Places to Visit Near Sam Tomasso

As the saying goes “all roads lead to Rome”, so it’s no surprise that most travelers embark on a journey to the Eternal City at least once in their lives. Filled with history, ancient architecture, and some of the best food in the world, Rome is without a doubt one of the best cities in Europe.Back in February 2017 I had the chance to “do as the Romans do” and spend one week in the Capital. Here I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things to do in Rome and I hope it will help you plan your own Roman Holiday.1. SANTA MARIA DELLA CONCEZIONE DEI 

They say, Rome is never a bad idea, however we disagreed. We were welcomed in Rome with an almost cancelled flight and a mid-air robbery of 350 euros. That's how we will always remember Rome. But today when I look back, I can only laugh and miss the days spent wandering and roaming in Rome.From learning to read physical maps, to start making friends in the hostel and from walking endlessly for hours to treating yourself with world's best Gelato, Rome will always be loved and hated.

(f) Rome, our last destination was in our head infamous because of the scammers and pick pocketers warnings that one reads about. However, Rome, pleasantly surprised us by proving all this wrong. We were told 'bus no. 62 to Vatican is an abode of pick pocketers. Keep your bags in front of you'. It was exactly in the same bus that we met an immigrant from Senegal who got us an early entry into Vatican through his tourist guide brother and didn't ask for a dime. All he said was 'Be safe, Sister'.

The newest ship in the fleet, Celebrity Reflection is setting sail through Western Mediterranean in May. Embark in Rome and see the colours of Europe—the Colosseum in Rome, Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, the Rock of Gibraltar, and the party island of Ibiza. On board, you can catch concerts and attend theatre, enjoy French cuisine, or relax by the pools.Departure: Rome.Stopping at: La Spezia, Nice, Barcelona, Gibraltar, Malaga, Cartagena, and Ibiza.When: Eleven-day cruise starting May 8, 2017.Cost: US$949 upwards per person.COOL QUOTIENT

If Rome can be described as the city of ancient wonders then Florence is certainly the city of medieval marvels. Known as the cradle of Renaissance, Florence is also the birthplace of the most famous Italian poet - Dante Alighieri and the city where Leonardo da Vinci underwent his apprenticeship. But what amazed me is how underrated Florence is as a tourist destination. Whereas Rome is a pretty hyped up city, Florence is more of a hidden gem. It does not get the same glory as Rome but is certainly no less glorious. To use a cricket analogy, if Rome can be called Sachin Tendulkar then Florence is definitely Rahul Dravid.We chose to begin our sightseeing in Florence with Palazzo Vecchio as it was open till 7 pm which gave us sufficient time to explore it. This medieval palace cum fortress, originally built to host the members of city council and later used as a residence by dukes of Florence, currently serves as the town hall and contains mayor's office and other municipal offices. 

The history of the Roman Empire started fascinating me after I picked up my first play of Shakespeare, Julius Caesar. Therefore, it was only natural that I planned my longest haul in Rome. If you ignore the hundreds of tourists buzzing around the city, Rome has an old world charm, which makes it appear like it is frozen in the times of the kings. The colosseum – one of the major sites a tourist would have most definitely been to – looks as if it is work in progress, left to be finished another day, another era. The colosseum is a 1st century AD amphitheater that was used for gladiator games. Colosseum is surrounded by other historically rich sites like the Roman Forum, Palatine, and the Pantheon. But this article is not about the things to do in the cities I visited. I am writing this article to share my journey as a novel solo woman traveler.I wasn’t thinking much about the consequences of going alone when I finalized my trip. The realization hit me only when I set foot in my flight to room. How was I supposed to manage alone, what would happen if I got lost or got robbed, what if I got bored in my own company – several questions were haunting me throughout my flight. I had booked shared dorm beds in hostels with the best reviews in most of the cities. It was a choice I made in order to meet people from around the world, make friends, and have some company if I ever felt lonely. And let me tell you, my decision did not disappoint me. The hostel I booked in Rome was supposedly a ‘party hostel’, with a club of its own – where most of the hostellers living in the area would flock to. I had done my research on how to reach the hostel from the airport, printed an offline map and had decided to buy a local Lyca sim card as soon as I landed in Rome. My assumption that I would find a sim card booth at the airport did land me into some trouble. Without the GPS, I was lost and going around in circles trying to find my way from the bus stand to hostel. It took me one hour and sheer luck of finding a couple of girls going to the hostel to finally reach the accommodation where I would be spending my next four days. My room was a four bed dorm with an attached bathroom. Attached bathroom was a choice I consciously made while booking the rooms, as most of the rooms do not have those and I did not want to share bathrooms with a dozen others. After I settled in my room, it was already late at night and I quickly made friends with my American roommate. We went to club downstairs, had a few drinks, chatted and got to know each other and closed the night. She left the city the next morning. The next four days were a roller coaster ride. I was missing home, wandering the streets alone, going to the romantic Trevi Fountain by myself, but being a foodie, thoroughly enjoying each and every meal. Pasta is my favorite dish and finding it in abundance in its natural habitat was a bigger dream come true than doing a solo trip. Freshly baked handmade Pasta garnished with fresh (and not imported) cheese is truly a food lover’s delight. Pizzas were scrumptious, and the popular Italian Gelato was worth waiting in queues for. I will admit though that I did enjoy my time at Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Navona, the streets that were bustling with high end to budget shopping brands. Being a former literature student, I loved spending hours at the Keats Shelley House near the Spanish Steps. A door in one of the rooms at the house led to a pretty balcony overlooking the steps. I spent most of my time quietly sitting there, observing the crowds trying to find a spot to sit on the steps. For the days, I had bought a three-day bus pass, using which I would board any bus and get down at any stop I liked to stroll and explore. I also saw and waved to the pope in Vatican City, which is one of my favorite places now. Evenings felt less lonely as my new roommate Catia from London and I would go downstairs for drinks and dance every night. I never ventured out to explore the other more popular pubs of the city as I was too scared to go out alone at night.

Day 06-8: Check out of Hotel Relais Maresca . Ferry from Capri to Naples. Cab to Naples train station. Train from Naples to Rome, Check in Hotel Deko Rome. Nice, modern apartment type hotel. Our host was very helpful and gave us a detailed map and places/restaurants to go to. Good location.

Last day in Rome, before I head to another glorious Italian city - Florence, and I felt I still hadn't had enough. The day was bright, there was a nip in the air, and what would be better than a walk along the Tiber. Starting from the Vatican, I walked past Castel Sant' Angelo and Pallazo di Giustizia and crossed the Ponte Umberto I.

I started the next day early and headed straight to the heart of Rome - to the Colosseo or the Colosseum, as we know it.