Rome, the Best Vacation I Ever Had!

The best vacation I ever had was a trip to Italy with college friends. We spent a week in one of the most beautiful and cultered cities in the world. The people were friendly, the food was delicious, the coffee was strong, and the sites were breathtaking!

We began our vacation from Boston's Logan International Airport to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino, Italy, 18 miles outside of Rome. After a frenzied and terrifying taxi ride we arrived at the Hotel Forum Rome. The hotel is located on the Via Tor de Conti, and rests amid the historical center of Rome and overlooks amazing views of the ruins of the Forums. Aside from the astounding views of this quaint and charming hotel, is its perfect location. It is in walking distance of the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, and the Vittoriano. After checking in, we wandered around the grounds of the hotel and eventually retired for the evening.

The following day we visited the Imperial Forums right outside the hotel and then walked to the Colosseum located on the Piazza del Colosseo. It's amazing that peppered throughout this cosmopolitan city are all of these ancient ruins. To be walking on the very ground that Mark Anthony and Julius Caesar walked upon centuries ago is inspiring.

The next day we visited the Spanish Steps and met some friendly twenty-something Italians who played guides for the day. The impressive Trevi Fountain was close by and we each made a wish and threw a coin in the fountain. Close to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain is the Via Condotti, the street that faces the Steps. It is along this street that you can find some of the most elegant boutiques and jewellers, such as Valentino, Bulgari, Gianni Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Coutier, Chanel, Fendi, Giorgio Armani to name a few. It is at one of these shops that I bought my first classic black Italian suit. Afterwards we relaxed at the Caffe Greco sipping cappuccinos and snacking on biscotti while watching the tourists intermingling with the locals. Incidentally, the Café Greco is one of the oldest cafes in the world.

Just on the outskirts of Rome is the illustrious Vatican City. There we took a walking tour in and around the Vatican, and visited the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo's masterpiece soared overhead. Our final stop of the day was a visit to St. Peter's Basilica and a stroll around the Piazza San Pietro. Michelangelo was the main architect on the building and designed the dome, and Bernini designed the great St. Peter's Square.

We had such a fun vacation with wonderful vacation memories that, on our return flight home, we began planning our next exciting trip with friends back to the eternal city!