Blogging about my experiences and sharing my thoughts about Rome, Italy and beyond.
After all the eating we did on Easter, I would have been happy to walk the first 16km of the Appian Way and back. Easter for us is usually synonymous with a feast but this year, the weekend happened to also coincide with three birthdays in the family. If that wasn’t enough, we had friends [...]
It took me too long to finally visit the ruins at Ostia Antica and I say this with much regret. To those who say that you won’t be as impressed by Ostia Antica after you’ve visit Pompeii, I’d say you are wrong. It’s different, fascinating and absolutely worth the visit. I am not sure if [...]
I have been putting off any visit to catacombs and crypts for a while as I find them creepy to say the least. I think it didn’t help that I was brought up in an Asian family that was superstitious and going underground to a place that was once a burial ground is not something [...]
A few weeks ago, as I was in Celio, I dropped by Santo Stefano Rotondo to get some relief from the heatwave that we have been experiencing in Rome. What’s wonderful about this Basilica is that there is usually hardly any visitors here. Its tranquil grounds is welcoming, a huge contrast to the gruesome frescoes [...]
It was by chance that we stopped by this lesser known attraction in Rome as my niece was having her piano recital in the vicinity (this story is for another day). We often drive by St. Paul Outside-The-Walls and while I would have a few seconds to admire this stunning Basilica, the last time I [...]
This attraction in Rome for me is a haven when you need to get away from the “busy-ness” of the city. While the book, “The Secrets of Rome” describes Santi Quattro Coronati as ” a gigantic fortress appears, powerful…” and the walk up from the Colosseum do give you the sense of this, it’s a [...]
What is fascinating about this attraction in Rome is not the Palazzo itself but what lies beneath and how with the use of technology, these ruins are brought to life. I had heard about Palazzo Valentini from my sister-in-law who was arranging a trip for my niece and her classmates. She had mentioned that with [...]
This attraction in Rome, St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli) is only a short walk from Colosseum but often overlooked by visitors to the city. I, myself, am guilty as I first heard about St. Peter in Chains from the book “The Secrets of Rome” which I got as a gift last Christmas. [...]
This is a guest post written by Agnes from understandingrome.com and I want to thank her for this insightful post as it was also an eye-opener for me. If you want to go off the beaten path, this would be a fascinating tour. In 312 BC the censor Appius Claudius decided to harness the natural [...]
Recently someone asked what attractions are open on Christmas Day and Eve and things to do in Rome on those days. It was a great question because it had never crossed my mind as it’s time spent with family, cooking, prepping and just enjoying the holiday spirit (or stress). While shops and most paid attractions [...]
