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9 Popular Sights To See In Rome This Summer

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 14:00:00 +0000

When in Rome…make sure to hit these popular sights to see in Rome! Also known as the “Eternal City,” given modern day Rome is literally built on top of old Rome. There is so much to see and do!

In the spirit of keeping my blog 100% real with you; I did not absolutely love Rome. I had a fun time, but I’m not sure I would go back to Rome. That being said, there are a ton of people who love the city and its unique history so don’t let my personal opinion discourage you from visiting!

Keep reading for 9 sights I enjoyed getting to see in the city. And don’t forget to drop your email below and I’ll send you the link to all of these places and more!

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1. Colosseum

Starting off with perhaps the most iconic spot in Rome, the Colosseo. Fun fact: the Colosseum is half its original mass as a result of Rome’s 16th century construction. As they began to construct new churches and other buildings, they were allowed to take the marble, stones and other materials right out of the Colosseum!

I actually did not end up going into the Colosseum. I forgot to book tickets online in advance, so definitely make sure you do this early enough if you want to go inside! I don’t feel like I really missed out on anything not going inside, but I understand this is a huge attraction coming to Rome!

I later learned that a lot of the ticket resellers will buy a ton of online tickets beforehand, basically selling it out so they can resell at a higher price. So, if you’re like me and forget to book but want to go inside, you can wait in line outside the Colosseum and buy your ticket in person. They only let you buy one ticket per person, so make sure your whole group is there to buy their own ticket.

2. Pantheon

Another iconic spot, the Pantheon! This is free to enter, until 2024, so no need to reserve tickets if you go this year! You will need to cover your knees and shoulders though to enter, so make sure to pack appropriately.

3. Trastavere

Trastavere is a super cute area with a lot of good restaurants, bars and shopping. We spent a good amount of time here! I also recommend checking out Piazza di Santa Maria and the church in the plaza. It was really pretty. I also visited a thrift store here and bought a long skirt to be able to go into the churches!

The view of Rome when walking back over the bridge was really pretty too. We didn’t time this on purpose, but being here at sunset was really nice!

4. Trevi Fountain

If you want to visit the Trevi Fountain before the crowds, get there by 7:30 AM! We got there around 9 AM and it was still pretty open, which was nice. We also came by at night, when it was all lit up with different colors!

5. Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are a must when you go to Rome, Italy. Fun fact that I did not realize beforehand: Vatican City is actually its own country, also know as the Holy See! For more information and tips for visiting the Vatican, check out my blog post on uncommon advice for visiting the Holy See!

6. St. Peter's Basilica and Square

While you are in Vatican City, be sure to enter St Peter’s Basilica! It is absolutely stunning inside. And be sure to check out my Vatican City tips beforehand so you know how to get on top of the Basilica! You can see here too the famous Pietà sculpture by Michelangelo.

7. Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola

So, I actually saw this spot on Instagram before I came to Rome and am so glad I did! They have a huge mirror when you walk in so that you are able to see the ceiling better. And yes, you can take a super cool selfie here! But it was also a really nice switch up from constantly staring up at all the ceilings.😂

8. Spanish Steps

Have you ever seen The Talented Mr. Ripley? These are the same steps in the movie, where Tom and Meredith walk across Rome and down the steps! They are so stunning. Also, if you go up to the top, the stairs are in the shape of a butterfly.

Leading up to the Spanish Steps is Via dei Condotti, a famous shopping ave with all of the high-end, luxury brands. It is really fun to walk down this street and window shop!

9. Piazza Navona

Can you see the shape of the track? Centuries ago, this used to be the Stadium of Domitian. You can also tour the remains of the old stadium underground. This is a great way to see more of Ancient Rome and escape the heat for a bit!

Any spots I missed? Comment below! If you’re planning to go to Rome soon and want more recs, feel free to DM or email me!

mariss

The post 9 Popular Sights To See In Rome This Summer first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

Vatican City: Uncommon Advice For Visiting The Holy See

MLE Travel Diary — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 14:00:00 +0000

If you’re planning on visiting the Vatican City soon, or anytime in the future, keep reading! Also known as the Holy See, Vatican City is a country in the middle of Rome, Italy. It is where the Roman Catholic Church is headquartered, and where the Pope lives!

I just visited for the first time this spring, and it was incredible. Truly everything within the Vatican walls is a work of art. I feel like there are also many hidden gems within these walls…some of which I realized after I had left. I will be sharing the insider tips I learned, and what I wish I knew before I visited!

1. Book the Breakfast at the Museums - Admission Ticket

So this one actually was a complete accident; I discovered this hack when I went to book Vatican Museums tickets. I was (admittedly) a little too late to booking tickets; there were no regular admission tickets left, and just a few other options remaining. One of which was the ‘Breakfast at the Museums’ admission ticket at 7:45 AM.

This ended up being the best decision! The Vatican Museums officially open at 8:30 AM, so we got to skip the entire queue waiting at the entrance and were first in line inside. With our 7:45 AM tickets, we entered the Museums right away and sat at this little cafe in the courtyard.

It costs a little extra, but if you eat a full breakfast like me, it is so worth it. The breakfast was surprisingly delicious, and they also gave us water bottles we were able to take throughout our visit.

2. Bring a reusable water bottle and fill up in the courtyard

This one is super random, but there is this cool water fountain where you can refill your water bottle in the courtyard. Note, this is not my photo as I forgot to take a pic when I was there! But I am that person who is always trying to stay (extra) hydrated, so this was huge for me. Plus, then you can say you drank the Vatican City water!

3. Go to St. Peter's Basilica when it opens at 7 AM

Another one we learned the hard way! There was absolutely no line when we arrived in Vatican City at 7 AM for our Museums entry. However, after we exited the Museums around 10 AM, the line was already wrapping around the entire Plaza!

I definitely recommend going into St. Peter’s Basilica right when it opens at 7 AM. Entry is free, so all you need to do is line up before it opens.

Fun fact: you are able to get married here! We saw a couple getting married, like right when they were pronouncing them husband and wife.🥹 We looked it up after, and it only costs $1,200!! There are more rules, of course, but I thought that was so, so cool and have never seen that before.

4. You can climb St. Peter's Dome (the Cupola)

So, I did actually know about this before visiting, but forgot after waiting for an hour to get into the Basilica. LOL! When you enter the basilica, there is a line on the left. That is where you’ll want to go to get tickets and then make your ascent to the top!

It only costs 8 Euros and you can get the best views of the basilica, Saint Peter’s Square, and Rome itself. I am actually so bummed I missed out on doing this. Again, another good reason to go early; it was pretty hot by the time we waited in line, and we were hungry and ready for lunch.

5. You cannot take photos or videos when inside the Sistine Chapel

I probably should have known this, but did not come across this fact when doing my Rome research. The Sistine Chapel opens at 9 AM and is pretty much always crowded! When you are inside the Chapel, there is a lot of security who continuously remind visitors that no photos or videos are allowed.

However…most people end up sneaking photos, usually by using your front-facing camera. I actually did not haha I am too much of a rule-follower, but my good friend Danny was able to take these pics:

Michelangelo’s work is truly incredible! If you’re planning a trip to Rome soon and have any questions, let me know! You can comment here, or email or DM me directly.

For more Rome content, make sure to follow along on my Instagram! I’ll be posting more travel tips and tricks!

mariss

The post Vatican City: Uncommon Advice For Visiting The Holy See first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.