Taking the fast intercity train from Naples, it only took around three hours to get us to Rome. We were staying close to the terminal, so finding our apartment from the station was super easy.
After sitting down for most of the morning, we were desperate to stretch our legs and explore. Naturally, we decided to go for a run, although planning a route in Rome without almost getting run over or beeped at felt like a challenge in itself! Somehow, we stumbled across a gorgeous park with incredible views of the Colosseum. This was our first glimpse of it, and we both got ridiculously giddy. Seeing something you’ve looked at in pictures for years suddenly in real life felt so surreal. We stopped for a photo and soaked it all in. A 5k done and feeling great… must’ve been all the carbs!
For dinner, we headed to a restaurant recommended by some guys we’d met during our pasta-making class in Naples: Al Vico 9. Wow! It absolutely did not disappoint.
To start, we shared an arancini filled with cheese and tomato, along with a zucchini and cheese stuffed focaccia. Then for mains, George went for a wild boar ragù, while I had a rich tomato pasta topped with pecorino cheese. We watched as they flambeed the pasta right in front of us, giving it an incredible smoky flavour. All accompanied by a lovely red wine, when in Rome, hey! We were absolutely stuffed afterwards and could hardly move.
We’d been told the Trevi Fountain was worth seeing at night, so despite being late after dinner, we decided to wander over and walk off some of the pasta (lol). Completely by chance, we discovered that the Italian Tennis Masters was taking place that weekend, and the Trevi had been transformed for a special pre event light show. About three minutes after we arrived, a countdown began and suddenly the fountain lit up with incredible projections and glowing patterns. It honestly felt magical, one of those unexpected travel moments you’ll always remember. Completely knackered after another big day, we headed back for bed.
The next day was a full-on exploring day! We’d managed to pre-book tickets for the Colosseum and headed there for 11am. I downloaded an audio guide beforehand and honestly, it was so worth it. It completely brought the place to life.
The historian in me was absolutely thriving. Standing there, it was hard to comprehend just how much history had unfolded in one place. Built after the Great Fire of 64 AD and on the site of Nero’s former artificial lake, the Colosseum symbolised a political reset after his downfall. Emperor Titus officially opened it in 80 AD with months of spectacles for crowds of over 50,000 people.
Some of the things that amazed me most:
• 76 entrance gates meant huge crowds could move in and out efficiently
• Seating reflected Roman social hierarchy; the closer to the arena, the higher your status
• Senators and emperors had marble seats engraved with their names
• A massive retractable canopy provided shade from the sun
• It was originally decorated with marble-covered walls
• Parts of it were built using wealth taken after the Roman conquest of Jerusalem
Over the centuries, it transformed dramatically, becoming a fortress and residential space in the Middle Ages, surviving earthquakes, and later even being used symbolically by Mussolini to connect his regime with Ancient Rome.
Today, it represents both imperial history and Christian memory. The emperor’s seat is marked by a cross, and every Good Friday the Pope begins the Way of the Cross there.
One of the highlights for me was standing on the arena floor itself. You could almost imagine stepping out into the arena with thousands of spectators watching and adrenaline pumping.
After the Colosseum, we continued to the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, and Palatine Hill. It’s incredible how well preserved everything is, there’s so much history everywhere you look. The views from the top of the hill were unreal.
After a packed morning and afternoon, we headed to Trastevere for a late lunch. We found the most gorgeous sandwich shop with super fresh produce, exactly the refuel we needed. From there, we carried on sightseeing, heading to the Pantheon (possibly one of the most intact pieces of Roman architecture and yes, the giant hole in the dome is as impressive as it sounds!). We then wandered back to the Trevi Fountain to see it in daylight, before visiting Piazza Navona and the Fountain of the Four Rivers, as well as the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II.
By this point, we were absolutely shattered, so headed back to the apartment to shower and chill before dinner. We’d planned to try a pizza restaurant that looked amazing, but turned up to a huge queue and quickly aborted mission! Instead, we found another lovely spot nearby. To end the day, we stopped at a gorgeous little wine bar for red wine and tiramisu, the perfect ending to a very long day. We slept like logs!
For our final full day in Rome, the big thing left to tick off was Vatican City. The Vatican City is technically its own country, complete with its own laws. After a 45-minute bus journey, we arrived and were instantly wowed by the scale and grandeur of the place. We even saw where the Pope lives (although sadly he wasn’t there, as he was touring southern Italy).
We braved the very intimidating-looking queue for St Peter’s Basilica and ended up chatting to a lovely Canadian while we waited, which made the time fly. Once inside, we were genuinely speechless, easily one of the most beautiful churches I’ve ever visited. The marble, stained glass, sculptures and paintings were unbelievable. We lit a candle and just took it all in.
Lunch was another classic refuel, another sandwich for George and a Caesar salad for me, before heading back into the city centre. Having ticked off most of the main sights, we did a bit of shopping (obviously had to browse The North Face and a few outdoorsy shops), and I picked up a lovely Rome souvenir t-shirt.
Later, we headed to Villa Borghese, a gorgeous green space where we lay on the grass for a very well-earned rest. Feeling recharged, we made our way back to Trastevere for our final dinner, a tiny, authentic family-run Italian restaurant called Meridionale. We shared croquettes to start, followed by steak for George and tuna steak for me. It was incredible. Naturally, it ended with tiramisu and more red wine… the perfect way to finish such an amazing trip.
Europe highlights:
Some proper core memories from the trip:
Top 5 experiences:
- Lake Bled
- The Colosseum
- Pompeii
- Pasta making in Naples
- Budapest night cruise
- Lake Bled zip lining
Top places (in order):
- Bled
- Rome
- Budapest
- Ljubljana
- Naples
- Vienna
Truly such an incredible trip. We packed so much in, absolutely made the most of every moment, and created memories I know we’ll talk about forever ❤️
Soph’s Scribbles 
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