Romancing Rome in Christmas: 3 Day Itinerary
” Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions and the city of yearnings.” – Giotto di Bondone
When in Europe, one definitely cant miss to be in Rome atleast for few days, else we may surely know, but would barely understand the meaning of the age-old French adage – ” Rome wasn’t built in a day”, which was translated in English by John Heywood, only for us to have very contemptuously used this proverb numerous times while flaunting our literacy skills and nothing more :). If you are in Rome, you know that you surely havent seen such inexplicable splendor before. It hardly matters which part of the city you are in, every corner, street, church, monument, fresco, facade, alley or edifice is a piece of grandeur. And if you happen to be in Rome during Christmas, the delight just doubles.The sheer beauty of the Roman architecture and an intriguing history behind it, will keep you longing for more. It isn’t just about the history of this city, but also of the mankind. It certainly left me with an unquenched desire to see, know and learn more. Become more. It coaxed me to read at length about the Roman history, though it was one hated subject for me back in school 🙂
” I read. I travel. I become.”-Derek Walcott
It’s really interesting to see, how your traveling and reading experiences can transform you as a person. And I am absolutely loving this process. Some of you would have discerned that already through my regular posts on social media :). Though it’s been just a few weeks that I have been romanticizing the idea of being a traveler and storyteller for life, I credit some of these short impromptu travels, to have nurtured that thought and possibility of being one. The 12 day Italy trip certainly has bestowed me with great tales that I would be sharing in my upcoming posts, but the most remarkable experience was of spending our Christmas at Rome. So here I am, sharing with you my 3 Day itinerary which obviously covers the most awesome and practical ways to romance Rome during Christmas time. Before jumping onto our detailed itinerary, let me tell you that the usual touristy places are all closed on 25th of any December and the 1st of any January. So you certainly need to be mindful of that before you plan your travel to this ancient city during the Christmas and the new years time.
Day 1 ( Christmas Day) – Get allured by the conspicuously beautiful Christmas celebrations around the city
Christmas mass at St. Peter’s Basilica
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171225_134933.jpg?resize=3456%2C3456)
Cobblestoned street leading to the rear side of St. Peter’s Basilica
In spite of reaching Rome from Florence by the night of 24th Dec, we couldn’t make it to the Pope’s midnight mass, which if you wish to be a part of you need to book not less than 2 months in advance by sending the church a fax requesting for seats inside the church. Failing this, you may always attend the mass at St. Peter’s square which can host about 80,000 people. We had put up at a place quite far from the Vatican and were too tired to pick ourselves up to join the incredibly massive crowd for the midnight mass. What we know from people who have attended and of course the blogs on the internet that its an experience of a lifetime and the festive vibes at the Vatican around that time is profoundly pious and divine.
Nevertheless, we made it to St. Peter’s Basilica, the next morning, to experience the vibes of the harmonious gatherings on the Christmas Day. As soon as we entered the square, a huge Christmas tree which is erected there each year caught our attention. We were welcomed by huge crowds at the St. Peter’s square overlooking whom, we could catch few glimpses of the Pope standing at the balcony, who was delivering the Christmas message, the “Urbi et Orbi”, a papal address and apostolic blessing given to the city of Rome and to the entire world by the novel pontiff. A few minutes later, we were completely mesmerized by the colorful parade by the Italian Armed Forces marching band and military branch color guard units. See the video below to experience the zest and fervor.
Amidst the crowd, there stood an Indian father with an empty double stroller keenly soaking himself into these rare to see celebrations. Soon enough we saw his entire family, his American wife with 3 gorgeous kids, emerging out of the crowd. Like we always do, we instantly exchanged notes on just about everything – From parenting to traveling, Worklife, how beautiful babies are, how much we missed Indian Food and of course the troubling weather at the US :). Its really amazing the way we have started connecting with all parents with kids, irrespective of where they come from or where we happen to meet them. Feels like we are all a part of a long-lost community who always have solutions to each other’s problems :):).
“All parents gush about what its like to be a parent. I like it.” – Liz Flair
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171225_133028_optimized.jpg?resize=2015%2C1080)
At St. Peter’s square on Christmas Day
The long queue to get inside St. Basilica was at best discouraging us parents with kids to do it the same day. Instead, we decided to explore the other churches and squares for the remaining part of the day.
Jaw dropping magnificent churches
Walk and explore the most astounding churches around, that arent called St. Peter’s. There is art, history and religious artifacts to be found in all the corners of these ancient churches. And the Christmas festivities everywhere is an awe-inspiring sight to treat your eyes. Take a look and I promise you would be absolutely overwhelmed.
Rome during Christmas
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171225_165650_optimized.jpg?resize=1794%2C1794)
The Calling of St Matthew (Caravaggio)
This one is a masterpiece by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, depicting the moment at which Jesus Christ inspires Matthew to follow him.
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171226_113528-1.jpg?resize=3456%2C3456)
The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
This definitely is not it. You may refer this link to know everything about the most beautiful churches in Rome.
Christmas evening at Piazza Noviona
After treating yourself with some delicious wood fired Pizza, head towards Piazzia Noviona, Rome’s famous Baroque square. In December every year, it gets transformed into a huge Christmas market, with stands selling all kinds of Christmas sweets, toys, nativity figures, decorations, and gifts. Originally built as a stadium in the first century for athletic contests and chariot races, this square which still retains its oval shape, is lined with luxurious cafes and Baroque palaces and is the home to three lavish fountains. The central fountain, Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, is considered to be the most complex of all the fountains in Rome. It was created by Bernini( An Italian sculptor and architect who was credited with creating the Baroque style of sculpture) in the early 1650s and was so expensive that the bread tax was raised in order to cover its high cost.
” If you think you have it tough, read history books.”- Bill Maher. 🙂
I can’t picture myself reading through history books to absorb anything even close to what I experience during my travels to such historical places. How exciting the history books could be, if only we could just read them to know and just to score at least passing grades because it was a forced item in our curriculum 🙁
Does this way of education help anyone?
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171225_155735_Bokeh_optimized.jpg?resize=619%2C809)
Infront of the fountain at Piazzia Noviona
Catch a sight of the marvelous Trevi Fountain
It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and the most beautiful in the world. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. Many men were injured and few died during the construction of the fountain. It is mostly built of travertine stone, a mineral consisting of a massive usually layered calcium carbonate formed by deposition from spring waters or especially from hot springs.Travertine was often used as a building material. The largest building in the world constructed mostly of travertine is the Colosseum in Rome.
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171225_181748_optimized.jpg?resize=1794%2C1794)
The Trevi Fountain
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171225_172908-1.jpg?resize=3456%2C3456)
Opposite Trevi Fountain
Day 2 -Spend half a day knowing the history and appreciating the magnanimity of this huge structure called “The Colosseum”
We walked through the city to reach Colosseum by 12 pm. Expect long queue to enter this place at any time of the year as it is one of the most popular tourist attraction in Rome. There is a lift inside to make the tour convenient for all differently abled people. I was particularly struck by the intense cold breeze that brushed my hair rough in all directions while I kept waiting along with Mayra fast asleep in her stroller, for Sandee to come back with tickets and the much needed audio guide. To our surprise, the audio guide here wasn’t as good. So you may avoid it, rather go for the human guide.
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171226_144752-2.jpg?resize=3456%2C2960)
Top view of “The Colosseum”
The Colosseum is an oval amphitheater in the center of the city. Built of travertine, tuff, and brick-faced concrete, it is the largest amphitheater ever built. It could easily accommodate 80,000 spectators. It was used for gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Roman mythology. Although partially ruined because of damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, it is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. Take a video tour below
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171226_162307_optimized.jpg?resize=1794%2C1346)
Ruins near the Colosseum
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171226_162431_optimized.jpg?resize=1593%2C1786)
Ruins near the Colosseum
Day 3 – Immerse yourself in the history of this iconic trove of art and architecture – The Vatican City
The Vatican City attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its center is St Peter’s Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno. Due to the paucity of time, we could only explore St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican museum, and the Sistine Chapel.’
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171227_135916_optimized.jpg?resize=1794%2C1794)
The modern ‘Bramante’ spiral stairs of the Vatican Museums, designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932
St. Peter’s Basilica is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture and the largest church in the world.
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171227_144221-1.jpg?resize=3456%2C3456)
Inside St. Peter’s Basilica
The papal tombs in old St. Peter’s Basilica were the final resting places of the popes. The majority of these tombs were destroyed during the sixteenth, seventeenth-century demolition of old St. Peter’s Basilica, The remainder were transferred in part to new St. Peter’s Basilica.
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171227_151242_optimized.jpg?resize=1794%2C1794)
Tombs of all Popes on top of which the Basilica has been erected
The Vatican Museum displays works from the immense collection amassed by Popes throughout the centuries including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.
![Rome during Christmas](https://i0.wp.com/footinstincts.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_20171227_124450.jpg?resize=3456%2C3456)
Inside the Vatican museum
“ I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set it free” – Michelangelo
All of us, unless you are a history student or a connoisseur of Roman art & architecture, at some point have heard or read about the great sculptor Michelangelo, and probably had a chance to marvel at some of his work too. But you would literally freeze on seeing the most spectacular piece of art – The Sistine Chapel, with your naked eyes. It’s ceiling was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 and is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art. The complex design includes several sets of individual figures, both clothed and nude, which allowed Michelangelo who was primarily a sculptor and not a painter, to fully demonstrate his skill in creating a huge variety of poses for the human figure. He painted in a standing position and not lying on his back. He had designed his own scaffold( a flat wooden platform on brackets built out from holes in the wall near the top of the windows, rather than being built up from the floor) to do the job.The bright colors and broad, cleanly defined outlines make each subject easily visible from the floor as if one could raise a finger and touch them.
” Good painting is the kind that looks like sculpture”.- Michelangelo
This truly reflects in his larger than life painting which looks almost real and surreal.
If you are interested to know more about the painting style and the techniques he used, you may read it here.
Interestingly the church doesn’t allow any photography inside, hence I do not have any pictures to show up here. But there are numerous videos and pictures available online for you to have a glimpse of this masterpiece. You have to see it to believe it.
” A man paints with his brain and not with his hands.”- Michelangelo
This brought us to an end of our 4 nights stay at Rome. There is so much to see and absorb, that it really doesn’t matter how long you are able to stay here, what matters is how well do you plan your day without rushing it through and enjoying almost everything on your foot. There are several specific local Roman tours, which you can choose from depending on your idea of ” A day well spent” in this city. Or if you are there around Christmas, along with a child, and you like our type of slow travel, you may just go with the one that we did 🙂
There is a lot that I have taken back from this city which I really can’t express in as many words but would surely attempt to do so in my upcoming posts on the blog and on social media. Wishing you many more travels, adventures, and experiences till we connect again.
What is the best thing that you took back from any place that you have traveled to ?
If you are interested to know more about us, you can read here.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Flickr to see more of our travel experiences in and around Europe.
Please leave a comment about what you feel about the above post. Would love to hear back from you.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
medicijnen bestellen: Snelle levering in Nederland SMB Vleuten Günstig
Medikamente online bestellen
Your clearness in explaining this intricate concern is good.
เยี่ยมมาก เนื้อหาบล็อกของคุณชัดเจนมาก กระทู้ดีมากครับ สนุกมาก
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
온라인카지노 게임의 범주는 실제 랜드 베이스 카지노보다 넓습니다.
결론적으로, 카지노사이트의 선택은 개인의 취향과 필요에 맞춰져야 하며, 이러한 선택을 위한 가장 신뢰할 수 있는 정보의 출처입니다. 다양한 카지노사이트 중에서 신뢰할 수 있고 검증된 사이트를 찾기란 쉽지 않지만, 함께라면 보다 안전하고 즐거운 게임 경험을 할 수 있습니다.
바카라사이트는 이와 달리 보안 전문 팀을 전문적으로 육성하여, 하나의 바카라사이트당 1개의 보안 유지 보수팀이 배치되어 있습니다.
완벽한 보안이란 개인 정보에 대해 철저하게 관리가 되는 것을 의미합니다.
중간 장은 입금 받은 내역을 확인하여 이 금액이 보이스피싱이나 불법 금액에 연류되어 있는지 확인 후 중간장으로 옮기는 과정에 쓰이는 통장입니다.
앞 장은 말 그대로 손님들에게 입금을 받는 목적으로만 사용됩니다.
카지노사이트에서는 대중적인 플랫폼 카카오톡, 텔레그램, 위챗을 사용하여 전문 상담사가 24시간 상담이 가능합니다.
매우 다양한 정보를 한 눈에 확인할 수 있습니다.
도메인 체크란 현재 카지노사이트에서 사용 중인 도메인의 계약 날짜, 운영 기간, 도메인 IP 등 다양한 내용들을 체크하는 것입니다.
너무 과한 혜택과 서비스는 먹튀의 지름길입니다.
이벤트와 혜택은 대부분의 카지노사이트에서는 비슷한 등급으로 드리고 있습니다.
자본력이 강한 카지노사이트에서는 회원들에게 매우 다양하고 좋은 혜택과 서비스를 제공하지만 자본력이 약한 사설카지노에서는 불가능한 것이 현실입니다.
온라인카지노에서 가장 큰 단점 중 하나인 안전성에서 큰 차이점을 보입니다.
그렇다면 이러한 걱정을 하실겁니다.
가장 큰 문제는 사이버수사대에 해당 내용을 넘겨 회원님까지 처벌받는 사례도 늘고 있습니다.
거기서 우선 순위로 환전을 받는 회원님들은 누구일까요? 바로 A급 카지노사이트의 코드로 가입한 회원님입니다.
사용자들의 안전한 베팅을 위해 제공하는 최고의 온라인 카지노 사이트 정보와 검증업체 및 보증업체 정보를 최대한 활용해 보세요.
가입 과정은 사용자에게 간단하고 이해하기 쉽도록 구성되어 있으며, 이 모든 단계를 완료하는 데 몇 분 이상 걸리지 않습니다.
보증업체란 온라인 카지노 사이트가 재정적인 안정성과 높은 서비스 표준을 유지하고 있음을 보증하는 기관을 의미합니다.
온라인 카지노 사이트에서 자주 묻는 질문의 필요성은 사용자에게 카지노 사이트 선정의 질을 크게 향상시키며, 여러 측면에서 중요한 역할을 합니다.
선별 기준으로는 사용자들이 충분히 즐길 수 있는 다양한 종류의 카지노 게임 제공,
플레이어들에게는 다양한 선택지를 제공하고 새로운 기회의 장을 열어주는 계기가 되었습니다.
After reading your article, it reminded me of some things about gate io that I studied before. The content is similar to yours, but your thinking is very special, which gave me a different idea. Thank you. But I still have some questions I want to ask you, I will always pay attention. Thanks.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
Effectively spoken of course. .
[url=https://service-essay.com/]help writing a research paper service[/url] where to buy writing paper [url=https://custompaperwritingservices.com/]paper writing service reviews[/url] pay for research paper
Reading your article has greatly helped me, and I agree with you. But I still have some questions. Can you help me? I will pay attention to your answer. thank you.
Hello There. I found your blog using Google. This is a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post.
Spires Tutors, 145 Granville St, Birmingham B1 1SB, UK, +4420 7846 0126
Spires , 60 Sheffield Terrace, London W8 7NA, UK, +442078460126
RS SEO Glasgow, 272 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4JR, 07460397220, rsseoglasgow . com
RS SEO Glasgow, 272 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4JR, 07460397220, rsseoglasgow . com
Lovely place, really needs better depiction in history books ?
Thats very true. Our books in school or the education system really need to do justice to these historic places.
Great Tanu….keep it up
Thanks Vishal
Lovely place, beautiful photos!?
Thanks Monica