My Love-Hate Relationship with Rome: A Travel Agent’s Honest Review

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Rome, the Eternal City… walking through its streets feels like stepping into a living museum. Every corner tells a story, every piazza is steeped in history, and every monument is iconic. The Colosseum, the Vatican, and that’s just the start of it… these are sights that belong on every traveler’s Italian bucket list, and I wholeheartedly recommend Rome to anyone visiting Italy.

But here’s the honest truth: I also breathed a huge sigh of relief when we left.

Visiting Rome is nothing if not intense. The city is bustling, crowded, and full of hustle. Navigating through throngs of tourists, lining up for hours to enter world-famous sites, and squeezing in as much as possible in a day can be exhilarating, but also exhausting. Even as I marveled at the Colosseum’s grandeur and tossed a coin into the Trevi Fountain, part of me longed for the slower, calmer pace of the Italian towns that awaited us.

That’s why I’m grateful we went to Rome first on our itinerary. Starting with a whirlwind of history, culture, and iconic landmarks set a vibrant tone for our trip, but once we left, the contrast was profound. In Florence, we wandered the charming streets at our own pace, lingered in small cafes, and enjoyed art without the crush of crowds and hustle & bustle. Cinque Terre’s colorful villages offered breathtaking views and serene hikes. San Marino felt like a peaceful escape from the chaos of city life.

Rome, in short, is a city that demands attention. It’s grand, dramatic, and endlessly captivating, but it’s also a place where you notice your energy ebbing. Leaving it gave me a sense of relief, yes, but also gratitude. Gratitude that we experienced the history and splendor first, which made the quieter, restorative moments in the rest of Italy feel even sweeter.

So if you’re planning your Italian adventure, go to Rome. Walk its ancient streets, marvel at its art and architecture, and soak in the energy of a city that truly lives and breathes history. Just be ready for a whirlwind, and know that the slower, more peaceful towns are waiting for you afterward.

Rome is love and chaos, history and hustle, awe and exhaustion, all at once. And maybe that’s exactly why it’s unforgettable.