Rome was our first stop in Italy but we only had one full day to sight see and explore. With an early start to the morning and a map of Rome, our first stop was Monument Victor Emmanuel II, which is such a huge building and really stands out compared to the typical ancient buildings.
This building was erected whilst destroying roman ruins and medieval churches so it does stand out like a sore thumb but the views are great from the top of the stairs.
We then got tickets to go "hop-on-hop-off"which was a brilliant idea because we had more time to walk and explore by getting a bus ride to our favourites sites. It is also quicker as well as informative. We found that by staying on the bus and listening to the commentary and looking at the sights helped for when we were sightseeing on foot.
St Peters Square is located directly in front of St Peter’s Basilica. A magnificent display of 284 columns supported by 140 statues of Saints and Martyrs surround you. The statues are larger than life size. The obelisk which stands in the centre of the square dates back to the 13th century BC in Egypt and was moved to Rome in the 1st century. The obelisk reaches 40m. It is said that on top of the obelisk there used to be a large bronze globe containing the ashes of Julius Caesar and was removed as the obelisk was re-erected in St Peter’s Square. There are also two fountains in the Square. St. Peter's Basilica is located in the Vatican state and was built at the place where Peter, the apostle, was crucified and buried, his tome is under the main alter along with other popes also buried below the basilica. We spent about an hour walking around inside The Basilica and it is simply astounding. There is so much artwork and marble and so truly impressive the way in which the light reflects on the abundance of stained glass windows and statues. You could spend an entire day in awe of the splendour captured inside but it was time for us to move on.

Our next favourite place was The Colosseum, which is seriously impressive and walking around the Colosseum completely captivated my imagination back in time to another era, one of violent sports and cheering crowds. There was seating for 50 000 spectators. Below the arena floor there were rooms and passageways for wild beasts and animals and ended with fights to the death between gladiators and animals. The magnitude of the interior cannot be described or guessed by looking at pictures but by actually being inside there and feeling yourself being engulfed.

The Trevi Fountain was our last historical visit and what an incredible visit it was. The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. The legend is that by tossing a coin over your shoulder, and your back to the fountain promises your return to Rome. The thing that we found most fascinating is that we stumbled upon The Trevi by accident. One minute we were venturing around the little streets of Rome and the next you‘re just standing alongside the most incredible and captivating fountain.
With 3000 years of history, Rome offers a mixture of ruins, mystery and romance. It is a beautiful city and we loved it. It is beautiful and momentous and buzzing with spirit. Our first Italian pizza did not disappoint and was delicious. You could spend hours people-watching in the relaxing city squares or parks or even on steps of fountains. However, the Italians are not good drivers and my nerves were shattered by the end of the day but a mind-blowing experience and never to forget. From Rome we moved onto Sorrento

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