. We then wandered over to the bustling Trevi Fountain, where, predictably, a crowd of at least a thousand people had gathered. Its beauty is undeniable. We stayed there a while to take in the sights and snap a few photos. Next, we made our way to the Spanish Steps. While not particularly awe-inspiring, it was pleasant to see them from a distance down the street. On our way back to the hotel, we grabbed a quick pizza from a local bakery. I know it might seem like a cheat meal, but given our exhaustion, we opted for convenience over dining in a restaurant. Once back at our hotel, we quickly drifted into sleep.

Overall, we felt our day was both beautiful and fulfilling.

I should also mention that during our evening walk, we explored several shops offering local products, like liquors, truffles, cheeses, sausages, jams… Many of these places offered tasting samples. We visited three such shops and sampled everything on offer. We didn’t purchase anything due to the high prices, but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and felt filled enough that a formal dinner wasn’t necessary. I’d particularly recommend the liquors, with the pistachio flavor standing out as a favorite. We had hoped to purchase a larger bottle at the duty-free shop in the airport, but unfortunately, it wasn’t available. That was the only minor letdown of our trip. We also tried a variety of truffles and truffle spreads, enjoying them on slices of bread. Paired with some cheeses and a few pieces of sausage, it really felt like a full meal. This justified our choice of a bakery pizza earlier.

Day 2

Our trip wasn’t the most optimized in terms of planning, but we managed to see everything, with the sacrifice of an extra hour of walking. On Sundays, it was stated that the Vatican Museums are closed. I found it odd that there was a kilometer-long queue for the museums. Apparently, they are open but tickets cannot be purchased online. I wasn’t aware of this information.

Anyway, Sundays are not the best days for museums. However, on Sundays, the Pope delivers a brief speech from his window at noon. Being an active Catholic, I would have felt regretful if I were in Rome and didn’t see the Pope. Therefore, on Sunday, we returned to the Vatican to witness the Pope’s speech.

First, we walked from our hotel to the Vatican and had breakfast at a coffee shop named The Loft. I wasn’t as impressed as the first day, although the food was tasty here as well. We both had sandwiches; Tin’s was more delicious. A sandwich is just a sandwich to me; I prefer avocado and some crispy toast where I can distinguish flavors. Here, everything seemed to blend into one taste, and that’s not my preference. Nothing memorable… But the coffee was excellent. Italians sure know how to make good coffee!

After breakfast, we walked to St. Peter’s Square, where we were checked at the entrance, and waited about an hour for noon to arrive. There was a band performing on the square, singing and dancing, entertaining and engaging the visitors. Many people arrived, and soon the square was filled with people. It was fortunate we arrived early to secure a spot by the fence.

The experience was truly wonderful for me. I felt a sense of warmth and contentment, even though I didn’t fully understand the precise message the Pope was trying to convey. From what I understood, he advocated for reduced conflicts between people and nations, emphasizing love and harmonious living.

Despite enjoying the moment, I started to feel the urge to use the restroom. Once the Pope concluded his speech, we promptly made our way to the Colosseum. We opted for a guided tour there to gain insights into ancient Rome.

We found ourselves rushing a bit due to the significant time we spent waiting in line for the restroom, which took up about half an hour. As a result, we arrived at the meeting point just in time. After quickly completing the check-in, we hurried over to the guide who had already begun the introductory remarks.

I don’t have much more to add. Our experience was truly amazing. We witnessed a lot and gained profound insights into Rome’s history during the construction of the Colosseum, its architecture and appearance, daily life of the people, the details about the games, and so much more. We were particularly grateful that we chose a guided tour, as without it, our understanding would have been superficial. We would have merely seen the ancient ruins of Rome, appreciated them, but the depth of the experience would have been lacking without the detailed knowledge we received. Our guide was exceptional once again—knowledgeable, professional, yet funny and passionate about Rome’s history.

The tour lasted approximately three hours, covering the Colosseum, Palatine and the Forum. The pacing was excellent, ensuring our sustained interest throughout. At no point did it feel tedious or overwhelming. Well done!

Conclusion

I must say, Rome ranks among the most enchanting cities I’ve ever visited, and I would love to return. While there are spots I’d love to visit again, there are many others we still have to explore.

I believe that two days are sufficient to explore and visit Rome’s most significant landmarks and attractions. Our visit to Rome currently stands as the best short excursion we’ve taken. It was incredibly relaxing since the tours were guided, and we walked almost everywhere, eliminating any stress related to transportation or other logistical issues.

Rome is stunning, warm, rich in culture and life, so I would recommend it to everyone. Rome has been alive for thousands of years and will definitely continue to thrive.