Your cart is currently empty!
Top 10 Easter eggs in Rome
#travel #inspiration #experience #challenge #rome
All roads lead to Rome.
I love the quotes I place at the beginning of each of post. They turn out to be so true. Like for me, all roads did lead to Rome. I had no idea I would be traveling there at all, up to two weeks ahead – I only knew I needed to go somewhere quickly! This was my second time around in Rome, and I’ve been to Italy on multiple occasions prior to this one. Generally speaking, Italy is a country where one will always find something new to see or do.
Normally, I would aim at a top 10 of things to see and do at a specific place. But when it comes to Rome, I truly believe it’s the second most famous city in the world – right after New York. Anyone who’s even heard of Rome know which 10 things they can do there, and there are countless other blogs mentioning the same. So, why copy? Instead, let’s dive into a nice top 10 Easter eggs (for die-hard South Park fans, pun non intended!) that everyone should seek out to find in the Eternal City.
1. The Spanish stairs – not packed with tourists
After visiting Paris in the autumn, crowded with people everywhere, I was expecting to live through the same ordeal in Rome, as well – if not an even more oppressive one. I don’t know if it’s because of the winter and the cold weather, or simply due to an excessive amount of luck, but the city was not swarming at all. In fact, I don’t remember having to push around people anywhere!
The Spanish stairs are always overcrowded, and I don’t remember ever having seen them with a spot of naked ground. Luckily, I did see it live. Not one spot, though, but the whole monument. If you weren’t of this kind of luck, do enjoy the picture I made for you.
2. The Magistrate Building
Apart from Italy, how many countries’ governments are located in Rome? Two! One of them is The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, or simply Order of Malta, for short. The Magistrate Building is their headquarters.
Now beware, their website says they have a tourist center, the exhibitions of which are open to the public. This has, in fact, turned out not to be true. It was recently closed forever, according to the words of the people at the entrance. Still, it is pretty near the epicenter of events and all monuments, so when in Rome, do as the Maltese Knights, and don’t shy away from taking a picture in front of the building.
Also, let me unriddle what the Danish flag is doing here. This flag is, for the fact, not Danish at all. It is one of the flags of the Order. Also, it stands opposite to its Danish counterpart (left side right). For those of you who want to find out more about the Order, you can visit one of my blog posts about Malta. Or, you can travel to Malta, where you can also find guided tours and educational movies about their work.
3. Piazza Navona
If you take a look at the buses in Rome, you will see that they abbreviate Piazza with P.za or P.zza (no, this is not short for pizza). Strange, but fun!
Piazza Navona is a hidden gem, usually skipped due to more famous sights, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Fontana di Trevi, or countless others. I don’t remember anyone ever telling me they’d visited this elongated, rectangular square.
I corrected that mistake. The Piazza is so long, that it will be quite difficult to make a good picture of both the fountain on one side, and the obelisk on the other. However, you will have a much better time taking nice pictures here than around other famous sites – it’s not expected to be as packed!
4. SPQR Manholes
I know, this is ridiculous! No idea why, but some cities really put a lot of effort into designing their manhole decks. Luckily, you can find one of these at every few steps. This piece of history seems to be the most prevalent one around the city.
SPQR stands short for “Senatus PopulusQue Romanus”, which means “the Senate and the People of Rome”. In ancient times, this sigil was even seen flying on the Roman flag. To me, it was completely fascinating why the people of Italy have decided to keep this, as Ancient Rome is long gone. Still, it represents a nice sign of the time, if not to say timestamp, which speaks of the heritage of this country, wherever you look.
5. Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
I don’t know exactly why, but the square (if it can even be called so, due to its size) in front of this basilica is one of the chilliest places on Earth! The basilica itself looks quite extraordinary, especially with all the open niches and colonnades. I actually had to check multiple times if this really stems from a religious object, as it resembles none (apart from the style of the columns and arches).
Do not say I did not warn you, but the glance at the basilica, and at the area in front of it, provide two completely different impressions. The basilica itself is extremely majestic, both in size and appearance. It provides the feeling of magnitude, history and perseverance. Luckily enough, there are benches in front of it, where a weary traveler can rest their feet and eyes alike.
If you decide to turn around, you’re in for a culture shock. The way aqueducts and viaducts have been connected to modern-day buildings, incorporated into streets and stand in the middle of strangely (dis)organized crossroads – it lies within the borders of unusual and unnerving. On one side, you can see holiness, and on the other, you’ll have to watch your language in order not to say “holy s***”.
6. The greenery around the Colosseum
The Colosseum is virtually one of the most visited historical landmarks in the world. Telling you a story about it would be useless and repetitive. Instead, how about I tell you about the beauty of the Palatine Hill, and all the greenery around the structure? Although the winter in Rome is harsh (at least to us summer-lovers), the weather was sunny and beautiful. The trees on the Palatine Hill were providing one of the most picturesque sceneries an urban landscape could.
Generally, although nowadays the Colosseum is surrounded by streets, it still gives you a great place to take your selfies. On one hand, you’ve got one of the most famous ancient buildings in sight, and on the other one, trees and grass. Not sure what it would look like on a rainy or snowy day, but the sunshine really gave it a very special and unexpected energy.
7. Locks around the Colosseum
Remember how I said that Vrnjacka Banja did it the first and the best? I still stand for it! And I’ll keep standing for it until I see a metropolis do it better than this small hidden-gem town. In the meantime, do your search and try to locate this Easter egg. Hint – it’s situated between the Colosseum and the entrance to the Roman Square (Foro Romano).
If you decide to enter the above mentioned Foro Romano, you will be able to feel hundreds of years of history and their significance for human civilization. You can even feel it from standing on the brink of one of the neighboring squares or streets! As you approach to the entrance, or climb up the sides of the Palatine Hill, you can only imagine what all this place has seen in its existence. However, it does cause pain to look at how the ancient buildings and monuments are barely holding it together. This is one of the places that will cause you the deepest sea of mixed emotions!
8. Modelling seagulls
The gulls in Rome are by far the biggest fashion models! You can see them standing everywhere, especially atop different monuments. Piazza Venezia is one of the (if not THE) most majestic sights in the city. Luckily, there is a huge patch in front of it, allowing you to take really good pictures, which you can show to your friends and family to make them jealous (and probably make them buy a ticket to Rome immediately).
However, and I cannot emphasize this enough, from afar you will not be able to capture the seagulls, posing around the monument. You will also not be able to take a good selfie with them, unless you come close. And thereat, you will see them posing, as heaps of tourists run closer to make them a work of their own art. Unlike pigeons, they are not easily scared, and unlike crows, they will want to cooperate and decide not to attack you. Do not miss them, under any circumstances!
9. Focal points in the Vatican City
Remember the third country situated in Rome? Well, hello Vatican! Don’t forget that taking pictures is forbidden in quite a number of places around this city-state, so I will use this space wisely, to give it a short top list of its own.
- The focal points – which you can see in the picture. From these points, it looks like each colonnade is just one column, instead of a whole row.
- The Sistine Chapel – no pictures or talking inside, and PLEASE do abide to that.
- Egyptian art – remember my friend Julius Caesar? He’s got quite a lot to do with it.
- Sphere within a Sphere – don’t miss to take a picture of/with it (like I did).
- The Taiwanese Embassy – remember how the whole world can choose to acknowledge only China or only Taiwan? (Or the winning case of Bhutan, that acknowledges neither.) Well, unlike most other European countries, The Vatican acknowledges Taiwan – thus you can find their embassy on the road leading from the Tiber River to Vatican.
10. Relais Fontana di Trevi Rooftop
Everyone who’s been to Rome will toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, hoping to have a wish granted. That’s no Easter egg. Rather than that, in one of the streets leading to the fountain, you can find a hotel, with a rooftop café, looking directly at the fountain, from above. Here you can sit down and enjoy your cup of coffee, Italian style. Plus, it is ridiculous to see how all the people are pushing each other to get to the front lines next to the Fountain. And you’re sitting above, drinking your second espresso, enjoying the life…
I guess one can write about Rome, including the Order and the Vatican for who knows how long. In fact, I would not be surprised to discover actual blogs, on the topic of Rome solely. Instead, I will be focusing on new adventures, and keep on going off the beaten path. For me, this trip to the “Capital of the World” was necessary, and at points eye-opening. And that’s what I wish for all of you – bunches of mind-blowing travels and experiences, as well as someone and something to inspire you. Until next time, remember to do as the Maltese Knights, when in Rome…
Comments
-
[…] Traveling to Rome a couple weeks back, I had the strangest realization. I was finally able to understand what everyday people mean with their snarky comments about tourists, especially when using the very word in a negative connotation. But what can be so negative about tourists, it’s the people who are trying to make their lives happier and more fulfilled, meanwhile being charitable by spending their hard-earned money in new places. We are the gear that pushes the world to become better! […]
-
[…] this – you’re intolerant to grain products, but you’re in Italy and everyone around you (including your companions) are eating pasta. Do you just join them? […]
-
[…] Taking a look at the blog posts from earlier this year, I see that The Vatican never got a post on its own, just an entry in a Rome Top 10. […]
-
[…] started in an adventurous spirit, and planning some travels to Rome, including its micro-nations – the Vatican and the Order of Malta. It was followed by a visit to […]
-
[…] 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 […]
-
[…] 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 […]
-
[…] contrary, this was not the case in Rome, at least not last winter or summer – despite the fact Rome is probably the most popular city in Europe. The difference is that the squares in Prague were built for the needs of medieval times, not of […]
-
[…] are only the three places where I was certain to have seen the Order of Malta. They are spread out across other parts of Europe, as well, Lisbon only being one of […]
-
Superb posts! Have a look at my page Webemail24 where I also put in extra effort to create quality information about Gemstones.
Leave a Reply