Rome, Italy

Rome, Italy

July 2012, taken with a Canon 200IS and then edited slightly

Around the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine hill. Tip: rather than buying individual tickets for the Colosseum and Roman Forum, which works out to be quite expensive, you can get a combo-ticket. Also, buy your tickets at the entrance to the Roman Forum, which takes a couple of minutes, rather than queuing up for hours outside the Colosseum. Oh, and bring your passport because EU citizens between 18 and 24 get discounts!

The Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II)  in the Piazza Venezia - what a mouthful! We just called it the Victor Emmanuel. The first time we drove past this on the way to the hostel, I wasn't expecting to see it. My stomach dropped and I got goosebumps, it's that beautiful.

So much fruit, like a rainforest bursting with colour.

Trevi Fountain. Hint: go in the very early morning. The picture is misleading because the surrounding area was heaving with tourists. I had to push my way to the front and had a couple of seconds to take a snap before some equally unruly person shoved me out the way. Legend has it that if you toss a coin into this fountain, you're guaranteed to return to Rome.

Piazza Navona. Because my friend and I were brought up in the Middle East, we are pretty accustomed to coping with scorching heat. Whereas most people took refuge inside from the midday sun, we pretty much had the piazza to ourselves.

Sant'ivo Alla Sapienza - masterpiece of Roman Baroque architecture - my friend's friend's parents got married here! What a wedding that would be, eh?

Inside the Pantheon; the sunlight spills in through an open-roof into the marble room.

A view from the Spanish Steps. It was quite a trek up, especially in the heat, but the view was well worth it. You can see St Peter's dome in the background!

Top: the Vatican with St Peter's Basicilia visible in the background. 

Middle: Sphere within a Sphere in Courtyard of the Pinecone; a bronze statue that appears golden as the sun shines down on it. Each round ball (echoing the shape of the earth) is fractured, revealing an mechanically structurally complex interior, which many believe represents the complexities and harsh difficulties the modern world finds itself in.

Bottom: inside the Vatican is one of the world's most famous paintings; The School of Athens. Painted between 1509 and 1511 by Italian Renaissance artist Raphael, the piece depicts a gathering of ancient philosophers and scientists (including Aristotle and Plato).

Inside St Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church. The iconic dome, is enormous. It is impossible to describe how vast inside the basilica is - it's like stepping into a 17th century tardis. 140 saint statues line the St Peter's Colonnades. 

Swiss guards. They may look like a cross between French men and clowns but these soldiers have a reputation for discipline and loyalty, and were the most powerful troops of the 15th century. More importantly, it's impossible to make them laugh, and you'll probably crumble under one of their formidable glares before they crack. If you fancy being a Swiss Guard then you probably won't qualify, so don't consider it. Read about how to become a Swiss Guard here.

The Church of Sant'Ignazio Di Loyola. This isn't a main attraction in Rome, and we stumbled into quite by accident, but wow - it's the most spectacular church I have ever been in. The coloured marbles, richly ornamented altars and incredible Tromp l’oeil paintings in the dome make for a jaw-dropping and spiritually uplifting experience, even for the non-religious folks out there, like myself.

This is Trastevere, the area where we stayed. Unlike the main part of Rome, Trastevere was relaxed and bubbling with live music and restaurants whose diners spilled onto the streets.