Paloma White from Paloma White Travel take us across Tiber for an excursion that you won’t soon forget and offer insider tips for other special and calm moments.
The complete schedule for Rome must include activities other than just seeing ancient monuments and extraordinary art. For me, that meant getting out of the historical center by taking a walk in the local neighborhood, making a day trip to the beautiful mountain town in nearby Umbria, and resting my weary feet at the beautiful rooftop bar overlooking the city.
Directly across the Tiber River is a former working-class neighborhood called Trastevere (literally translated “across the Tiber”), which is considered to have a more “authentic” atmosphere than the historic center.
While increasingly popular among tourists, Trastevere still retains its charm unlike other places in Rome. The narrow cobbled streets are filled with buildings, cafes, restaurants and beautiful courtyards with laundry scattered above.
Dinner on this side of town is a must, but I suggest you take a walk and eat wherever your heart takes you instead of having an agenda set. Time in Trastevere is to be enjoyed, not to rush.
The trip to the hilltop city of Orvieto was a reprieve after a few days of frenetic energy in Rome. A brisk 90 minutes by train, followed by a funicular ride up the volcanic rock hill, Orvieto almost feels like you’ve traveled back through time. While so many tourists flock to Tuscany, I am surprised at how often Umbria is overlooked.
Although the beautiful Orvieto cathedral is not to be missed, its appeal lies in the speed of life here. Spend the day sipping Orvieto Classico, local wine made since the Etruscan times … and enjoy the traffic-free medieval streets, away from the hustle and bustle that characterizes most trips to Rome.
Spanish Steps in Rome. // Photo: Getty Images
My last recommendation for every trip to Rome is to find a quiet place to relax between seeing the sights. My favorite place to do this is the Minerva Roof Garden, a five-star roof bar Grand Hotel de La Minerve. Adjacent to the Pantheon in the middle of the historic center, the bar is open to anyone and luxurious without being stuffy.
Enjoy 360-degree views of Rome while beating the heat and recharge with Prosecco in hand … and if you’re lucky, you might only be presented by the musicians in the piazza below.
Insight Adviser
Kat Bride, a travel consultant with Travel Edge, recommending that when visiting Rome one must take a private tour of the Colosseum with an architect. “There is no shortage of guides who will guide you through this UNESCO World Heritage site, but an architect makes it better,” said Bride, who uses DMC Rome’s Best of Italy for this experience. “He can describe the design, construction, material, historical context, objectives, events and politics involved in making monuments for this era. This extra knowledge enhances experience and puts you right in the act 1900 years ago. “
Bride also suggested the Hidden Art Tour and its use very italian for his client. “Among Rome’s many gems is an invisible masterpiece,” Bride said. “It’s easy to find Bernini, Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Caravaggio in Roman public museums and monuments, but a trained and curious eye will lead you to the next treasure.
Bride recommends a private tour of the Colosseum with an architect. // Photo: Getty Images
“For example, take the Cerasi Chapel in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo. Standing opposite the twin church at the end of Via del Corso, this modest-looking house of worship is home to some of the earliest commissions of Bramante (apse), Bernini (statue), Raphael (tomb) and Caravaggio (painting). They are all young and hungry when they are offered and accepted to work here. A space like this gives clients the opportunity to see how great Italian artists began their careers and when clients visit museums, they can map out how maestros grow in subject matter and improve their techniques. The pleasure of walking through the Eternal City is bumping into unexpected charms along the way. “
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