An Italian Honeymoon - Day I Rome Day I

After an early start leaving the UK we landed in Rome where we were to spend the first three days and two nights of our magical and unforgettable honeymoon. We stayed at the City Hotel, which is literally a stone’s throw from the Spanish steps.

Most of the top attractions of Rome can be accessed easily by foot, but the out-of-scale tourist map supplied free by the hotel was difficult to understand, to say the least. But it did add to the whistle stop tour of this wonderful city, one we would gladly return to.

We discovered the Pantheon using the map, more by luck than judgement, and what a discovery it was. The outside of the building looks as though it has just been excavated from a pile of dirt, with cracks up the sides and vegetation growing from the top of it. However, walk inside and you will feel as though you have walked into a tardis of splendour, so much so, we walked out again to double check. How such an ornate interior could belong inside this shell of a building was beyond words. Amazing!

The Spanish Steps provided a wonderful photo opportunity for all joining the Piazza di Spagna with the church of Trinita dei Monti with its two towers that dominate the skyline. Don’t forget the building to the right... a museum where the English poet John Keats lived and died.

Lunch beckoned, and a chance to enjoy a three course meal ‘al fresco’ at one of the many eateries to be found all over Rome.

In the afternoon we took a long but very pleasurable walk along the River Tiber, through small market stalls that line the way and onto St Peters Square and the Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano). The last few hundred yards are the most memorable as you can see everything laid out in front of you. It’s not until you reach the square that you realise just how large an expanse there is. Imaging it completely filled with people listening to the Pope is awe inspiring.

An afternoon was not long enough to see everything at the Vatican City, so we had to choose which part to visit. We decided on the Sistine Chapel, leaving St Peter’s Basilica and everything else for another time. After a short walk around to what seemed like the back of the Vatican City, we reached the entrance to the Sistine Chapel tour. On entering, the corridors of architecture, sculptures and decorations were mind blowing and served as a gentle build up to the unforgettable Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The whole tour was an absolutely breathtaking experience.

Then it was back to the hotel to freshen up before an early dinner at another of Rome’s excellent restaurants. Another three courses later and a romantic walk through the quaint, historic streets led us back to our hotel for an early night. Well, it was the first night of our honeymoon and we had been up since 4.30am.

Our dream Italian honeymoon continued... http://www.whoisbazsmith.com/travel