#DolceVitaBloggers Linkup #2, January 2018 – ‘Favourite Italian City’
Can you guess where my favourite Italian city is from the picture above?
Well, if you guessed Rome, you are correct!
This photo was taken from Villa Borghese, the third largest park in Rome and a fabulous place to relax and take in the beauty of this eternal city.
Having family in Rome makes this city even more special and undeniably my favourite city in Italy. With fond memories of our departed Zio, proudly guiding us around his beloved home town, we gained a different insight into the background of this capital. It was an honor to accompany him, our own personal tour guide, through the famous streets of Rome, while he would meticulously relate the history and his connection to the City of the Seven Hills.
Exuding with history, Rome’s impressive architecture and ancient monuments, defines this city to its core. Step back and immerse yourself to another time and era. To a world of concrete amphitheaters, marble cathedrals and timeless ruins. This is the real Rome, the Rome I fell in love with the first time I visited, and will continue to love always.
So below, is a collection of some of Rome’s monuments and attractions that were presented to us through Zio’s eyes. Significant sites that we revisit when we return to Rome, and we know that Zio is there walking with us, every step of the way.
The Tiber River
The Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna
The momentous Colosseum, the largest amphitheater in the world.
There is always time to visit The Pantheon. Nearly two thousand years old and originally built as a temple for all Gods. The eye of the Pantheon (the oculus), is the world’s single, largest dome constructed from concrete. It remains the burial site for many, including Raphael, the famous Italian painter and Vittorio Emmanuel II, the first King of unified Italy.
Colonna Antonina, Piazza Colonna
Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza Venezia and Il Vittoriano. The grand marble monument of Il Vittoriano, is also nicknamed “the wedding cake” after it’s box like shape! It is located within the major intersection of Piazza Venezia, where four major Roman roads intersect, including Via dei Fori Imperiali and the famous shopping strip of Via del Corso. Piazza Venezia also houses Palazzo Venezia, a Renaissance palace, where Mussolini delivered all of his crucial speeches from his balcony to the masses of crowds in the Piazza during WWII…
The Glorious Trevi Fountain. Don’t forget to toss a coin, with your back turned to the fountain, over your left shoulder with your right hand, to ensure your return back to the Eternal City!
“I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.”
Augustus, Roman Emperor
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Linking up with Kelly at Italian at Heart, Jasmine at Questa Dolce Vita, and Kristie at Mammaprada, for all things Italian, at #DolceVitaBloggers
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There’s nothing quite like seeing a place through the eyes of a passionate local. How lucky you were to have such a wonderful guide. He will always be with you when you visit.
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Very blessed indeed Carol ❤️
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Eh, what to add!? Rome is just incredible, you just wonder how is it possible that a city so packed with amazing art and architecture exists. Thanks for sharing ❤
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Thank you Sara, there’s no other place quite like it, right? ❤️
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Lovely post, Lorelle. I am sure if your friend Zio read this, he would have been thrilled. The passion of a local for his city is infectious.
I have always loved those words of Augustus, might sound vain but it also comes off as lofty. xxx
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Thank you Arundhati. Zio, is Uncle, and his passion was very infectious indeed! Xx
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Lovely photos! Have you read Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr? I think you would enjoy it. Happy New Year!
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Thank you Stacey. No, the only Anthony Doerr book I’ve read is All the light we cannot see, and I loved it. So your recommendation is well noted. Thank you 🙏🏼 😉
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Thanks for sharing! There is definitely something powerful and majestic about this city and its rich history! I would like to visit Rome sometime with an insider’s perspective!
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It definitely gives you a different perspective Moxie. Thanks for stopping by 😊
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Rome is a spectacular city!
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👍🏼❤️
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Seeing Rome with family, especially family that lives there, must be a completely different experience. I feel like I need to adopt a Roman when I eventually make it there. 😉 Lovely story about seeing the city with your uncle.
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Thank you Alison. We are very blessed to have family there 😊
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Rome is my favourite city also.
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👍🏼❤️
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I miss Italy so much! I visited years ago and you’re absolutely right, there’s something so magical about Rome! Great post!
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Thank you Dani. Magical is definitely a great word to describe Rome. ❤️
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A beautiful city with so much incredible history. I love that you love it so much.
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Thanks Jen. It’s a pretty special place. X
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Thanks for this trip around Rome. It’s such a beautiful city.
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Oh, you’re very welcome Tracey, thanks for joining me ❤️
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Bella Roma. How wonderful traipsing through the eternal city and seeing it through the eyes of your zio. I can relate. Beautiful photos and lovely memories.
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Thanks Miriam ❤️
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I can really appreciate the fact that you connect Rome with memories of your uncle, it must be so amazing to think of him when you visit all his favorite places. Thank you for sharing this with us!
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Very sentimental Jasmine. I guess that’s what makes it so special ❤️
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I have mentioned before that Rome is my favourite city and that I was fortunate to live there for a while in my twenties. It has the most special place in my heart and I had assumed I would return there when my children were grown and I no longer needed to be on the treadmill of corporate earnings. But then I met my husband and France took centre stage, which is very very fine indeed. But reading this beautifully emotional piece about the place that will always be home in my heart at some level and seeing it through the eyes of Zio through you, I wonder quietly to myself if my path ever crossed his, if his passion spilled over and zapped me. I loved this. Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful man and his love of place.
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I had to take a moment here Osyth. Your words touched me immensely, I had goosebumps! I’m speechless! Grazie ❤️
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Go softly, sweet friend x
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🙏🏼❤️
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Having family in Italy is a wonderful, wonderful thing! The memories you have are so special and we can see why you love the city so much. It looks like an incredible place. We would love to visit one day! ❤
Lucy and Kelly
http://www.theblossomtwins.com
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Thanks guys, hope you get to see Rome one day. X
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Very nice photos and hard to argue with Rome as a choice of your favorite Italian city! Complimenti!
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Grazie 😊
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Thank you for joining us Lorelle! I bet Rome is even more incredible with a special local guide. I’m sure you still feel your bio with you every time you are there. 😉
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Always Kelly. ❤️
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The experience in any city when you have family to show you around just really enhances the visit. My partner’s brother lives there and so we have a place to stay and our own personal tour guides when we visit. I didn’t like Rome my first two visits because I didn’t have the chance to see the other non-tourist side of the city. Great post!
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It sure does Lauren, we are both very lucky. Thank you for stopping by. 😊
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It’s hard to beat Rome isn’t it?! Such a unique City and with pretty unique inhabitants too. They have their own special character. Great photos! Thank you for sharing your memories. xx
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Thanks Kristie. It’s great to write about our Italian passions here. Xx
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I am not surprised that Roma is your favorite. I agree but I also have room for other Italian cities in my heart. Especially Firenze
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It’s so hard to choose! Firenze is beautiful too 😉
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Oh you’re so lucky to have family in Rome and to have had a personal tour guide with all his local knowledge. I’ve only ever been to Venice but would love to go to Italy and see and do all the things! Rome and Tuscany are high on my travel wish list!
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Such different and unique places, though still in the same country. That’s what I love. Venice is magical though. Xx
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Ahh you have shared some lovely pictures! I have always thought of Rome to be a richly historical, beautiful place, and this post has proved it. ❤ Thanks for sharing!
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Very welcome, thanks for stopping by and commenting Maggie ❤️
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Fontana di Trevi was soooo amazing! I love it so much! The last time I was there (which was the first time for my partner, Davide), it was under construction. 😦 So now I need to return and see it all new and complete………. (Secretly jut my excuse to return… hehe!)
http://www.angela-williams.org
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Oh I would use that as an excuse too 😉 we must have been there st the same time then!! 2015 and Trevi fountain disappointment! 😔
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Not a city I have visited but what wonderous architecture and I am certain when I do do it will also hold a special place in my heart…Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing x
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I’m sure it will too Carol ❤️
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Wow….These pictures are so utterly and tremendously beautiful!! I can’t wait to go there myself. 🙂
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Thank you lovely ❤️
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Florence is my fave, so far. And my genes are from Naples, but Rome is on the list! I would have so enjoyed a tour from your Uncle.
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Thank you lovely Lorna. Florence is pretty special too 😊
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I wish I had a local show me around Rome when I was there 3 years ago! It makes such a difference. You were lucky to experience such a majestic through the eyes of locals! Beautiful photos.
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We were very lucky indeed, it really does make the experience more unique. Thanks Pooja. Xx
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You know 30 years ago while staying in Florence I went to visit a girlfriend in Rome, when I got back I was asked, “Issa, how did you like Rome?”. Honestly, I did not like it at all, Then I went back a few weeks later and on the train, I met a young man with whom offered to show Rome to me (much safer times back in the late 80’s). He picked me up on a motorbike and he showed me his city thru his eyes.
Seeing Rome thru the eyes of a Roman is like looking into the box instead of “just” seeing the box.
Thank you for sharing Zio’s Bella Roma.
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That’s a great story Issa. What a wonderful memory to have.
I totally agree with you. We were very lucky to look into the box of Rome! Xx
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I would absolutely love to visit Rome. The architecture looks stunning and it’s so steeped in history. Very jealous of your trip there x
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The architecture gets me every time. The history intrigues me, I love it. Thanks Haley 😍
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Mine is Bologna:)
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Haven’t seen Bologna yet. I’m sure it’s wonderful 😉
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I blogged about it:) have a look:)
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Will do 👍🏼
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Great choice of city! And the throwing the coin into the Trevi fountain definitely works, I’ve been back 5 times now!
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We do it all the time, when the fountain is open of course! Last trip they were renovating 😔
Thanks Rebecca 😊
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I’ve been to Rome a couple times and I love it! It can be a bit overwhelming with tourists but if you can look past that, it’s actually a great place! I don’t know if I could live there, but I certainly love visiting!
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I agree, I don’t think I could live there either,but the visits are always magical 😊
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Isn’t rome just incredible! There is so much to see and enjoy. I was there years ago with my family and would love to return one day and explore some more, and eat more gelato =o)
https://dreamofadventures.com/
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Ahhh, the gelato…. yes. Great memories ❤️
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I love Rome! I’ve lived here on and off over the years. Villa Borghese is one of my absolute favourites 🙂
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It’s such a beautiful place. A peaceful park to relax. 😉
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Love your blog. I love to travel as well. I’ll be posting about my trip to Rome in the near future.
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Thank you, I’ll have to check out your too 😊
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Wow, Lorelle, I love this! Rome is also one of my favorite cities. How amazing that you have family there. 🙂 🙂
Your blogs are very sweet and welcoming. I appreciate you. Happy New Year!!!
Blessings,
Debbie
ps – great photos ❤
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Thank you Deb.
Hope you have had a wonderful start to the new year. Yes, we are very fortunate to have family there. Italy is my favourite country in the world. We have been blessed to have had some wonderful holidays there.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead. ❤️
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Gorgeous post. I felt like being there thru Your beautiful photos. Thank You.
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👍🏼😊
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I can see why Rome is your favorite city… I also have italian family over there … Of course: my last name is Pedemonte (there is even a town in Italy in Vicenza, Veneto, called Pedemonte, can you believe it?… my parents were there a few years ago)… Excellent post, the photos are simply stunning… Thank you for sharing!… Love & best wishes 😀
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Thank you Aquileana. Yes, I remember the name Pedemonte when we drove through Veneto. Do you go back often? X
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Woefully I wasn´t there… I visited France (Paris & Orléans) & England (London) … And that´s my list of European countries… Quite short)))… Italy would be a dream come true!. We´ll see.. I am in Argentina, Buenos Aires… Have you been here? … 😉
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France is just beautiful, another favourite ( I have many as you can see!!!)
No I have never been to Argentina, nor South America for that matter. I read so much about it and it looks wonderful. One day I say! There are so many beautiful places in this world and I am blessed to have seen so many so far, but would love to check out South America one day. ❤️
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Per Roma, una vita non basta! I go to Roma at least once a year and I still have so much to see. I usually stay with a friend near Via Ostiense, so really see it like a local. It is so special that you can feel Zio’s vibes in the streets of Roma! Ciao, Cristina
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E vero Christina.
It’s great to experience it as a local. I must check where Via Ostiense is!! 😊
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I stay near the Basilica San Paolo which is just on the edge of Garbatella and not far from Testaccio. A great area! Check it out.
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Will do. Grazie ❤️
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what a lovely place with beautiful pictures ! Thanks for the lovely share
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You’re very welcome Nisha. X
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Your post is giving me a major wanderlust issue. Such a beautiful place and such beautiful pictures
X
Pratz
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Thank you so much 😊
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Lovely photos. Never been to Rome. I think I would prefer to walk around it in the very early morning, before the crowds appear.
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Thanks Denzil. Yes, getting out early morning does have its advantages, and that is one! 👍🏼😊
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I love Rome too.
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It’s a wonderful city, thanks for stopping by 😊
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The pantheon was my favourite building in Rome – I still remember stumbling upon it by accident because I wasn’t well versed in Italian / Roman history when I first visited. Love Rome!
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It’s a pretty special building. I love visiting it each time we visit Rome. 🙂
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Congrats again! Looks good on my phone 👍🏼
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Thanks for the feedback ❤️
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