"The Eternal City" a Rome Travel Page by Mara88

Undoubtedly one of the most amazing structures in the world!

We arrived and decided to queue up at the Colosseum entrance rather than the Palatine Hill and we didn't wait longer than 20 mins... winter being a good time to travel!! ;)

In a way it was like visiting an old battlefield - there is an air of calmness about the place, despite hundreds of visitors roaming about, which reminds you that in this very place people and animals were killed by the whim of the crowd.

We spent a lovely sunny morning there before venturing onto the Palatine Hill for the afternoon.

A day I'll definitely never forget!

Wandering around on the ancient ruins on the Palatine Hill is a wonderful way of spending a nice sunny day in Rome.

It wasn't overrun but pleasantly quiet and from the side entrance we ventured out into some nice Roman back streets. Also the mound left over from the Circus Maximus were nearby where many locals were lounging about.

Definitely not a place to be missed out on your Roma itinery.

Another one of those unmissable places... Rome seems packed with them!!

Although it was quite noisy inside, loud voices echoing around the place, it was a most incredible building. I never realised before that the hole in the centre of the cuppola is really open, not a window - and a square patch on the floor was cordoned off in case of rainfall!!

We enjoyed our 5 days in Rome immensely, taking in queues at the Vatican (yes early on a Feb morning), some excellent food in a couple of back street trattorie (especially one near Campo de' Fiori), pomp at St Peter's and peaceful ambience at Santa Maria Maggiore (which was packed one morning when there was a mass said in 4 languages - as far as I could make out - with young people from various countries).

Didn't spot any pickpockets but that was perhaps due to us not taking any buses (yes, sore feet!) and not carrying any bags.

Fantastic experience I'd love to repeat one day! :)