TrekBytes

Rome, the Eternal City, is a place that defies description. Spending five days in the capital city was truly magical. My favorite part of Rome was its storied history, beginning with the Roman Empire. Seeing the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon in person showcased the ingenuity and engineering genius of the ancient Romans. The fact that these structures still stand today is a testament to the quality and planning that went into their construction. Our favorite monument was the Pantheon, whose large dome remains beautifully intact today. Exploring more recent history, we spent a day visiting the Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museum's hallways are lavishly decorated with masterpieces from Renaissance painters and sculptors, with every wall covered in art. The museum ends with a visit to the most famous painting of all time, Michelangelo's masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel. We spent twenty minutes marveling at the ceiling, taking in the depiction of Old Testament events. Visitors are not allowed to take photos or speak, and most people were in awe of the ceiling. Heading into St. Peter's Basilica was a shocking experience. From afar, it doesn't look that large, but once inside, you realize just how massive it is. The famous Vatican Church does an excellent job with perspective, making it seem less imposing than it actually is. The Latin inscriptions that surround the base of the dome and the roof in the other halls are over ten feet tall each. This was one of the largest and most opulent churches I've ever been in, with incredible paintings, sculptures, and golden altars depicting the Crucifixion. Rome's narrow, colorful cobblestone streets were lined with restaurants serving some of the best Italian food and wine I've ever had. The pizza was incredible, the fresh pasta tasted phenomenal, and the paninis were so memorable that Thalia and I agreed to name our first cat Panini.

Leaving Rome, we were exhausted and in desperate need of a break. We decided to head further south to the beautiful Amalfi Coast to get some much-needed beach time. We had heard that Amalfi can be quite crowded in the summer, so we opted to stay in a lesser-known village just south of Amalfi proper called Minori. This proved to be a good choice, as the popular towns like Positano and Amalfi were absolutely overrun with people. Minori was much smaller but had the same charm of small restaurants and lemon orchids. We stayed four nights in Minori, relaxing by the beach under beach umbrellas and enjoying the break from our feet. The ferry system from Minori was seamless, providing quick day-trip access to the popular towns. The coastline is indeed as picturesque as the Instagram influencers suggest, with steep coastlines and aqua-blue waters. Each town has its own vibe and character, many with beautiful buildings and churches that line the coast. The food was excellent as well, with fresh lemons being a staple in the cuisine. Southern Italy deserves months of traveling, and we didn't get the chance to explore famous cities like Napoli and the Sicily region. Seeing Rome and the Amalfi Coast was a great introduction to the region, but we only scratched the surface. We will certainly be back to visit these unexplored areas of Southern Italy.