We had an amazing trip to Rome this year. We managed a trip during term time as L had been offered a water-sports trip to Spain in term time and as we have previously gone on educational trips around that time every year before L started school we wrote to the school and asked for permission.. our Rome trip for all 4 of us was about the price of the school water-sports trip for L!!! We got ‘unofficial’ permission… so unauthorised absence but without fine or further action. Good enough!!

Rome was amazing. None of us had been before. We got accomodation through AirBnB, a fabulous apartment, right by a metro station (I mean literally outside the front door!)

We had read up quite a lot before and had watched Mary Beard documentaries and also an Alexander Armstrong one about the Colosseum. We also learnt some Italian in preparation.

Despite documentaries and guide book research before going, nothing prepares you for the scale of things.. the Colosseum especially, and also just how many 2000 year old buildings there are. Some gems didn’t even make it into the guide books!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marcus Aurelius Column, telling stories of his travels and battles

 

 

Opulent churches galore!

 

 

 

 

 

Pantheon, largest un-reinforced concrete dome in the World! 2000 years old!

 

 

Fresh water from aquaducts still available from fountains around the city!

 

 

2000 year old 150 unit shopping centre!! Trajan’s Market. Amazing! One of my favourite things, so completely intact, with views of so many other things too. We enjoyed how relatively compact Rome is, so easy to see lots! And there really is so much to see. We didn’t even make it to the Vatican. We decided to focus on Ancient Rome.

We’d thoroughly recommend it!!! May was a great time to go.