Yesterday my wife purchased flights from Portland, Oregon, to Paris, France. We intend on making a short stop (a day or two) there in order to go to the place that matters much, much more to me: Rome, Italy! Like the Apostle Paul who wrote “I planned many times to come to you” to the church in Rome (1.13), so I done as regards going to Rome itself. It appears to be something that will actually happen in just a few months!
I know I want to see the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum, the Palantine Hill, and the Vatican with places like St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. We should be there for several days so I will get the opportunity to see much of the city and her sites.
If you have ever been to Rome what are some things you would say that I must see, whether I have listed them already or not? Is there a restaurant I must take my wife? Is there a food dish we must taste? Let me know.
My wife went to Paris last year to visit her sister so she will be my guide to the sites there. We have never been to Rome, so tell me all you know!
the archives near Emmaus 
I have been blessed to spend a little under a year of my life in Roma, and my best advice to you is simply walk. Once you are inside the walls, enjoy walking all over the city, taking in all the sights and smells. There are beautiful churches on every corner, as well as ancient ruins. One place I would recommend spending a little time in Trastevere, which is an old district of Rome on the west bank if the Tiber south of the Vatican. There is an ancient and beautiful church there called St Mary in Trastevere which is one if my favorites.
One other church to check out is San Clemente which is between the Colosseum and St. John Lateran. It is another ancient church which has multiple levels going back to a pagan temple of Mithras.
Have a blessed trip to the Eternal City!
You should have routed through Brussels. 🙂
oooh, more comments, please! I am headed to Rome this Summer, and want to know all of the places we should hit!
@Timothy: Thank you so much for the comments. I will mark these places down on our list.
@Scott: We had to go with the best deal we could find. Portland to Paris was it! Besides, my wife really likes Paris (not sure why, but I’ll get my chance soon).
@Chad: I know, huh? Where are the world travelers? I want to hear their stories!
A walk through the Villa Borghese gardens will get you the Galleria Borghese, the Museo d. Villa Guila (The Etruscan Museum) and a zoo, among other things, all worthwhile.
@Paul: Thanks! These will go on my list. 🙂
If you want NT era Rome, make sure to include Trastavere (trans-tiber) on the west bank, where the Jews lived when they weren’t being kicked out of the city. Also, just over the river from there, near the old Circus Maximus, is the Aventine Hill district, where the Christians lived in Nero’s day… that is, before they were nearly all martyred.
PS: I was told eight years ago in Greece that a wealthy American once asked an Italian tour guide how long they needed to spend before understanding the history and cultural heritage of Rome. Gently and graciously, the guide answered: Un’ora. Una vita. One hour. One life.
Enjoy Paris too. 😉
@Bill: Those places will be awesome to see. I want to get as much NT era viewing in as possible! I have a few days there, but I know it will likely leave me wanting to spend even more time there.