Fontana di Trevi, we meet again!…read more First time around I recall being delighted being close to the water and looking up at the sculptures. Magnificent in every way, no doubt that it's one of the most beautiful man-made fountains in world. Seeing the sheer number of coins in the fountain, I remember thinking surely it's not marginal how much change is thrown daily given the crowds! This time to Rome I came twice, once early afternoon, another time early evening, both times on a weekend. It's so much more crowded now compared to more than a decade ago, if you're not comfortable being shoulder to shoulder with several hundred other people in a small square, then try to come during less busy hours. I can understand why starting last year they instituted a small fee €2 to get up to the front during the peak hours of 9am to 10pm. The line moved fairly quickly. During off-peak hours you can make your way up close without the fee and it's less crowded more so in the early morning. I'm making a mental note to arrive at 7am to both Trevi and the Spanish Steps next time to avoid the congestion!

There's a reason everyone wants to visit the Trevi Fountain, and it's quickly evident why as soon…read moreas you see it in person. It's completely magnificent and majestic. We saw it both at night and during the day, and each time brought with it a different kind of beauty. We were here in the winter, so the crowds were significantly smaller during the day. And when we came early in the morning, there were only a handful of people there, and it was like we had the entire fountain to ourselves. They were charging the €2 euro yet for the lower access while we were there, but having seen the Trevi up close, I'd definitely recommend paying to get that much closer.

Honestly, save your time and your one euro coin. The church…read moreitself is beautiful, but the entire experience has been completely ruined by social media hype. We waited in line for a literal hour just to reach the famous "selfie mirror" to get a photo with the ceiling fresco. When you finally get to the front, you have to pay 1 euro, and you're rushed through it so fast you can barely even check if the photo turned out.

To think, I almost avoided visiting this STUNNING 17th-century church - Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di…read moreLoyola, when visiting Rome, Italy (09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025) because it is Tik-Tok and IG "famous" for being the "mirrored church" to take an iconic selfie... yes, you read that correctly..iconic selfie. I was for sure it was going to be crowded w/ social media influencers and I was correct..it was crowded but don't let that deter you from seeing this historical beauty! Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola is known as the "mirrored church" because it has a mirror strategically placed to see the beautiful painted ceiling fresco. (see pics & videos included in this review from my visit on Tuesday 09/30/2025 - at 10:56am) It also has a painted illusion of having a real soaring dome on a flat ceiling - very cool for sure and does make you look twice just to confirm it's indeed an illusion! Here are a few helpful fyi(s) that I wanted to pass along: --- - long line for the mirror right as you enter the church - if there is a line of people waiting for the mirror, you don't have to wait in that line if you don't want to take a selfie w/ the mirror and are only wanting to see the church...as someone else mentioned in a previous review, you can get creative w/ taking a selfie w/ the beautiful ceiling. My hubby & I took our selfie pic while we were sitting in the pew and used a timer on our phone (see pic included). ---- visit early to avoid the crowds & to fully enjoy your experience at this church Avoid the crowds so you can really take in how detailed and beautiful the architecture and paintings are. Trust me, you'll enjoy your experience so much more w/ less people. ---- it's free to visit but do bring some money w/ you to give as an offering --- just a reminder to be respectful when visiting because it is a holy place Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola truly is something special and of the MANY Rome basilica's I've explored during my 2 visits to Rome, it is now my FAVORITE basilica thus far. Hope this info helps. :)) Rebecca visiting Rome, Italy from Austin, Texas (USA) 09/25/2025 - 10/01/2025

So sad the Piazza Venezia and its' surrounding area was under construction during the time of our…read morevisit. This is one of the most iconic and central squares in Rome, and I can even see some of its' elegance peeking out from behind the construction area.

A must stop if you're looking for free things to do. There are options to pay like they have a…read moremuseum and some other stuff otherwise you could totally walk through the piazza completely free. Many picture areas and has bathrooms, though it was crowded.

While visiting Roma , this was one of our stops. No time to…read morevisit inside since our time was limited as our stop in Roma was during our Mediterranean cruise. Beautiful structure on the outside so grand, it's nice to see one of these days maybe next time we will be able to go inside.

Buy a ticket online before you come, since we went by several times and there was always a long…read moreline. If you already have your online ticket, there was a very short line to the left to get inside. The Pantheon was built originally as a Roman temple and later changed into a church in the 7th century, so it is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome. The Oculus, circular opening at the top of the dome lets in light and rain. The ceiling above is a work of art. Statues and art around the perimeter also delight the eyes. You can even pray at the pews in front of the altar. Inside, tombs of Raphael, Victor Emmanuel II, and Umberto I and others. Next to the Sistine Chapel, this was one of the most crowded places we visited.

Vittoriano, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland. The Monument…read moreto king Victor Emmanuel II was built starting in 1885, designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, and inaugurated in 1911 to commemorate the 50th. See it as you walk around downtown Rome.

This building was right down the road from our hotel and we passed it a number of times. It is…read morebeautiful with nice statues on the front and back of building. I climbed up the back of building and caught the sunset.

Proud to say my first world wonder was the colosseum in Rome Italy. I had a wonderful guided tour I…read moregot from get your guide and it was incredible learning about the nearly 2,000 year old landmark. I got the upgraded package to visit the arena and it was so unreal being there. It was like stepping into history. The colosseum is a must see in Rome!

Absolutely fantastic piece of History and landmark that should be cherished for all of future to…read moresee. Experience a Piece of History that was around since when Jesus Christ walked the earth and soak in the history of great Rome. Get your tickets well in advance and get ready to take some amazing pictures and make memories by yourself or with your loved ones. 5 glowing stars because anything less would truly be disrespectful and uncalled for. Thank you for preserving history!

Wow I love the Campo de Fiori. The name means the field of flowers, because it used to be a field…read moreof flowers and vegetable gardens here before it became this square. Unfortunately from the 16th to 19th century this place became a public execution site. Yikes. The most famous execution was Giordano Bruno in 1600, in which there is now a statue in his honor for freedom of thought. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. Pass forward to present day. This area is lively with the open air markets where you can find vendors selling produce, flowers, spices, cheese, and artisanal goods. My boyfriend and I came here to explore the live market and also to look for souvenirs to bring home. The vendors here are really aggressive and I would have enjoyed it more if they gave me space to look instead of hound me to buy buy buy. Like chill dude can I look at what I'm buying. Sigh. We were here til closing time and even get to see how the vendors efficiently and quickly packed up their stalls and belongings to wrap up for the day. And of course... a great area to enjoy some gelato.

We're at Campo de' Fiori, Rome's oldest market and possibly the most enthusiastic display of…read moretourist traps per square meter. Once a site for public executions (Bruno's brooding statue still watches over), it now specializes in overpriced pasta and garlic braids. It's more performance art than produce. Vendors heckle, truffle oil flows freely, and yes, someone will try to sell you limoncello in a boot. I walked through as part of a food tour, which felt like the right way to enjoy the chaos, briefly, and with snacks elsewhere. Not the best market in Rome, but definitely the most theatrical.

We spent an afternoon wandering around Rome, making our way through different neighborhoods, and…read morecame across the Largo di Torre Argentina entirely by accident. It looked significant, so we walked over and read up on what we were seeing. Turns out this is where it is commonly believed that Julius Caesar met his et tu end. Rome, right? There's no avoiding sites of staggering historic importance. The site is now a sort of open square, fenced off in such a way that you can't just walk in but can see everything from the street. It contains four Roman Republican temples and the remains of Pompey's Theatre, apparently the first permanent theatre to be built in Rome, completed in 55 BC. Julius Caesar was assassinated at Pomepy's Theatre, so I guess even if it didn't happen within the square, it was certainly close enough. Two thousand years and change later, Largo di Torre Argentina became an official cat sanctuary, with a shelter opening in 1993. My husband visited Rome in 1997 and remembers seeing cats everywhere. He says there are noticeably fewer now, and I think we only saw one when we visited this square. Though did I see a cat, or do I just know, reading about the place now, that I was maybe supposed to see one? I honestly can't say. But in my mind, I can picture a cat, fluffy and grimy, resting by the fence. The picture of Caesar is less defined, but I can see him there too, leaving his blood in the square.

This open-air historic site includes (1) the ruins of the ancient Roman building where Caesar was…read moreassassinated and (2) cats. You can see most of the cats (and ruins) from the perimeter of the site. However, if you want to go down to ground level and get a closer look at the ruins and some signs explaining what you're looking at, you can get an entry ticket for €7. The cats are pretty friendly and may approach you.

Super touristy, but also a wonderful place to sit in a cafe with an Aperol Spritz and watch the…read moreworld go by. The waiters don't seem to mind how long you sit there and don't push you to order food. They probably get paid the same no matter what you order, unlike the U.S.

One of Rome's famous plaza's to visit and explore. Beautiful fountains and architecture. Plenty of…read morerestaurants around the edge. While we didn't dine at any of them, it sounds like a wonderful place to grab a drink and people watch. Worth a stop.