We arrived around mid afternoon in Rome on the 11th June after the 3 and a half hour drive from Salerno on the Amalfi Coast.

DAY 1

The apartment we are staying in is close to a number of busses, so we took a bus into town and started our sightseeing for the day at the Trevi Fountain. We just managed to take a few photos and toss a coin into the fountain for good luck when it started raining.

The rain very quickly turned into a thunderstorm, so we darted into the nearest cafe. What started as just a quick coffee, turned into lunch while we waited for the rain to stop.

As soon as the rain stopped, we made our way to the Pantheon – one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings in existence, completed around 126 AD.

A few interesting facts about the Pantheon:

• The temple was originally dedicated to the worship of all Roman gods (hence its name, derived from the Greek words “pan” meaning “all” and “theos” meaning “gods”). However, it was later converted into a Christian church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs in the 7th century, which contributed to its preservation over the centuries.
• The Pantheon is renowned for its architectural design. Its most distinctive feature is the large dome, with a diameter of 43.3 meters (142 feet), making it the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The dome’s oculus, a circular opening at the top, provides natural light and a unique celestial connection.
• The construction techniques used for the Pantheon were highly advanced for its time. The dome was constructed using a lighter type of concrete called pozzolana, which reduced the overall weight. The dome’s thickness decreases as it rises, further reducing the load on the walls.
• The Pantheon’s exterior dimensions are equally impressive. The portico features eight massive granite Corinthian columns, each weighing around 60 tons and standing 14.3 meters tall.
• The Pantheon’s design has had a significant influence on later architectural styles and its impact can be seen in structures like St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Piazza Navona was next on the list with the Egyptian Obelisk and fountain in the middle.

There is so much history in Rome with ancient buildings, ruins and churches around every corner. We decided to have a look inside the Basilica Andrea Della Valle and again the interior didn’t disappoint.

We spent some time exploring the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument and walking up the stairs for great views of the city.

The last sightseeing spot on the list for the day was the Colosseum – an iconic symbol of ancient Rome.

We ended our first day in Rome at a very quaint little cafe for a sundowner.

DAY 2

The morning was spent catching up on some work and business admin and then we headed to Vatican City.

The Vatican City is an independent city-state located within Rome, Italy, and serves as the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Another country to add to our list!

Luckily the enormous cues for the free entry to the St. Peter’s Basilica moved quite quickly and we spent a bit of time admiring the the stunning interior and Michelangelo’s Pietà.

We walked the 1km around the corner to cue for the Vatican Museums, but decided to leave that for tomorrow as it was already 3pm and by the looks of it, we weren’t going to make the last entry was 4pm.

On the way back to the apartment another thunderstorm broke out and we got absolutely drenched – we had to walk ankle-deep through a pool of water outside the apartment! Randomly the apartment had a heater/fan so we could dry all of our trainers before the morning.

DAY 3

As the Vatican Museums were on the agenda today, we made sure we were in the cue before 9am. It still took (almost exactly) 3 hours (!!) to get tickets and then it is a bit like herding sheep through the buildings and different rooms.

Of course the Sistine Chapel was our main destination and what an impressive sight it is!

A few interesting facts about the Sistine Chapel:

• The Sistine Chapel is renowned for its ceiling frescoes, which were painted by the Italian artist Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. The ceiling depicts various scenes from the Bible, including the iconic “Creation of Adam” where God reaches out to touch Adam’s hand.
• Michelangelo’s work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling was a monumental task. He had to paint while lying on his back on scaffolding, enduring physical discomfort and strain during the years-long process.
• In addition to the ceiling, Michelangelo also painted the large fresco behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel known as the “Last Judgment.” Completed in 1541, it portrays the second coming of Christ and the final judgment of souls.
• The Sistine Chapel is the venue for the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is elected. The cardinals gather in the chapel to cast their votes in a centuries-old tradition.
• To protect the artwork and maintain the chapel’s sacred atmosphere, photography is strictly prohibited inside the Sistine Chapel. This rule helps preserve the paintings from potential damage caused by flash photography or overcrowding.

We had a quick sandwich outside the Vatican City and then headed back to the apartment.

Next stop: San Marino