Have you ever find yourself trying to escape from hectic work/ school life, spending hours looking for air ticket and imagining yourself in a whole different place and culture? I know I have.. I need a breather once in a while.  I made a decision to visit Rome last October and I have absolutely no regret about it.

I chose Rome in particular was because.. Well firstly, Italy has always known for its food and secondly, I wanted to visit st. Peter's basilica and the Pope. When I arrived, I was blown away by not only its food, churches and Pope Francis. There are so much more to see! Italy is known for its art, wonderful architecture, history as well as exotic FOOD! Rome, the capital of Italy, alone has attracted people of different countries to visit, it is definitely a must-visit destination for many. 

Travel is always exciting and fun,  I especially love the feeling of anticipating and counting down the days leading up to the actual date of departure. As fun as it sounds, I have to say that planning a trip/ researching places beforehand can be.... well, frustrating but fret not! That's what this article is here for - to help you.

Disclaimer: 

I am in nowhere a travel expert. These are the places and food that I fell in love with when I visited Rome last year, hence I am sharing/ recommending it. 

1. Trevi Fountain

It has been said that if you threw a coin into the fountain, it would guarantee your next visit. I don't know how true that is but I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Since it is a tourist hotspot, it is jam packed most of the time. If you wish to avoid the crowd, you might want to be there early in the morning. You'll notice that there are a few shops selling ice-cream nearby the fountain which leads to my second point.

2. Ice-cream

Yes, ice cream. Gelato is the italian word for ice-cream. I had different flavours gelato every single day when I was in Rome. I visited some gelato shops but I especially love Venchi and Frigidarium, make sure you check them out.

3. The Vatican

The Vatican is considered as a city-state in Rome. It is the headquarter of the Roman Catholic Church, also where the Pope stays. My visit to the Vatican is a memorable one 'cause I was left in awe every single moment. I'm going to break this down into 4 parts (a-d).

(a) St Peter's Basilica

It is the largest church, the building itself is a wonderful work of art by several artists including the famous Michelangelo.

(b) Attend the audience and meet the Pope!

It is the mega highlight of my trip to Vatican.
If you wish to see the Pope, you may attend the general audience which happen every Wednesday. Ticket can be obtained from the Swiss Guard at the Broonze Door the day before general audience. However, you can still attend the general audience without a ticket. You'll need to go through security check twice before entering the square. The pope will be going around greeting everybody in the popemobile.

(c) The Swiss Guard!

You'll notice men with bright-coloured uniform standing still, looking very serious in Vatican. They hold great responsibilities and are well-trained in Swiss military!

(d) Sistine Chapel

The ceiling of Sistine Chapel is a must-see! The incredible artwork was painted by Michelangelo. No photograph is allowed in the Chapel. Everyone was given a few minutes to be in awe of the ceiling artwork. Just like most places in Rome, Sistine Chapel is normally crowded but it will be worth it, I promise. 

4.  Pantheon

The entrance is free. you can grab a quick bite or a meal after visiting the pantheon. There are great music and food around. I enjoyed grabbing lunch and dinner outside the pantheon, I was lucky 'cause someone was singing my all time favourite song - 'Yellow' by Coldplay that day.

5. Colosseum

Need I say more? Such an iconic destination. The history and architecture will left you in awe.

6. Eat Suppli

Risotto, pasta, truffle... These are foods we often hear about Italy but one thing that I discovered and fell in love with was..... Suppli. It's basically a deep fried rice ball with tomato sauce and cheese. 

All in all, these are just some of the things you can to do/eat in Rome, there are more places, activities and foods to discover. I have left my heart all over Rome, still blown away by the buildings, music, art, food, etc. I think you will, too. Get your phone or camera ready, you'll realize that every corner of Rome is effortlessly instagram-worthy. 

Thanks for reading till the end. Don't  forget to put Rome, Italy on your travel bucket list if you haven't already, it will surely fulfill your wanderlust.

*All pictures are mine unless stated otherwise.