Rome is one of the most iconic and most-travelled cities in Europe, with a long history to match. With a mixture of cultures from around the world, Rome has it all. Last year Steve from our team went to Rome on holiday and below he writes his thoughts on the city for you to consider for your next international event. Over to you Steve.
The phrase ‘When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do’ refers to the importance of adapting yourself to the customs of the people who are in a certain place and behave like they do. So, I did just that and ate a lot of pizza and pasta.
Seriously though, Rome is a foodie’s heaven, from the world-class cuisine to casual trattorias and takeaway pizzas, accompanied by Italian wine. The rumours are true, authentic Italian food is way better than our English interpretation of it, so if that’s not a lure alone, I don’t know what it.
There are dozens of airlines that fly to and from Fiumicino Airport daily, so you can pick and choose based on your point of origin. You can also wheel into Rome by train – most lines run into Roma Termini, Rome’s central train station, which also has connections to their equivalent of the Underground with lines A and B taking you all over the city. It’s very easy to navigate.
You can wander the cobblestone street with gelato in hand, spend some time people watching from the Spanish Steps, spend hours in the countless museums, and take in all of the stunning architecture the city has to offer.
Most amazing of all was the Colosseum though. Very rarely am I speechless but this is really something to behold. I was mesmerised by the iconic structure and I’d highly reccommend the museum which allows you to go inside and digest the sheer scale of it all. Whilst I personally didn’t go a Guided Tour I would highly recommend it for any groups out there as it sounded fascinating when I was eavesdropping! I would also recommend getting tickets for the Roman Forum and Palatine at the same time.
The Vatican is closely tied with Rome’s heritage, and there is a wealth of art and history to explore in its Vatican Museums, which is certainly a must. The Sistine Chapel has a real “wow” factor as you gaze at iconic paintings, particularly The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. You need at least half to three-quarters of a day there to full take it all in.
You then have the famous Trevi Fountain to visit, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona and the Mouth of Truth. All of which are pretty awesome in their own wat.
Rome is popular with tourists and for business events, so there are many accommodation options. In my opinion, there is no “best” district to stay in, so you should base yourself around what you’re most interested in seeing and doing.
If you’re looking for more budget options and proximity to trains and buses, then you’ll want to look for hotels around Termini Station. However, you will be on the outskirts of a lot of the sights and the Vatican city area. If you’re on the lookout for a luxury hotel experience during your stay, try the Via Veneto district near Villa Borghese. Here you’ll find Rome’s most expensive and exclusive hotels.
I loved my 5 days there and would highly recommend it. I went in December and it was still 16 degrees Celsius, so I can only image how stunning it is in summer time. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first, second or zillionth time to the city, there are so many of the best things to do in Rome around each and every corner.
As always, feel free to give us a call and we can chat you through it in much more detail. This was my brief experience, but what will your “When in Rome” look like?
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