When In Rome, Part II

“Rome is not like any other city. It’s a big museum, a living room that shall be crossed on one’s toes.” – Alberto Sordi.

In Part II, (check out Part I) of our wonderful trip to Rome, I am sharing all of the places we visited. G and I tried to fit as much as we could into our week long trip in Rome, while making sure we living and enjoying in each moment.

There are so many stops to make in this city. Visiting during the off-season was an excellent decision. We were really able to enjoy each monument, and not have to rush or be overcome by large crowds of people. Going during the month of January was the perfect choice for us, and luckily a lot of tours were not booked or crowded.

Also, if you are interested in vacationing in Rome, bring your walking shoes! We rarely took a taxi in the city, and literally walked everywhere. I brought a lot of comfortable sneakers, and was so grateful I did.

First, I will start with where we stayed …

Hotel Artemide

Hotel Artemide, was the perfect home away from home. The accommodations were lovely, and the staff was nothing short of amazing.

The gorgeous how restaurant, Ambrosia.

Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum

This was such a cool experience and a dream come true for G. We were able to learn so much about these wonderful monuments and how they became to be. There is so much history on these stops, and we actually did a combined tour that highlighted each area.

The view of the Colosseum.

G & I decided to take the extended Colosseum tour, we were lucky to go into parts of the arena that were not accessible to the public.

Overlooking the Romun Forum.

One of the many arches erected in Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Palatine Hill

The entry into the Roman Forum.

Triumphal Arch of Constantine

Milivio Bridge

My best friend, Alisha gifted me a locket to put on the Milivio Bridge. It has G’s and I initials engraved on the front, and our wedding date on the back. We were able to secure it on the bridge, and it was such an amazing way to cement our memory and spot in Italy.

Our gold locket secured on the bridge.

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain was gorgeous and breathtaking, we instantly felt calm as we approached this stunning structure. This is where visitors make their wishes  by throwing coins into the fountain, also there are people who drink the water as well, as a form of good luck. It was a bit crowded, but we were able to make our way to the fountain to make several wishes. 

The Trevi Fountain

Making a wish.

Altar of the Fatherland

This historic museum not only was breathtaking, but filled with artifacts from the Italian Unification. Also, the monument is dedicated to king Vittorio Emanuele II, and his resting place is inside the Altar of the Fatherland. This museum has some of the most amazing views of Rome. They even offer an elevator ride at the top of the building for visitors to enjoy the landscape from up high.  

Overlooking the city of Rome from the steps of the Altar of the Fatherland.

G standing in front of the Altar of the Fatherland.

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps consists of 174 steps, and when you finally reach the top, you're literally in awe of the gorgeous city and overlooking Piazza di Spagna. In front of the steps you'll find the Fontana della Barcaccia which is a work of art. Also, in this area you'll find a ton of high end shops - Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Valentino, and so much more. During this stop I treated myself to my very first Fendi bag! Visiting this city, I really wanted to buy a special piece from Roma, and I'm so glad I did.

G soaking the city in while sitting on the Spanish Steps.

Our view on top of the Spanish Steps.

In front of Fendi with my very first bag from the iconic store.

Vatican City

This stop was one of my favorites. The city is amazing, and the bridge leading up to this area is stunning. The church was nothing like I've ever seen before and encompassed such great detail and design. Also, services were being conducted during our visit - if you are interested in attending it was super easy to find a seat and be a part of it. Cameras and videos were not allowed during services, as well as in the Sistine Chapel. We toured the Vatican Museum which connected us to the chapel super easily.

Strolling through Vatican City.

Soaking in the views of Vatican City.

Enjoying a rainy day in the city.

The Pantheon

This former temple, now church is simply lovely. The architecture for this building was so neat to see in person. It was very easy to get in and walk around. When visiting you'll find many artists sketching the iconic features of the church.  

The Pantheon

In front of the fountain by The Pantheon.

Teatro Dell’Opera

Our hotel was right around the corner from this amazing Opera house. G and I went to see La Traviata and the show was absolutely wonderful. Also, they provided English and Spanish subtitles during the show, which was super helpful to follow along. The interior and design of Teatro Dell'Opera was stunning. Also, there was a small museum inside that displayed the buildings history.

The entrance to Teatro Dell'Opera.

Getting ready for the show, La Traviata.

The gorgeous cieling in the hall.

Thank you so much for reading part two of our Italian vacation!

Our trip was so much fun, and we are already thinking about planning another vacation soon! What are some of your favorite places to visit? Share below!

XO, Analise

When In Rome, Part I

“When I'm traveling, I won't miss an opportunity to try great pasta.” - Meghan Markle

In Part I of my trip to Rome, Italy, I’m dishing on all of the food G and I ate. One of the most common questions I received upon returning from my trip was, “How was the food?”

The food in Italy was amazing, and we really indulged during our week long trip. Not only were our dining experiences out of this world, but we were able to have private cooking lessons at Rimessa Roscioli in their kitchen - you’ll be able to see our experience below as well!

What We Ate

The creamiest and super delicious pasta carbonara not too far from the Spanish Steps.

The yummiest cheese plate during a wine pairing at Rimessa Roscioli.

Meatball appetizer at Rimessa Roscioli.

Grilled lamb chops, salad, and roasted potatoes.

Ravioli filled with spinach and cheese, sitting in a creamy, mild tomato sauce.

A Black Angus burger at the best burger spot in Italy, Burger Bistrot.

The juciest roasted chicken and potatoes, garnished with a side salad.

A warm dark chocolate cake, that paired perfectly with fresh berries and cream.

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Private Cooking Class & Wine Pairing

Rimessa Roscioli

Prior to our trip, I researched long and hard to find a shop that not only had amazing wines, but could ship some back to our home in Virginia. Rimessa was able to completely fulfill the request for us. Also, they offered cooking classes on-site in their kitchen, and I absolutely could not pass up on that offer. Our instructor, Alice, who is the head pastry chef at Rimessa was nothing short of amazing. She allowed us to try their fresh ingredients, and explained everything so perfectly. We were able to have a true hands on experience, and made four dishes - three pasta entrees, and a dessert. Learning how to roll fresh pasta, and make homemade tiramisu in an Italian restaurant, is an experience I will never forget. Also, Mattia, the manager paired wine for each of dish we made, his attention to detail and wonderful palette guided us through this class successfully.

The quaint wine shop and restaurant tucked on the side streets of Rome.

Our amazing chef for the day, Alice. We spent four hours in the restaurant learning all about pasta making and trying amazing foods.

Mattia, our wine guide during our cooking class, created the perfect pairing menu for our day at Rimessa.

G cutting his fresh pasta for our Cacio e Pepe.

Slicing pork cheek for our ravioli and mezze maniche with amatriciana sauce.

The fresh pasta right before it was cooked.

Dish one: Fresh ravioli, stuffed with cheese and garnished with pork cheek.

Dish two: Cacio e Pepe with a black peppercorn garnish.

Dish three: Mezze maniche with amatriciana sauce garnished with pork cheek.

Dish four: Classic homemade tiramisu.

Cheers to a successful cooking class with my favorite person.

Our trip to Rome was so wonderful and a memory we will cherish for years to come. Stay tuned to Part II where I’ll be sharing all of the activities we did, and the places we visited in this wonderful city.

XO, Analise

Thirty

“Life doesn't end at 30.” - Jeanne Moreau

I am turning 30 on January 26th, and to say that I’m looking forward to this journey is an understatement. Initially when I realized I would be approaching this new age bracket, it totally freaked me out. I began thinking of all the things I have yet to accomplish, but then reflected on how far I’ve come in my journey.

Each year I always set goals for myself and prioritize the new things I’d like to do. Yet, this year feels a bit different, and I’m focusing on how to make myself happier, healthier, and just living a more amazing fulfilled life. In my 20’s I spent a lot of time and effort making sure other people were happy, and during that process trying to find myself.

Today I’m sharing a few things I’m looking forward to embarking on in this new phase of my life, and how I’m actually pretty excited to leave my 20’s behind.

Self-care. I know self-care has been a huge topic lately, and honestly, it’s so important. My goal is to really take my overall health a bit more seriously. I’ve always been mindful of how I am feeling and taking a personal inventory of my emotional or physical needs, but it is something I really want to focus on even more. It’s so easy to get lost in situations, people, or things. By staying more grounded spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically it is my hope that I use this season to really focus more so on how to be a better individual. I want to be at my best, so I can be a blessing and helpful to others, while still remembering to nurture and grow myself in the interim.

Travel. Traveling has always been something I’ve loved to do, and as I get older I crave it even more. Going to a new place, and learning the culture is something that I really value. For the first time, I am spending my actual birthday outside of the country in a new place, and I’m absolutely looking forward to it. My goal in this new season is to spend more money on experiences, and less on material things. It is so true what they say, “You can always get more money, but time is something that you can never get back.”

Time. Speaking of time, my goal for this year is to be more mindful of how I’m spending my time. Personally, I get so caught up in the act of doing, that I forget to really remember the importance of it all. My intention during this season is to prioritize my time much better and getting in more quality moments, while cherishing them just a little bit more. I want to carve time for myself, husband, family, and friends more carefully.

Motherhood. In my late teens and early 20’s, I for sure thought I’d have a child way before I turned 30, and obviously things did not pan out that way. Right after college I went full-throttle into my career, and quickly climbed the corporate ladder. I was more focused on learning as much as I could in the IT field, which left very little time for any relationships. I met my husband when I was 25, and we got married when I was 27, yet I was nowhere near ready to start a family. Even with the constant questions from family and friends (all with good intentions of course), G and I simply were not ready to have a baby. We wanted to travel, build a home together, and honestly just get to know one another a little bit better. Honestly, I realized in the first few years of marriage how important it was to build a foundation with my partner before we began starting a family. There will never be a perfect time, but we want the time to be right. I know my 30’s will be perfect time to add an addition to our family.

What are some new goals you're setting for yourself this year? Share below!

 XO, Analise