Rome : The Eternal allure of the Sunshine City

Ancient Rome

As one grows and discovers the world, we start hearing phrases like, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” “All roads lead to Rome,” “Ancient Rome was not built in a day,” and “Nero was fiddling when Rome was burning.” 

These sayings come up at appropriate times—in newspapers, in conversations, and of course, in school—presenting, praising, and pressing the important position Roman civilization and Ancient Rome itself held in the Western narrative, and now, a global narrative.Each proverb carries backstories and legends, talking of a time when Rome was the narrative.

As we started to study the Renaissance in high school, the fountainhead that was Rome, along with Florence and Venice, came alive through the legends of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Galileo, Dante, and the Medici family. These stories told us of the awakening of Western civilization in art, science, literature, and philosophy.

Reading about all these men of the time, primarily working in the cities of Ancient Rome and Venice, painted a vivid picture of this period. Hearing the story of creation painted by Michelangelo or the fierce scene of the Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel, or learning how Galileo defied the Church and held onto his scientific beliefs until his death, always stirred an early desire to visit Rome and Italy.

It was during my study of architecture for my graduation, I was fully convinced that Rome and, in turn, Italy would be my first foreign destinations to visit. Whether it was studying ancient Roman temples, influenced by the Greeks but with more ornamentation to show opulence, or the Roman Forum—the place of the Republic where the last Republican head, the popular Julius Caesar, was murdered—or the monumental architecture of the Colosseum, the Pantheon, or Triumphal Arches from the time of emperors as the empire grew to occupy lands along the whole Mediterranean Sea, or the brilliant system of aqueducts the Romans invented to carry water from one part of the empire to another, ancient Rome amazed me.

Its opulence, technology, and hunger for more lands, more power, and iconic architecture were captivating. As I studied further, the Renaissance was presented from new perspectives through brilliant works in the realm of architecture, with its beautiful piazzas and cathedrals like Saint Peter’s Basilica and San Marco’s, designed by masters like Michelangelo, Bernini, and others. The Spanish Steps, the beautiful fountains, and the bourgeoisie villas tucked in the countryside—all revealed how Rome, Florence, and their surroundings became the fountainhead of what we now call modern thought. This became a big pull for me to plan a visit whenever I could.

The crescendo was further heightened through various mediums, like movies and literature, showcasing sunny, thriving, and colorful coastlines in movies, intriguing maze of buildings in books like ‘Angels and Demons’ , introducing Italy as the land of pasta, spaghetti, pizza, and most of all, gelato in ‘Eat Pray and Love’. One couldn’t help but want to explore Rome, Italy, and its environment with respect to its architecture, art, food, history, and, of course, the people.

When we finally planned a visit to Rome, the excitement was brimming at all corners. As I have mentioned earlier, I believe the best way to explore a city is through walks with locals or experts. Especially a city like Ancient Rome, with its many layers of history, art, and architecture, would be difficult to explore fully in a four to five-day window without someone explaining and informing us along the visit.

I soon realized that booking separate walks for so many places would be a coordination nightmare, not to mention the cost of paying for all four of us in Euros. While searching for cheaper or free walks, I stumbled upon a gem, a treasure when I found an app—yes, an app by Rick Steves called Rick Steves Europe.

This single discovery became the most important boost for the whole planning and travel during our trip to Italy. Rick Steves is an American long-term traveler to Europe and has amazing insights on the places you can visit. The app is free and has audio walks and interviews, especially designed for explorers. With this app, I had my guide in my pocket, ready to take me, engage me, and give information whenever I desired.

The app turned out to be more than I expected it to be. Navigating the Vatican Museum, its paintings, and sculptures with Rick Steves app guiding us was an enriching experience. He told us about the Popes, their powers in Ancient Roman historical times, and how they patronized artists to create a brilliant museum where some of the most beautiful paintings and sculptures by known masters are displayed.

He slowly led us to the Sistine Chapel, explaining the fierce painting on the wall of the Last Judgment with sincerity and passion, lending us an eye to see the story, the expression, and the meaning. Of course, the famous legendary painting on the ceiling was the highlight. Painted by Michelangelo, seemingly lying on his back, it remains the highlight of the entire Vatican tour. The expert commentary in the app elevated the whole experience, allowing us to explore at our own pace, listening, stopping, and admiring without anyone hurrying us.

This extraordinary journey with Rick Steves app continued as I explored the monumental and amazing Saint Peter’s Basilica, designed by Michelangelo, and the brilliant sculpture of Pietà in marble in the cathedral , again by Michelangelo. The cathedral’s monumentality, yet its breaking down of scale for the perceiver, its opulence, and its peace can overwhelm the faithful and visitor alike, a balance of grandeur and intimacy that I have also experienced at the Taj Mahal.