Usually when we are joined by other people on a trip, I email them questions after the trip and make their answers into the last blog post.
Typically, I don't participate, because faithful readers have being reading my thoughts all along. This time, since there are only five of us, I will answer. Plus, it's Rome after all! My answers to my own questions will be last of the five for each. The other answers are randomized.
Here's the questions and answers:
First question: Ranked first, second, and third, what were your three
favorite activities/sights we did/went to. Briefly, why for each
one?
Julia
First:
Galleria Colonna, because I wasn't expecting such a beautiful and
interesting home, including a wonderful garden.
Second:
Pantheon, I enjoyed being there with a guide this time and getting a more
detailed understanding of the building and everything inside.
Third:
The Vatican, especially getting to see some of the museum parts that
aren't usually open to the public and all the art (yes, even the more
"modern" art!)
Maria
Trevi
Fountain – even without the water, the bridge brought you so much closer
to it and what an amazing work of art.
St.
Peter’s Basilica – the enormity, the beautiful art, the only church that
really moved me.
Street Food Tour in Trastevere – awesome variety of
food and guide.
Carol
Galleria Colonna - what an
amazing and beautiful home and garden in the middle of Rome. Loved that
it as still in private hands. One of the owners was talking with some guests in
the first room we went through at the start of the tours. Also, the cannon ball
left in the middle of the stairs of the main gallery was awesome -
connecting the modern with history. The French shot a cannon ball at the
Italian rebels holding the palace.
Pantheon - an incredible building
with such deep history. Loved the image of rose petals floating through
the Oculus. The little bit of rain we go while there was magical.
Galleria Borghese - the
Bernini sculptures were spectacular. I was so happy to see the statue of
Proserpina which I had only seen in photos prior to this, along with his
version of David. His ability to show such expression and human anatomy
in marble is amazing.
Van
Street
Food Tour in Trastevere – food was good; guide was good
Colonna
Palace - art
Vatican
– art, architecture
Glen
Walking into the Sant'Andrea della Valle church and hearing the choir and orchestra with magnificent music that makes the heart swell with joy. I feel bad that only Julia and I were there in the late afternoon to witness that incredible sound in the beautiful Baroque church with its massive dome. I'd would do that again any day of my life.
Galleria Colonna: An incredible, stunning palazzo full of art, impressive furniture and more. It wasn't just an art gallery, it's a home. There's a beautiful courtyard and a more impressive garden spilling down from the top of Quirinal Hill. If you are going to Rome, make sure you get tickets for Galleria Colonna well in advance.
The Pantheon: As much as the Colosseum is incredible, the Pantheon is awe-inspiring. Having a dome that not only has stood for nearly 2,000 years, but is the model for so many famous domes throughout the western world, is jaw-dropping.
Second question: Which restaurant did you like best, and why?
Maria
Picking
one is just a cruel exercise
- Aroma
for the view and the food but wow the view.
- The
place near the train station, that was too cold, where we went to a
church before and after and it was closed for the lasagna much to my
sicilian mom’s dismay who always made me lasagna on my birthday growing
up.
- Antica
Trattoria Angelino for the Veal Saltimbucca and vibe.
Carol
Loved Aroma for the food, the delicious cocktails and of course, the view! Also, I look really good in a picture we took there!
Van
Pizza
place in Trastevere. Ivo (our first night) - delicious pizza.
Julia
Luciano
Cucina Italiana for some of the best carbonara I've ever had, but tied
with Aroma for the food, drinks, and view!
Glen
Since three of the other four answers picked more than one, I will too. First for me is Luciano Cucina Italiana, because the dish I had was the most incredible pasta I've ever had. Second would be all the food on the Viator Food Tour of Trastevere, because going all those different restaurants/street food places makes me happy. Every stop was fun and tasty!
Third question: What surprised you most about Rome?
Carol
How much I was disappointed in the Sistine
Chapel. Too crowded. Not enough quiet to appreciate the art.
Saw in 2007 for the first time. It was not crowded back then - I think they
limited the number of people in at a time. Instead of a special moment
appreciating great art, it seemed like a lot of Instagram influencers were
there to get secret pictures. I think I was spoiled by the Scrovegni
Chapel in Padua. Painted by Giotto, it is like an early Sistine Chapel.
The Chapel is managed better than the Sistine. Only 25 people at a
time, with a docent available to answer questions. I know, I sound like
such a snob.
Julia
How
relatively close everything was together, at least that we were doing.
Lots of walking, but nothing undoable.
Maria
How
much language wasn’t a barrier and that I didn’t like cacio e peppe that
everyone raves about.
Glen
I'm with Julia on this -- just how many places we could walk to. And how much there still is to see! (To be fair to Carol, I wasn't blown away this time by the Sistine Chapel -- go see Scrovegni Chapel in Padua if you are ever in Northern Italy.) Additionally, I'm with Joe Eule -- he's a good friend who had recently been to Rome (and other parts of Italy) and kept commenting to me in WhatsApp about his surprise about how inexpensive the food is. And he's right -- I was surprised too!
Fourth question: What one place in Rome that you didn’t get to would you
like to have gone?
Van
We
went everywhere.
Julia
You
all seemed to really enjoy Trastevere, so I guess I'll have to return and
go there at some point!
Maria
Villa Farnesina and Santa Maria Basilica – both in Trastevere
Carol
The Church of Santa Maria dell Vittoria - It was closed for renovation so we didn't get to see the Bernini statue - St. Teresa in Ecstasy. Also missed a a number of Baroque Churches along Via XX Settembre - It was a Sunday and the churches closed after services in the morning and didn't reopen until much later in the day.
Glen
I'm with Carol on this one -- I would have liked to make it the Baroque Churches along Via XX Settembre, in particular the Bernini sculpture in Santa Maria dell Vittoria. We'll just have to go back!
As they would say in Latin. . .the blog is complevit (finished).
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