Colossal Rome

Rome has been called the Eternal City. Its citizens are surrounded by centuries of history. From ancient ruins to the splendour of Baroque artwork there's something special around every corner, like Largo di Torre Argentina where Julius Caesar was assassinated or the fountains in Piazza Navona. So why haven't I bonded with this great city?

Largo di Torre Argentina, Rome

Rome is Super-Sized

Rome is a large metropolis of nearly 3 million people and it's filled with towering monuments. The scale of the city can be a little overwhelming.

The Colosseum

Victor Emmanuel Monument

The Forum

The Tiber is Forgotten

If I think about London or Paris, I conjure scenic images of the Thames or the Seine with their beautiful bridges and riverside promenades.

The Thames River, London

The Seine River, Paris

According to Roman mythology, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus who were given by the river god Tiberinus to the she-wolf Lupa to suckle. While the city still has functioning aqueducts and some of the world's most beautiful fountains, Rome has lost its connection to the Tiber River. 

Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza Navona

The Roman God Tiberinus

Rome Lacks Colour

As you'll notice in the previous photos, many of Rome's buildings and monuments are made of marble or concrete. I'm happiest among vibrant flowers and sunny seaside vistas so I enjoyed the bursts of colour where I could find them.

Balcony on Piazza Navona

Fresh Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Street Performers in Rome

Any visit to Italy should surely include a stop in Rome. There's no other city in the world quite like it. But my heart belongs to smaller towns with their unexpected splashes of colour.

Doesn't this fish make you smile?

Porto Venere on Italy's Ligurian Coast