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Brussels vs Rome – What to visit in 2024?
#rome #brussels #italy #belgium #traveldestination
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.
In my previous post, you found out what I got to discover in Brussels – a capital of a European country, which also happens to be the capital of the European Union, yet not widely popularized. Last year, some of my most read blog posts were about Rome – a generally well-known and admired travel destination. If you remember, I mentioned that “Brussels is everything that Rome is said to be”. So, what is Rome said to be? And how do these compare? Let’s try and skip the geo-political numerical data, which people mostly use to compare two places, and skip directly into the essence, cultural heritage and the feeling each city gives its visitors.
Cultural heritage
Each city is deemed to be a walk-through museum. Sculptures, antique buildings and medieval cathedrals everywhere. Located in Western Europe, they lived through similar, if not the completely same cultural epochs. Both Italy and Belgium can also pride themselves on countless artists who have been born, raised, schooled and dedicated their work to one of these countries. (Technically regions, especially taking into account the history of Italy and its unification.) So, how do they compare, where is the art prettier? That is for each visitor to choose. However, while Italian acknowledged art is mostly antique or medieval, Belgian is more modern, even though the grounds are covered in gothic monuments. In both cities, everything is grandiose and has visibly stood the test of time.
Politics
Brussels is the home of the EU, as well as its capital. Most important EU government buildings are situated in this city. I decided not to cast a lot of light onto them, as they really do not seem to matter, next to historical and much more artistic edifices. Or even the more modern ones, such as the Atomium.
Rome, on the other hand, is the home to two states – the Vatican and the Order of Malta. It is also the capital of Italy. The major difference is that the styles of both the Vatican and the Magistrate Building completely fit into their surroundings. I most certainly suggest traversing both capitals and finding all of these buildings/blocks, and being your own judge.
Food
Italy is renowned for its cuisine, all around the world. Pizza, pasta, lasagna, pastry, pastry, pastry! As I keep telling my friends from Italy (or anywhere, for that matter), I personally don’t like it, as I can’t digest pastry. I do like the aroma of basil, oregano, tomato and, of course, all sorts of cheese!
Belgium, on the other hand, is only renowned for its chocolate and cheese. And p*nis-shaped waffles. You can find an array of chocolate museums and workshops all around the country. Their recipe for chocolate is so good, that it’s even said it was gifted to Switzerland, another country renowned for its chocolate. More about chocolate in Belgium in my upcoming posts.
All in all: sorry, Italy. I choose chocolate over pastry.
Multi-national origins
As most know, Italy was unified only recently, in the 19th century. The only parts that did not unite are San Marino, and the above-mentioned Vatican and the Order of Malta (which, technically, possesses no territory). Rome itself is the embodiment of Italy, the country it represents. But more or less, Italy itself is quite homogenous, whether we talk about heritage, art, language, customs, traditions, or any other aspect of living.
When it comes to Belgium, it consists of three major entities – Wallonia (of French descent and culture), Flanders (of Dutch descent and culture) and Brussels, as the conglomerate of the other two. Due to a small area in the east, under German influence, unlike Italy, Belgium has three official languages – French, Dutch and German. In the north (Flanders), Dutch is the primary language, and for foreigners who do not have a PhD in Belgian history, it’s hard to distinguish that you’re actually not in the Netherlands. French is widely spoken in the south. Brussels, visibly, is the home to both, whereas German does not happen to prevail. A strange mix, but apparently functioning.
Cleanliness
Brussels is the obvious winner here, with no introduction required. In Brussels, as well as other Belgian cities, everything is kept sanitary – indoors and outdoors alike. Unfortunately, that cannot be said about Rome. Everyone who is enchanted by my stories from Rome always asks me what to particularly take care of. As scary as it sounds, my answer is always – trash. Every time I went there, the streets were soiled with trash everywhere. As if garbage cans did not exist. Not sure what the cause of it is, but I hope things will change for the better soon.
The locals
In Rome, it’s very easy to spot the locals. Everyone speaks Italian, but other than that, you can spot a complete stranger in the street and understand with no mistake that they are Italian. Or at least of Italian descent. Not sure how or why that works, but it does.
In Brussels, I cannot guarantee we ever bumped into a local. Similar to the situation in Malta, where I was unable to tell who the locals are, at all. Brussels is such an international conglomerate, where almost everyone speaks English, while you can easily find a common language with those who do not. The only people we could guarantee to have been born and raised in Brussels, or at least Belgium, were people of clear African origins. But Belgians by ancestry – we couldn’t really say who they are.
Prices
Believe it or not, both cities are quite affordable. You’d expect them to be as expensive as Manhattan, but in reality, they aren’t even close. Admissions to all museums and attractions in both cities are reasonable, in cohesion with what they offer. Debatably, we can say that Rome has more story to it, especially taking into account the Atomium and the Manneken Pis Museum, which are both just a museum of themselves. Still, both are more than just worth seeing.
Still deciding which European capital to travel to in 2024? Stay tuned, as I will soon share a post about the capitals visited in recent months. In the meantime, I suggest reading my next blog post, about an unofficial capital – the Diamond Capital of the world. I’ll keep recommending cities that aren’t capitals in reality, as they usually contain hidden gems that ought to be explored, and in most cases are way more fun and interesting than actual capital cities.
Once you decide which destination you will travel to next, feel free to reach out for assistance with booking the right travel option. Courageous Wanderer is there for you.
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