On arrival in Rome’s central bus station I felt like a fish out of water. People zoomed past me from all directions as I struggled to find my feet in this fast-paced city.
But if there’s one advantage about starting your trip in Rome’s central bus station, it prepares you for what lies ahead. It’s big, busy, and disorganised – just like the city itself.
My first impressions of Rome were not helped by my lack of sleep the night before my early flight, nor was it helped by being royally ripped off the taxi driver to my accommodation.
I regretted immediately my decision not to walk, but in the midst of a battle with sleep deprivation, a taxi seemed like the only option (literally that night I downloaded Uber – avoid taxis at all cost).
Once I arrived at my accommodation, and fought the desire to sleep, I stepped out to see what Italy’s capital city had to offer.
Busy, busy, busy
In true touristy fashion my first port of call was the Colosseum. As I walked over to the world-famous landmark which I had so eagerly been wanting to visit, I was disappointed to see it surrounded by chugging cars, wide roads and traffic lights.
I wondered where the urgency for preserving this UNESCO World Heritage Site was hiding in such a busy and exposed environment. It didn’t help that I hadn’t booked in advance so had to wait in queue for what felt like a whole day. Don’t make my mistake by ensuring you book in advance.
Thankfully, as I explored more of the city, seemed to get better.
I marvelled with mouth wide open at the enormous ruins and monuments that popped up at every street and square. It’s a city often described as an open-air museum and although it’s an overused term, it’s the most accurate description.
However, my enjoyment of strolling around the city was often interrupted by huge crowds and tourist traps.
It seemed every time I reached a place I wanted to visit, I was immediately put off by the sheer volume of people. For sure, the elaborate façade of Trevi Fountain is certainly a vision to behold and looks even more magnificent in real life than any photo can give justice, but I could only manage to spend a couple of minutes looking because I couldn’t be bothered to budge past anyone to get a better view.
I felt like this for a couple of days until I headed north of the city to Villa Borghese. There was space, greenery, quietness, and a notable lack of people. The tempo was much slower and I immediately felt relaxed.
Exploring Villa Borghese
Once there I visited Galleria Borghese, a beautiful art collection showing the likes of Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian and Rome’s most famous architect – Bernini.
Be sure to book your tickets in advance because they only let a certain amount of people in at a time. It isn’t possible to purchase tickets on the door either, so booking in advance is a must to avoid disappointment.
Galleria Borghese sits on top of the large, beautiful garden filled with sculptures, perfectly pruned bushes and winding paths.
I had lots of fun exploring it on a tuk tuk which I rented out for an hour at a cost of 10 euros. If you’re looking for something even more idyllic, you can rent a boat along the lake.
Other quieter areas and attractions to discover in Rome
Away from the Masters you can take a short work to the National Gallery of Modern Art which is part of the Borghese complex.
You’ll find the likes of Gustav Klimt and Lucian Fontana, two of my favourite artists, and the latter being one of Itay’s most famous contemporary exports. The only thing the museum was missing to make my visit perfect was a painting by Francis Bacon.
Le tre età by Gustav Klimt After visiting Villa Borghese, everything appeared to slip into place and I didn’t seem to mind the crowds so much afterwards. Funny, eh?
Perhaps all I needed was a little space and the reassurance to know that I could retreat to a blissful, scenic area where quietness happily resides.
And there are plenty of other places to explore which attract less crowds like the creepy Capuchin Crypt or the nearby Keats-Shelley Memorial House.
For a full list of alternative and lesser-known things to do, read: 8 Unusual & Quirky things to do in Rome.
Capuchin Crypt
When I think of Rome, I think about what my friend said to me before I went:
You're going to love Rome - I've always thought of Rome as being very un-Italian. Italy for me was always red-brick and 'Tuscan'. Rome is big, and square, and grey - if it wasn't so artistic, it'd be Germanic. Like Berlin on steroids. Then again, when you build a city to be essentially the centre of the world, you build it to last. It's a magnificent place and there's stuff everywhere to see your head will spin.
He couldn’t have been more right. While Rome did make my head spin, I was also able to find the tranquility to strike the perfect balance between chaos and peace.
Where to stay near Villa Borghese
If I visited Rome again, I would definitely stay near Villa Borghese. This area offers the chance to immerse yourself in the tranquility of the park while being within reach of the city’s cultural and historical treasures.
If you’re looking for something affordable, look no further than Hotel Golden. It receives rave reviews for its value, comfortable and close proximity to Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, and much more.
8 Responses
See, you once again validated my want and desire that I soooo want to have a seasoned travel gal with me when I travel abroad re: your taxi encounter. I’m one of those that could be “taken” so easily. And to tie right in with that where you mentioned your lack of being able to say “no”. We are two birds of a feather there! No smoke…your kindness to people is always reflected in your writing. I mean that! But, a reminder of my dad would have gotten the best of me too! I am not a fan of crowds. I’m glad that all in all it worked out and National Gallery of Modern Art sounds great. Loved this post…sorry so chatty, Shing 🙂 I just enjoy your writing and the way you share your experiences 🙂
Birds of a feather flock together! I’m pleased a part of my personality comes across in my posts, and thank you so much for the compliment on my writing – it means a lot to hear that Mike! The National Gallery of Modern Art comes highly recommended!
You’re so right about the Colosseum: it’s a pity that there are cars, traffic lights and chaos all around it! And it’s so interesting to read about foreigners in Italy and especially Rome. I would never dream of taking a taxi in Rome, LOL! 😀
Haha I would never usually dream of getting a taxi, the prices are ridiculous! Besides, it’s always waaaaay more satisfying when you navigate a place by yourself! I think the same about London, I can’t believe people use them here, they’re extortionate! I guess there are exceptions to using them though – lugging heavy luggage around the underground is one of them!
I totally hear you about the organised chaos in Rome. Thank goodness when we went to the Colosseum its was a very short queue I think probably because of the tickets we got. Didnt have to queue too much. I am so gutted I missed out on Villa Borghese so I guess I am due another trip to Rome?…
AFTERNOON TEA ON THE SIX
Hi Bianca! Like you, I luckily didn’t have to queue long to get into the Colosseum because I paid an extra 5 Euros for a tour which enabled me to go straight through. But without that…..
Haha yes, you’re due another trip to Rome, definitely! Thanks for visiting 🙂
I love Rome – if I could have studied abroad for a year, I could definitely see myself living in Rome, sipping white wine in the Campo di Fiori and zooming about on a vespa (as opposed to that golf buggy you’re driving).
I will not have you disrespecting my tuk tuk!