Precious Memories: Last Full Day in Rome with Lots of Walking

2019 Western Mediterranean and Transatlantic Cruises on MSC

Pre-Cruise - Rome -- October 29, 2019

Please click here for video of our trip on this day.

This was our last full day in Rome before boarding the MSC Seaview. I am so glad that big brother Dan was on this trip with us and shared the responsibility of guiding the group. Son also did many of the leading especially when looking for food etc. so I was able to just relax once in a while without having to do much. Like today, I was totally lazy and was very happy to be a 'follower' for the day. I didn't even know where we were heading but I knew we were in good hands.

It turned out that we would be spending the day visiting the sites in the Municipio I area of Rome where many tourist spots are located not far from each other. Other than taking the bus from the apartment to Largo di Torre Argentina, our first destination for the day, we practically walked all day long. Daniel had a purpose during this trip in Rome, that was to see all the locations that was mentioned in one of his favorite opera. I think he had reached his goal even though I don't know what they all were. This morning, he brought us to this archaeological sight in the very busy part of town quite near the Campo di Fiori.

Largo de Torre Argentina

Visitors can only look at the site from above instead of actually explore on foot. There are remains of the four temples there. This is said to be the spot where Julius Caesar was killed which made this sight more important.

And of course, there are cats around since this is also a cat colony.

It would have been a very nice stop if we were able to actually get inside the ground and explore.

Drinking fountains that are all over in Rome.

Sant'Andrea della Valle

Then we walked a little and reached the Sant'Andrea della Valle Cathedral which we passed by the day before. Half of our group went there already but thought it was worthwhile for us to go there also. Indeed, this is a beautiful church, just like many of the other ones in Rome. One special feature is that they have mirrored tables so visitors can see the beautiful details of the church ceiling. Very clever and thoughtful!

Taking a photo of the ceiling on the mirror-table.

Gorgeous!

Piazza Navona

This is another important site that everybody visiting Rome would stop at. This elegant square dating from the 1st Century is usually frequented by visitors to see the classical fountain and street artists. Today, I preferred to just sit with Sis, enjoy the lovely sunshine, and people watched.

Pantheon

Our next stop was at the 'obligatory' site of Pantheon. It was surprisingly crowded with people standing and sitting at every corner of this square. Now that there are new rules in Rome regarding visiting famous sites, we had to be very careful in locating a suitable place to sit and rest.

This iconic temple built around 120 A.D. with a dome houses tombs of famous people, including Raphael's.

Dome of the temple.

Look at all the people!

Stopped for an ice-cream break at Giolitti. Yum!

Accidentally saw some police in action around the corner.

Enjoying our trip to Rome.

On our way to the Trevi Fountain, we passed by the Marcus Aurelius Column at the Colonna Piazza.

This column with carved military scenes was to honor Marcus Aurelius' victories

Trevi Fountain

Needless to say, this was the busiest place of all! Trying to take a picture here seemed to be an impossible mission with people all gathered around the fountain. There were 'police' blowing whistles at those who were not following the new rules of no sitting and eating around the site. It was just kind of funny watching people breaking the rules and got caught.

The police missed these people sitting down for a photo.

Trevi Fountain and the Palazzo Poli

Right around the back is the hotel where we stayed in 2012.

Hotel Della Nazioni

Cheap Eats in Rome -- Pastificio

We made reservations for a fine seafood dinner at a restaurant we had been in 2012 and thought it would be a good place for a memorable meal before leaving Rome. So, we figured that we should just have a simple lunch to hold us through the day and save our appetites for dinner. Son lead us to an establishment called Pastificio near the Spanish Steps where we saw a long line already formed outside before their opening time at 1:00.

When it opened at 1:00, the line actually moved quickly. The procedure is to pick the one pasta dish that you want out of the two being served each day. They'll put them in containers and you find a place to eat your pasta. They provide water and even a glass of wine if you are eating inside the store. No place to sit, just standing room only. Soon enough, we bought our boxes of pasta and found a place outside to sit and enjoyed the delicious and hot pasta. A quick and tasty meal for 4 E.

Long line outside Pastificio.

Via della Crose, 2, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Customers getting their pasta inside.

4 E box of pasta

Delicious! This one had bacon bits in it.

Later, we sat at the square near the Spanish Steps and many people were having the same pasta lunch around us. Just make sure you are not sitting and eating at the steps itself though.

Spanish Steps, cleared of tourists sitting around.

We had walked the whole morning and we were all tired so after some photos at the Spanish Steps area, we walked back to the apartment and rest for the afternoon. We also had to pack our bags since we will be picked up in the morning to go to port for our MSC cruise.

Sa Tanca Crostaceria -- Via della Croce, 2, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

We had a wonderful seafood dinner here at this restaurant in 2012, recommended to us by a friendly taxi driver. We enjoyed it so much that we thought it would be a good idea to take the group here for our final meal in Rome since it was not far from our apartment. It was a little on the expensive side but we all agreed that it was well-worth the price for the experience. We had the Taste Menu, which cost 45E per person. I have to say that it was one of the best seafood meal we had in a long time.