[bigletter]I flew into the city from London last week, to spend time with my family, as they live in Anagni, a nearby town located about 50 minutes away from Rome. Being Italian, I had been to Italy many times before, but I’d never visited nor had I toured the city during Christmas time. It’s definitely a trip worth taking, not only because of Vatican City but the way the city is decorated and embellished with lights and beautiful Christmas-themed decor.[/bigletter]
Following my own Italian Tradition
Whenever I’m in Italy, it is known already -within my family and anyone who has seen y posts on social media – that I start the day with a cornetto (a croissant) con la Nutella, and a cappuccino. Every morning, that is my breakfast. I’m obsessed, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the day: people-watching early in the morning, while at the corner coffee shop, drinking my cappuccino while savoring a freshly baked cornetto. I stayed about 10 minutes away from the Vatican at an Airbnb that was situated up a hill. Right on the intersection of the high street and the hill is a bar, Il Pappagallo, and that was where I would be having breakfast every single morning.
Enjoying a stroll to Citta del Vaticano
I hadn’t been to Rome in a good 16 years (since I was 12), so it was really great to admire the architecture. I remember many things about the city, but not in depth. at 8, I was more worried about gelato all day every day than taking any good photos of the streets, the people and the buildings. This time around, while traveling alone, I did plenty of that.
Once in Cittá del Vaticano, I roamed around and took some great photos as well. Every time I travel, I buy a certain jewelry piece, so I bought myself a rosary bracelet in silver. Then I roamed around some more and took photos.
Day 1: What I wore
Another travel tradition I have is to always, ALWAYS pack my chucks (Converse Chuck Taylor All-star Mono Leather). They’re vegan leather and I wear them everywhere, so I broke them in. All I’ll say here, is, wear shoes that don’t need breaking into because nothing will kill your vibe like a blister. Under my beige coat, which I actually got at Primark when I first moved to the UK, I layered on a black loose top (can’t remember where I got it) and a pencil skirt from Zara. My handbag is vintage Gucci. My sunnies are from Versona.
A meeting at the Piazza
I met with my cousins at one of Rome’s most popular and touristic areas: Piazza di Spagna, which translates to Spain’s Plaza. Lying below the Spanish Steps, which were inaugurated by Pope Benedict XIII, the square is a statement of the history that dates back to various happenings between Spain and Italy. During Christmas, the buildings nearby are decorated with lights and seasonal embellishments that make the view of the area extra special.
After meeting my cousins and I went full tourist mode, and we went to various monuments within the area, including the Pantheon. The building is now a church, but it used to be a Roman temple. It is especially known for having a hole in the center of the building’s roof.
In Piazza Navona, we entered the church, and I lit a candle (also a tradition of mine.) When walking out, I watched the sky turn purple as the sun came down. I took a few photos and filters weren’t even necessary.
Exploring the tiny streets!
The next day I set out to do some Christmas shopping as well as have a plate of pasta. There is nothing like the pasta or pizza you will find at the holes in the wall – the ones barely anyone knows about, but you happen to run into as a mere coincidence.
When in Rome…
I ordered the most typical Roman pasta dish: the spaghetti carbonara, which contains pancetta, egg and pecorino chees. Along with the cacio e pepe, it’s a native dish in the city. Italy’s regions each have specific dishes. Pizza is from Napoli. Risotto is from Milano, and Spaghetti Carbonara is from Rome. Pro tip: make sure you have a place to nap after taking down one of these dishes because it is high-fat and heavy.com on the stomach. But hey…when in Rome!
Look behind you
While walking toward the Roman Colosseum, I looked back and saw the most amazing view. I stopped and was able to capture a perfect moment, lovely clear blue skies and a carriage. Simply blissful! So if you’re walking towards the Colosseum, don’t forget to look back and snap a few photos because the view is just as beautiful behind you as it is in front of you!
The Gelato will lead the way!
There is great ice cream and other sweets everywhere in town, but at the Fontana di Trevi, there are a few spots for gelato. I highly recommend stopping at one (or a few – I ain’t judging) for some good Italian ice cream. so you can buy sweets and sit down to enjoy the view of the fountain. Some flavors I recommend: tiramisu, melone (cantaloup) – aka my favorite – and if you’re into the more simple things in life, go for stracciatella.
My happiest place
The Trevi Fountain is my favorite monument in all of Rome. While I was there, I went every day, and yes, I also went for the ice cream, but being there is also amazing. Dating back to ancient Roman times, since the construction of the Aqua Virgo Aqueduct in 19 B.C., the Trevi Fountain provided water to the Roman baths and the fountains of central Rome during the time. It is still one of the most visited and famous fountains in the world.
One of the evenings I was there, I spent a magic hour watching the sunset, eating more cantaloup ice cream and hanging out around the fountain, people-watching and enjoying the night.
Day 2: What I wore
My chucks, 15-year-old ripped jeans from Hot Topic, A babydoll black dress from Zara, a scarf from H&M, a heather gray crew jumper from the men’s section at AllSaints, layered on top is a furry sweater from Shein, and the hat is from Amazon.
The highlight of my trip
Vatican City on Christmas for mass with the Pope. My family invited me to a special private mass with Pope Frances, and it was one of the most amazing experiences, actually seeing him and being present for one of his masses. Religious fanaticism aside, it was just something really cool I’ll be able to talk to my grandkids about.
Today I am off to Paris, and then I’ll be going off to the French Alps with a friend to welcome the new year! So excited…stay tuned!
I adore capturing every highlight of my travels and sharing them in hopes of helping a curious traveler with a bit of insight. If you want to see more visit and follow my hashtags #CBtalksTraveling & #CBgoestoItaly or #CBgoestoRome to stay in tune with where I go next.
With Love From Rome…
By Cata Balzano
