Rome: First Impressions

Rome wasn’t at all what I expected.

Not because it disappointed me, but because I arrived with very few expectations in the first place.

Beyond school history lessons about the Roman Empire, the Vatican and a handful of famous landmarks, I really didn’t know what this city would feel like.

Within minutes of arriving, I realised one thing.

Rome has an energy all of its own. And, it’s a busy one.

Even in March, the streets around the Trevi Fountain buzzed with visitors from every corner of the world. Historic laneways echoed with the sound of rolling suitcases, animated conversations and the irresistible aroma of coffee, pizza and freshly baked pastries.

Our home for the next few days was the U-Visionary Hotel, tucked into the heart of the city just a short stroll from the Trevi Fountain. It was the perfect base for exploring Rome on foot, allowing us to wander wherever our curiosity took us.

The rooftop terrace of our hotel offered wonderful views across the city and became our favourite place to sit for a while.

There’s something strangely relaxing about watching a city from above. Away from the busy streets, we found ourselves simply observing the everyday rhythm of Rome as life carried on below.

Our first dinner in Italy was enjoyed on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, overlooking the rooftops of Rome as the sun set. Good food, Italian wine and the excitement of knowing we had three months ahead of us.

Not a bad way to begin.

Rome: Wandering Through History

Of course, no first visit to Rome would be complete without wandering through the layers of history that shape this extraordinary city.

Over several days, we walked countless kilometres, discovering ancient ruins, grand piazzas and hidden corners along the way – the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Castel Sant’Angelo, St Peter’s Square, Piazza Venezia, Quirinale Palace and the beautiful Villa Borghese Gardens.

But for us, experiencing Rome wasn’t about collecting entry tickets or standing in long queues.

If there was a line, we moved on.

If an attraction required waiting hours to step inside, we were happy to admire it from the outside and keep wandering.

Because our favourite way to experience a city is not always through its famous interiors, but through its streets, watching people go about their day, discovering little piazzas, wandering past cafés and restaurants, and stopping whenever something caught our attention.

Here are a few glimpses of Rome through our eyes.

The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain had been quietly waiting for us. Each day, we had squeezed our way past the crowds on our way to explore other parts of Rome, catching glimpses of the fountain through a sea of people. Standing nearly 40 deep, it was impossible to really appreciate its beauty or find a moment to simply take it in.

So, like many travellers before us, we set the alarm and headed there early before breakfast.

It was certainly quieter, but clearly we weren’t the only ones with that idea. A handful of early risers had already gathered, all hoping for that elusive uncrowded Trevi Fountain moment.

Still, it was worth it.

We finally had space to admire the incredible detail, the flowing water and the atmosphere of one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks.

And yes, if you’re wondering…

We did throw in a coin.

Some traditions are simply too much fun to ignore.

The Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are one of Rome’s most recognisable landmarks, connecting the Piazza di Spagna below with the Piazza Trinità dei Monti above.

Built in 1725, the 135 steps were designed to bridge the steep slope between the two squares and have been a gathering place for locals and visitors for centuries.

These days, however, one thing you won’t see is people sitting and relaxing on the steps. The rules are strictly enforced, with police stationed nearby keeping a watchful eye.

Anyone who settles in for a rest is quickly greeted with a loud whistle, enthusiastic hand gestures and rapid-fire Italian instructions. Understanding the language is optional but the message is very clear!

Watching the constant cycle of visitors attempting to sit down, only to be swiftly moved along, became part of the entertainment. Although, we did wonder whether climbing those 135 steps countless times a day might make any policeman a little impatient!

The Vibe

Enough of the old stuff.

As fascinating as Rome’s history is, what made this city memorable for us was the energy of everyday life – the people, the sounds, the colours and the unexpected moments around every corner.

Rome is a city that knows how to perform.

We came across incredibly talented buskers throughout our wanderings, filling piazzas and streets with music and adding their own soundtrack to the city.

From musicians tucked into busy corners to performers entertaining crowds passing by, each brought something different to the atmosphere of Rome.

These are the moments that stay with you long after the famous landmarks fade into the background.

A few of our favourite Roman street performers…

And then came my first piano accordion sighting of the trip.

There’s something about an accordion playing in the streets of Europe that instantly creates a sense of place. The sound seems to drift through the laneways and piazzas, adding an old-world charm to the everyday rhythm of the city.

Rome certainly delivered on the street music front, and this was only the beginning of our European accordion encounters.

Street Performers: Living Statues

Who decides to paint themselves from head to toe, stand perfectly still in the sun for hours, and become part of the scenery?

These guys.

The living statue performers of Rome are certainly an art form of their own. The patience, concentration and ability to remain completely still is impressive, although I couldn’t help wondering what hours covered in layers of paint might do to your skin!

The first performer was so convincing that, until he moved, I genuinely thought he was a statue.

The second was equally committed to his craft, although the unmistakable smell of house paint and turps gave away the illusion somewhat. After taking a photo, I began to retreat when I realised I didn’t have any coins for his collection pot.

Fortunately, the drying paint and his carefully maintained pose meant I made a successful escape!

Sunday in Villa Borghese: A Little Bit of Everything

Sunday afternoon brought a different side of Rome.

In the beautiful Villa Borghese Gardens, locals were out enjoying the sunshine, with rollerbladers and rollerskaters weaving along the paths, adding a relaxed, energetic feel to this green oasis above the city.

Then, as we wandered back through the streets, Rome delivered another unexpected surprise.

Time travellers?

A procession of actors dressed in elaborate period costumes appeared, strolling through the city as though they had stepped straight out of another century.

For a moment, it felt like the past and present had collided — ancient Rome, modern Rome and a little theatrical magic all sharing the same streets.

These unexpected encounters are what made our wanderings through Rome so memorable. You never quite knew what you would discover around the next corner.

We did indulge in pizza and antipasto plates for lunches.

Giuseppe: The Art of Recycling

Of all our memories from Rome, this one remains one of my favourites.

While wandering through the city, we came across Giuseppe sitting quietly in the corner of a small piazza. His business, L’Arte del Riciclo (The Art of Recycling), creates beautiful jewellery from discarded and recycled metal.

We were immediately drawn to his creativity and the idea behind his work – transforming something unwanted into something unique and beautiful.

Giuseppe spoke no English, and our Italian was certainly not up to the task, but somehow we managed to have a wonderful conversation. Travel has a funny way of making communication happen even when the words don’t.

To this day, Giuseppe still believes my name is “Australia”.

Of course, I bought a pair of earrings.

Every time I wear them, someone comments on them, and I get to tell the story of the quiet Roman piazza, a creative craftsman and a lovely moment of connection that happened simply because we were wandering.

Finding Our Foodie Rome

We quickly noticed that the restaurants surrounding the major attractions tended to offer much the same menu — pizza, pasta and gelato.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with those Italian classics (and we certainly enjoyed our share!), but we were hoping to discover something a little more local and unexpected.

It wasn’t until we wandered a few streets away from the busiest areas that we began finding the neighbourhood restaurants and trattorias we were looking for.

One such find was Sofia Restaurant.

I couldn’t go past the gnocchi with black pepper, prawns and lime — a delicious combination of flavours that was a little different from the usual offerings.

Jeff, always one to embrace the less familiar, chose the seared tuna, crumbed with olive tapenade.

Another reminder that some of the best travel discoveries happen when you simply wander a little further.

And that’s a wrap on Rome.

This city surprised us.

We arrived not really knowing what to expect, and left with memories of ancient streets, rooftop dinners, unexpected encounters, talented street performers, delicious food and a pair of earrings that will forever remind me of Giuseppe in his quiet piazza.

Rome can certainly be busy, noisy and overflowing with visitors, but beyond the crowds we discovered a city full of colour, creativity and everyday moments that made us smile.

Will we return?

Absolutely.

After all, we did throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain and, apparently, that means we’re guaranteed to come back.

Next stop: Milano!

Ciao.

Catherine & Jeff