This Fountain Collects $3,500 in Coins Every Day!
It’s often regarded as the most famous fountain in the world — do you know where it is?
My friend and I took a cheap flight to the historical city of Rome, Italy for a weekend getaway. It is only one hour north of where we were living, Malta.
We knew before we left that 4 days in Rome could very well not be enough time to see everything, and it wasn’t.
First impressions. . .
We arrived on a beautiful, sunny day. We toured the city on foot and ran into a new tourist attraction around every corner.
My favorite part about Rome is that modern-day Rome is built around ancient Rome. It’s not like there are two different sides of the city.
The Colosseum is literally surrounded by apartment buildings and markets. The Pantheon is mixed into what seems like a business district of modern Rome.
What to do in Rome
Here are some of the best things to do in Rome on your trip!
Colosseum
I was a bit disappointed by the Colosseum. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting a construction zone.
Over centuries, obviously, the structure is going to need its fair share of repairs. Still, it seemed over half the structure was under construction. And another part of it had already been repaired with modern-day materials.
I realize that if left untouched, it will not exist forever. But to me, the construction ruined the Roman feel.
Vittoriano
We then stumbled upon the Vittoriano. I have to say, this is my favorite structure of Rome. There are no words for its beauty.
It was constructed only a little over a century ago, so it doesn’t date back as far as other Roman architecture. Still, it is breathtaking nonetheless.
Vittoriano as the foreground on one of the most picturesque sunsets I’ve seen was an added bonus. It was perfect.
Trevi Fountain
We got to the Trevi Fountain after the sun went down and were finally able to sit down. We were roaming around the most historic city in the world and had hardly taken a breath since arriving.
The Trevi Fountain is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Can you tell I’m a geek for Roman architecture?
It made for fantastic people-watching even if there were too many tourists around. Many tourists only visit for a matter of minutes, take their photos, and leave.
Being so detailed, there are some things you can’t see in a photo. The atmosphere around the fountain was electric. The crisp and cool fall air was rejuvenating. Rome was alive!
Coming from the “City of Fountains”, Kansas City, even I was taken away by Trevi’s exquisiteness. As the most famous fountain in the world, it was so much more majestic than anything we have in Kansas City.
Fun fact: This is where charities collect $3,500 from the bottom of the fountain on a daily.
Highlander Pub Crawl
After taking a breather in the hostel, it was time to prepare for our first night out. We were going to “Roma’s Ultimate Party” at the Highlander Pub downtown.
This was my favorite night out that weekend by far. We met a couple of local girls who are originally from Russia. As well as a couple of guys on vacation from San Diego.
The girls were great hosts. They showed us around the city and took us on a personalized pub crawl.
We crossed paths with the Pantheon at midnight. We belted too many karaoke tunes to a bar full of unimpressed Italians. It was a very fun night.
I highly recommend the Highlander Pub Crawl. It serves all-you-can-eat pizza and as much alcohol as you can consume. All included in the $25 admission fee (as well as a free t-shirt).
Vatican City
We spent our entire second day in Vatican City. It’s the only part of ancient Rome not within walking distance.
The clouds were grey. It started to feel like an exorcism movie. Complete with the backdrop of Vatican City.
Fun fact: Vatican City is its own country (the smallest in the world with only a two-mile border).
St. Peter’s Basilica Dome
We hiked all the way to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica Dome where we got the best view of the whole city of Rome.
It was gorgeous, but what stood out the most was the contrast of colors in the city. Every building was painted bright, and the recognizable trees of Rome hadn’t lost their color yet. A beautiful Roman aesthetic.
There was a mile-long line to enter the Basilica. But we enjoyed eavesdropping on many people’s conversations. People from all different cultures.
Sistine Chapel
On our last day, we were already tired as hell. It rained the entire day which sucked the rest of the life out of us. But what’s a trip to Rome without seeing the Sistine Chapel?
The amount of detail put into the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel is unfathomable. No wonder it took centuries to complete.
The Pantheon
The saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” means so much more to me now.
We decided to take a look at the Pantheon during the daylight, and I must say, it lived up to the tourist-hype.
Though I had only ever seen the famous outer pillars, inside is even more impressive.
The dome has a giant hole at the top of it because the building was built for communicating with the gods. So, since it was raining all day, the inside was practically a lake.
When you see so much in just one weekend, it is hard to see every building in its glory. But, for the Pantheon, I am still mystified by all its glory.
Eats
We stopped for lunch outside our hostel at Topside Restaurant. This place is the most delicious place I’ve ever eaten.
One Italian spaghetti meal has officially changed my appetite for pasta. I’ve never tasted such flavorful food in my life.
I had a dish called Amatriciana spaghetti with pepperoni and ham bruschetta. It’s true that no one does Italian food like the Italians.
Note: This is by no means a “budget” eatery, but it won’t break the budget either.
Other attractions, bars, and restaurants. . .
- Roman Forum (middle of Roman Empire)
- Spanish Steps (also will be seen on the Highlander Pub Crawl)
- Palatine Hill (ancient Roman palace/museum)
- Bar San Calisto (CHEAP beer!)
- La Prosciuterria (best place in Rome for the combination of good, cheap food and beer)
- Black Market (cozy atmosphere, decently priced drinks, occasional live music)
Rome is the most beautiful city I’ve ever visited. It’s unlike any other big city you could experience.
The entire city is comparable to a project you start only to realize you’re in way over your head. So, you quit.
However, the Romans (or rather the slaves of ancient Rome) actually went through with it. The city is a finished masterpiece. Impressive.
When in Rome, we did as tourists would do (and we even learned some local culture while we were at it). It was a great trip and I can’t wait to go back for a longer time at some point. There is still so much to see.
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** This article was originally published at www.adamcheshier.com **
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