Roma Travel Guide

Roma OVERVIEW

Reading about Rome is like trying to get an idea of Italian cuisine by just going through a cookery book. Of course there's Margherita, mascarpone, myriad pasta dishes and splendid coffee mentioned, but it's the smoothness of tomato sauce and the smell of fresh basil leaves, the inimitable softness of Tiramisu shoveled with blissful delight, the effort you make to get a forkfull of meandering spaghetti, and the invigorating aroma of of a shot of espresso that truly puts you in the picture. By analogy, the reputation for being the former capital of the world, the most exquisite artistic hub, an outdoor museum and the birthplace of Renaissance can give you a mere glimpse into the phenomenon of Rome. For Rome is everything but describable. You may read about the sublimity of the Vatican City, the timelessness of the Colosseum, the genius of Michelangelo, and the unbearable street clutter, but there's something every description will inevitably miss. No sooner can you say you understand what the city is about than you have tears welling in your eyes as you gaze up the Sistine Chapel, feed pigeons at Forum Romanum, have a flamboyant scooter whiz by, get chatted up by an over-friendly local at one of the thousand cafes you pass by, and throw away your guidebook to just wander aimlessly and read the story of monumentality from the crumbling ruins, heart-melting artworks, the relaxed lifestyle of Romans and the staggering diversity of visitors.