Our accommodation was very close to the San Giovanni metro station, which takes its name from the beautiful Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano . Actually a really good area to spend your time in Rome, not too touristy but still very close to the center. Perfect for us.
It doesn't always have to be the tourist hot spots, I like to explore the city from all sides, the side streets and also the lesser-known corners - the true face of the city.
Just a stone's throw away, past the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, you can reach one of the city's most impressive sights - the Colosseum - within 15 minutes on foot.
For me, this is the epitome of the Roman Empire , its rise and fall. This masterpiece of architectural excellence shows what Roman civilization was capable of, and yet the empire has fallen apart. Even if it is still standing thanks to extensive restoration work, this building makes it clear: nothing lasts forever.
Once you arrive at the Colosseum , you first need to cool down in the sweltering heat of the midday sun.
After visiting the Colosseum, we head to the adjacent Palatine Hill , one of the seven hills of Rome and apparently the oldest inhabited part of the city. Here you will find many ruins from different eras of the city's history, which only give an idea of the impressive buildings that once lined this hill.
Once you reach the top, you have the opportunity to enjoy the view over the rooftops of the city in all directions.
“Velvet City” was the first thought that came to my mind when I looked at the images from this film ( Lomography Lomochrome Purple XR 100-400 ). The architecture mixed with these unusual colors makes Rome seem like a city from another planet.
Then we head towards the city centre via the Via dei Fori Imperiali . Interestingly, there was a large military and police presence throughout the city during these days. This is how this snapshot came about, in which a cyclist asks a soldier for directions.
Arriving on Via del Corso, we happen to meet an old acquaintance and good friend of ours, beatboxer and street musician Eddy Harper . 'Buskers', as they are also called, are now (again) becoming more and more of a part of the Roman cityscape, especially along this street.
After the performance, we walk through typically Roman but tourist-free streets towards the Trevi Fountain , another tourist highlight of the city.
Despite the fountain being absolutely packed with people, I managed to get a front row shot. The fountain itself is an architectural feast for the eyes, but the mass of people does take away some of the beauty of the place; but that's just how it is with tourist attractions in a city like Rome.
Therefore, we then quickly continue towards the Spanish Steps , from where we reach the quiet and highly recommended park “ Villa Borghese ”.
The park almost looks like a fairy tale with all its fountains and sculptures in the middle of the Mediterranean vegetation. Especially in combination with the Lomochrome Turquoise film from Lomography , it looks like it's from another planet. You also have the opportunity to escape the tourist hustle and bustle for a while and there are wonderful panoramic views over the city.
Because of the peace and our connection to nature, we then went to the Vatican Gardens . From Piazza di Spagna, you can reach the Vatican in just a few minutes by metro and take a guided tour to see the beauty of the gardens, which are otherwise only available to Vatican residents. Definitely recommended.
After all this tour, you deserve a gelato and a cold drink to refresh yourself, and then, after a detour through the streets of the city, you find yourself in a delicious restaurant with Roman delicacies.
If you enjoyed this tour of Rome with me and you want to see a bit more of Rome and experience Italy, then you have the
