Rome

Rome City

Rome is the capital city of Italy. I stayed there for 2 days, visited historical places, and tried local food. The most popular dish in Rome is Carbonara, and I wanted to try the real one in a restaurant — the taste was totally different from anything I had eaten before in my life. The sauce is very rich and extremely cheesy.

Also, honestly, the city made me feel Rome is not so safe — I saw many homeless people and many walls covered with graffiti and garbage, especially around the central station. I was approached by a group who tried to sell me something and had my arm pulled — it would have been scary at night.

Ancient Rome

Another highlight in Rome is learning about Ancient Rome. The name "Rome" comes from the ancient Roman Empire, and we can see many types of ruins in well-restored condition. The most famous spot has to be the Colosseum.

The Colosseum (Colosseo) is the massive elliptical amphitheater at the heart of Rome, built between AD 72 and 80 under emperors Vespasian and Titus — once holding up to 80,000 spectators for gladiator battles and public spectacles. Damaged over centuries by earthquakes and stone-robbers, it still stands today as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and Rome's most enduring symbol.

I bought a ticket that included other sites next to the Colosseum, and I walked around after visiting it. There used to be many political facilities in this area, and they are called "Foro Romano".

The Roman Forum (Foro Romano) is the sprawling ruin of what was, for over a thousand years, the political, religious, and commercial heart of ancient Rome — a plaza of temples, arches, basilicas, and the original Senate house, and the site of Julius Caesar's cremation. Fallen into ruin after the empire's collapse and used as a cow pasture in the Middle Ages, it sits today right next to the Colosseum, letting visitors walk through the actual streets where Roman history unfolded.

Old Roman people created very accurate water supply system.

After Foro Romano, I went to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. All three of these places are also iconic to Rome. I only stayed about 10 minutes at each place since it was too crowded and hot, but the Trevi Fountain was a place I had known since I was a kid, and it was impressive. The Trevi Fountain was built at the terminus of the old Roman water supply system, though the fountain itself was made in the 1800s.

Vatican

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, and it is located inside Rome, so we can visit it as a day trip. The Vatican is the heart of Catholicism and most of its citizens are clergy, so the atmosphere was special. There is a huge church called "Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano", and it was the biggest and most beautiful church I have ever visited. "Basilica" is a special architectural style, and they are classified as "Basilica Major" and "Basilica Minor" — there are only 4 Basilica Majors, including San Pietro. The inside of the basilica is enormous, and I could see Michelangelo's work along with many beautiful paintings and sculptures. There is also a big museum in the Vatican, but I couldn't get a ticket.

St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) is the vast Renaissance church at the heart of Vatican City, built between 1506 and 1626 on the traditional burial site of Saint Peter — the first Pope and one of the Twelve Apostles — and is one of the holiest sites in Catholicism. Designed and completed over 120 years by a lineup of Renaissance masters including Bramante, Michelangelo (who designed the iconic 136-meter dome), Maderno, and Bernini (whose sweeping colonnade wraps around St. Peter's Square), it is the largest church in the world by interior area and can hold up to 60,000 people. Inside, don't miss Michelangelo's Pietà — the only sculpture he ever signed, and one of the greatest works of Renaissance art.

As if I was seeing the real sun, it's all nature light.

Rome & Vatican