My time in Salerno finally came to an end, and thus I began my journey off to Rome, where I spent the next 24 hours attempting to soak up every last drop that this iconic Italian city has to offer. Luckily for me, my hotel was located just around the corner from the Pantheon, making almost all the infamous historical sites of Rome just steps away!

Next, I moved on to go find the Spanish Steps. While I had heard mixed reviews on whether or not to visit this famous landmark, I am so glad that I did. There isn’t much more to do than climb the 135 steps up to the top, where you’ll find the Trinità dei Monti church and a beautiful overlook of the city, but I greatly enjoyed just taking in the electric atmosphere of this lively area. This was definitely one of the most heavily populated areas that I got the chance to visit, but amidst the crazy state of the world we’re living in, I did not mind one bit! I would definitely recommend making a stop here if you get the chance!

After going on a wild goose chase across the city for a lunch spot, I found myself in the area of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Being a bit of an ancient Roman history nerd, this was one of the things I was most excited about when I found out I would get to spend a day in Rome before heading home. The massive Colosseum was breathtaking and it’s hard to believe that this ancient structure still stands today. I opted for the normal entrance ticket, but recently Rome has recently opened up never before seen areas of the underground levels of the arena that will definitely be on my bucket list for next time! Once the heart of ancient Rome, walking through the Forum and Palatine Hill allowed me to experience life like a true Roman! Because of the sheer size of this area, it’s hard to fully take in everything in just a few short hours. Next time I would definitely opt to spend an entire day exploring!

No visit to Rome would be complete without some authentic Roman pasta, and Osteria Da Fortunata did not disappoint! I went for the classic carbonara and you could taste the care put into the fresh pasta, cheesy sauce, and crispy pork. The addition of cracked pepper on top had my taste buds coming back for more! Seriously, if you’re in Rome, don’t skip out on the opportunity to visit this place!

Before finishing the night with some incredible gelato and a short walk to the Trevi Fountain, I stopped at the Piazza Navona. This lively area was full of restaurants and cafes that allow you to sit and enjoy yourself in the company of beautiful architecture and the gentle trickling from the Fountain of the Four Rivers.

After walking over 40,000 steps over the course of the day, to say I NEEDED some gelato was an understatement. I found myself at Giolitti, supposedly the oldest bakery and pastry shop in all of Rome. Here they don’t mess around with their flavors OR their portion sizes. Definitely don’t miss out on this gem in the heart of the historical district!

I couldn’t think of a better way to end off my night than at the Trevi Fountain. They say that if you toss your coin into the water, you’re bound to return to The Eternal City. After taking my turn, I just sat and admired its beauty among the other hopeful dreamers around me. The entire atmosphere of this area was so electric, and I wish I had longer to stay and experience it. It all felt out of a dream because there was no way anything could be so surreal yet wonderful at the same time!

And that was my 24 hours in Rome! It’s finally come time to head off to the airport and fly home. I wish that I had more time to appropriately admire this beautiful city, but that just means that I’ll have to come back for more! I will definitely be leaving a part of my heart in this city, and I’ll be returning to turn my coin toss into the Trevi Fountain into a reality. Thank you to everyone for staying on this journey with me, and stay tuned for a few final posts to completely wrap up my study abroad experience in Italy!

Ciao a tutti!

Kasey