#rometrip2026

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The craziest thing I learned in Ostia Antica is that the walls of Ostia were begun under the direction of Cicero and completed by Clodius Pulcher.

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This was my first glimpse of the Colosseum. It was really cool to turn a corner, look down a street, and notice this massive ancient building in the distance among the modern ones.

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A lot of the outdoor mosaics at Ostia were still under winter storage when I visited, but a few were uncovered. I wish I could have seen more but I absolutely respect the need for preservation.

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My first proper sight-seeing happened on my walk to Ostia Antica through the town immediately outside the archaeological park. A way more enjoyable suburban experience than the equivalent in the USA. Very walkable and they've got a freaking castle!

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some more pictures from my visit to Ostia

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the wrong side won at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge 👎

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My trip to Rome

As you may have surmised from my blurry photo inside FCO (Rome's airport), I recently made a pilgrimage to the eternal city. I really should have posted my photos sooner but it took me and my husband a while to get them all organized. Well, they're organized now and I'm ready to start sharing them over the coming weeks. I'll probably post one or a few a time, because let's get real, who is going to browse 700 photos all at once.

I'll be using the tag #RomeTrip2026. Mentioning this in case you decide you wanted to block that tag or, alternatively, you do actually want to check them all out.

My trip itinerary:

Mar. 6: Travel day. Good gods my butt hurt bad after 3 flights and 14+ hours of sitting.

Mar. 7: flight arrived in FCO, checked into a BnB near Ostia Antica run by a sweet old grandma. (The BnB seemed to be a former family house, and she had pictures of her kids on the walls.)

Mar. 8: strolled through Ostia Antica in the morning / afternoon, checked out of the BnB, took the train into Rome, checked into our hotel in the city center.

Mar. 9: guided tour of the Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill

Mar. 10: self-directed day of walking around the Campus Martius to see the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Mausoleum of Augustus, Ara Pacis, Largo di Torre Argentina (site of Caesar's assassination)

Mar. 11: trip out to Tivoli to see Hadrian's Vila, Villa d'Esta, Sanctuary of Hercules Victor.

Mar. 12: Vatican City day. Guided tour of Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, and the ancient necropolis over which St. Peter's was built

Mar. 13: Capuchin Crypts, checked out of our hotel in the city center and taxied to a different hotel

Mar. 14: rest day

Idus Martiae: regrettably this was a Sunday on which we were scheduled to return home. So it was just a travel day.