What to Do with 18 Hours in Rome?!

In this Rome attraction, no one else is inside the church; our whispers echo off the walls.

We’re on the floor of a thousand-year-old Roman Catholic San Saba basilica, running hands over the smooth tile. Every groove and color of the mosaics are taken into account, instead of the grand altar and iconic domed ceiling. Alvise wants to have us slow down, drink in the moment and savor every detail.

Moving over the left side of the building, there is a large mural of a man with a pouch in hand. He’s lowering it through a window down to three sleeping girls. Alvise explains this is depicting Saint Nicolas – better known as Santa Claus. Somehow this paint on stone has endured since the 13^th century with a clear message.

“See?” says Alvise. “The mural represents how we should give to other, without expecting anything in return. It’s a message of great love, of life and of the key to happiness!”

Rome Attraction: Retrome Colosseum at Night

Rome is an old, but vibrant city. It’s definitely somewhere I’d consider when moving to Italy or setting down roots in Europe. Observing the tattoo-clad college kids lounging around buildings that are a thousand times older than they are is incredible. Rome isn’t trying to be something it isn’t – sometimes I think London tries too hard. Rome is what it is on the surface and hidden on its narrow streets.

We touched down late at night in the city and decided we had no time to lose! We took a cab towards the popular Rome attraction, Colosseum. This structure, the largest amphitheater at that time, was built 70 AD by Emperor Vespasian and opened several years later by his son.

It was created to entertain 50,000 people with different naval, animal and gladiator fights. This was a general time of unrest in the Roman empire, and the Colosseum provided a way to entertain the public and take their mind of injustices previous emperors had caused.

As we passed it, the Colosseum loomed darkly in the streetlights but was still magnificent up close. Although much of it has been damaged over the centuries, it’s sight an amazing sight to be seen.

Just around the corner was the place we’d stay for the night.

Where to Stay in Rome

Retrome is a whole other take on accommodations. The owners had a vision of paying homage to the golden ages of design, decades past of color and chic style. Each common area and guest room at the Retrome Hotel Rome is different, with furnishings and décor that’s a blast from the past.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but at the Retrome Hotel Rome, I immediately felt at home. As soon as I got into our room to check it out, I gasped as I opened the bathroom slider. I was transported back 20 years to my grandmother’s home – impeccably clean, with muted yellow tiles and glass door shower. It’s nostalgia, lovely curated and kept tidy for all guests.

Most rooms require a walk up narrow stairs, but the check-in staff are happy to help out. Enjoy a coffee out in the sunny terrace or a little work time in the front lobby, surrounded by vintage TVs. A map given at check-in shows where there are great thing to see, and obviously eat.

The Italian Food Foray

We picked Trattoria Luzzi and although we arrived late, we still got some incredible homemade Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper pasta, the best) served right out on the street. We filled the checkered cloth table with bruschetta, prosciutto and melon, local wine and meatballs too. As anyone who loves to eat, we thoroughly enjoyed this Rome attraction.

A short still back brought us right to our cosy bed – the mattress certainly wasn’t retro and I had one of the best sleeps I’ve enjoyed in a long time.

While there’s no breakfast on-site at the Retrome Hotel Rome, they provided us with vouchers to the nearby cafes. I prefer this, as it gave us a chance to step outside the hotel. It was lovely to have a little 5-minute walk and be rewarded with a super local pastry, sandwich, and coffee at a local shop. It allowed us to see the neighborhood in daylight during our short stay! It also gave me the excuse to get gelato on the way back at the corner. Don’t judge me, I’m an adult and can have ice cream before noon.

Vroom Vroom! Fiat 500 Experience

After our meal, it was then time for a mini-adventure in our Fiat 500! We really do hope to get back to explore more Rome attractions when we have more time. Then, we’ll be able to hit up all the iconic landmarks and attractions with days to spare. I hope to visit the Spanish Steps, the Vatican, St. Peter’s Church and so many other points of interest that are on the bucket-list.

But for now, let’s board a 1971 cherry red Fiat, open the moon roof, and drive!

Alvise, our wonderful Italian guide, owns a small fleet of these vintage cars and offers a unique type of tour called the Rome 500 Experience. He provides this tour to get into the heart of Rome by moving to the outskirts of the city. This allowed us to see much of Rome from the car while also catching the eye of lesser known locations and curiosities on the outskirts.

First we the visit to the basilica that pays homage to Santa Claus. Then, we headed to Rome’s spa ruins. Many people skip this as it’s not in the city center. I thought it was impressive in size and history and well worth the pitstop. People claim that SPA is actually an acronym, deriving from the Latin phrase ‘Salus Per Aquam’, or ‘health through water’. However, it’s more likely to have derived from Spa, Belgium, which was part of the Roman Empire.

Next was the uphill climb via Fiat to the Piazzale Garibaldi – arguably the best view of Rome city below. Head there around noon to hear the daily cannon blast, which is supposed to help the church calibrate when their bells should ring.

The Aventine Keyhole: Rome’s Interested Secret Society

I loved peering through The Aventine Keyhole – I didn’t even know this existed! The closed off property is technically a sovereign state christened by the Knights of Malta. Through the keyhole, you can be in Italy, see the Knight’s sovereign property and have a view of the Vatican too all at once. Alvise knew exactly when to go and we waited in no lines at all to check this out.

After a quick top for a cappuccino (obviously), it was onto a little architecture lesson for pre-and-post 1930s buildings, and a short stop at some old communist buildings as well. I won’t ruin all the details – it’s well worth hearing the tour in person!

Although we knew exactly where to go, it was great to have a backup. And for me, fun to follow along the route to help get acclimated to Rome’s streets. Although we brought along our TomTom Go 5200 for the rest of the time in Tuscany, I loved whipping it out in Rome too!

The Rome 500 Experience can accommodate different ages and different sized groups. You’re welcome to tackle driving on your own, but we definitely preferred having not only our expert guide Alvise, but his skills of maneuvering through insane Rome traffic.

This tour is really special. I’ve never felt more quickly immersed in a place before, gaining a true appreciation of the city almost instantly. Having a guide like Alvise too, who’s so passionate and joyful about his home, it’s also a treat. It’s so true – happiness is infectious and the key to spread the love while traveling the world.

Which do you prefer: the new Fiat 500 models or the vintage ones? Would you add the Retrome to your rome attraction retro hotel list?