I have lived in Rome for half my adult life, but there are still days when I round a corner and squee with excitement because it is just That. Damn. Beautiful.
Jim puts up with me stopping every 2 minutes to take photos “like a tourist” because when I get THAT excited about this city, it’s silly. You can’t be annoyed.
Because it really is so special to walk by buildings that are thousands of years old, that you have passed hundreds of times.
To see these ancient monuments silhouetted against a February sunset is enough to stop you in your tracks.
Familiar streets become a sight to behold.
He knows enough to just nod in silent appreciation, while I ramble on about Rome’s Golden Hour.
Gush: complete.
Beautiful, your photos took me right back to my trips to the eternal city. I miss it! xxx
Lucy @ La Lingua
I am planning a trip to Italy in May, starting in Rome. The last few days I’ve become unnerved by the terrorist threats we hear about. Can you tell me how the people locally are handling this? Should I be afraid?
Hi! I think it is normal to have a heightened sense of awareness right now. There is more security in Rome – you will see police driving, and carabinieri patrolling major sites and train stations. BUT there is no direct threat at this time. I think that this Washington Post article gives a good idea of how Romans are handling the issue: Romans respond to Islamic State
However, daily life has not changed. You might experience longer lines due to increased security, but I do not think it should dissuade you from your planned trip!
I feel the exact same way! I have never seen a city look more beautiful in early afternoon/evening and I always love when I’m out and about with time to stop and admire it.
She is being polite. I am usually yelling at her to hurry up as we are normally on our way to Scholars
I appreciate your feeling in this article. I usually travel to Rome at least once a year and I find myself stopping and photographing the same things each time. At different times of day it’s as though seeing them for the first time. Even going in the opposite direction changes the perspective enough to stop me in my tracks. I pray it will never become boring. I can’t imagine it will.
Wow, your photographs brought me back to Rome. Very impressive. I have been to Rome a few times already but the excitement of visiting the Eternal City is always intensifying. Every Rome trip I had was unique and memorable. I always feel like wanting more. It’s like my whole life is not enough to explore all the interesting spots in Rome.
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How glorious the golden hour in Rome can be, albeit thanks mostly to the work of a colourist, one can get the idea after watching Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love. Such splendid photography by Darius Khondji and glorious colour correction by the colourist Joe Gawler. It has to be seen to be believed. Preferably on a Blu-ray.
I haven’t seen the Blu-ray but I do love the film. I also recommend La Grande Bellezza for the more undiscovered spots of the city.
Love your blog. In fact, I linked this page to a post of mine on the Rick Steves Italy forum, where I frequently post. I said, “For myself, this page evokes memories of the late winter afternoon time near the Campo de’ Fiori market, when the vendors have all left, the street sweepers are just about finished cleaning the piazza, and the streetlights have come on because it was starting to get dark. We were in our 2nd floor walk-up, windows open because it was in the 50’s–warm for us Chicagoans–and I heard an interesting melody coming from below.
I peered out the window and there was a guitarist playing through a tiny battery-powered amp, accompanied by his friend on viola. And the haunting melody, played to perfection with the sound reverberating off the perimeter buildings, was Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’. I literally gasped and thought, it is for this I have come.
That to me, epitomizes the golden hour in Rome…”