Lizzie McGuire & me - a Roman guide!
Where to shop, snooze & stuff your face
When I took my first trip to Europe over 14 years ago, I landed in Rome first. The only other international city I had visited was New York, so my expectation of what I was going to experience in Rome was based on: The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
I thought maybe I would meet Paolo on the street and he would whisk me off on his red vespa to a bunch of Italian designers where I would be fitted up in a custom outfit for my headline show that night at the Colosseum. Seemed all very legit to me…
UNFORTUNATELY my life did not play out like a Disney teen movie, but I did however, begin a deep and loving relationship with this city and all it’s Roman corners. Over the years as I have explored countless parts of Italy, I always begin the trip with 2-3 days here, either visiting my favourite and classic haunts, or exploring a new recommendation I’ve read online or someone has told me about. The best part of this city is that there is something new and different to find every time - so you never really feel as if you are doing an exact repeat on every visit.
I do believe that there are stages of visits to Rome. The first will always involve the classic musts: the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and many other mind blowing historical sites that will leave you scratching your head wondering - HOW THE FUCK DID THEY CUT THAT PERFECT CIRCLE IN THE ROOF WITH NO MODERN TOOLS????
I am not a religious person in the slightest, but lemme tell you something, visiting Vatican City and seeing the Sistine Chapel in the flesh is truly a holy experience, and must must must be had. As I stared at Michelangelo’s ceiling for as long as I was allowed to, I felt my pupils widening and my jaw making it’s way to the floor in unison. I would go as far as saying that seeing the Sistine Chapel roof should be in your top 20 things to experience once during a lifetime. To witness a monster piece of art that’s over 500+ years old, from one of the worlds most prolific artists, with the detail and colours, AND on a HUGE and GIANT roof - you will applaud the concept of being a human. Truly.
Once you knock out the ‘firsts’ and ‘historical - musts’ on your lists, you can then get down and dirty into the many corners, suburbs and shops of Roooommaaa. I always have my definite list of things that are non-negotiable to visit (usually food I must experience again), and then I’ll have 2-3 new places that will add to a new adventure. My max time these days is a two night stay, normally because I am gagging to get to the beach, but if you are doing a first visit I would recommend staying 3-4 nights (I’ve linked below some places I have stayed before that I loved).
Be warned that August is so hot that it feels like you’ve landed on the concrete fields of hell (which I experienced last year), so whilst I say go to Rome, if you go in August - bring shorts and prepare yourselves. And speaking of shorts….
PREPARE TO SHOP!!! Some of the most insane (and cheap!) vintage shop pieces I have ever scored have been from Rome and the quality is unparalleled. One of the best things about Rome is the act of wandering and shopping - you can walk just about anywhere and you will find something that tickles your style. And of course, a gelato break behind every corner - win.
The eating, well - need I say more? ITS ROMA!!! My first Cacio e pepe was had here, and it still sits in my top 3 pastas of all time. I had arrived at midnight to my hotel and was gagging for a red wine + pasta combo to knock me the fuck out post consuming. It did that, and it also changed how I saw ‘simple’ pasta, and how I started to understand that less really can be more, when cooking with Italian flavours. And don’t even GET ME STARTED on THE FRUIT!!! Geeeeezuz. The street fruit - unbelievable. Quite possibly the best fresh fruit of your life!!
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Rome is like your older favourite cousin who is wise, funny and a little twisted - but is always a welcomed and exciting addition to the family (your travels), and if you’d never met, you’d miss a special and important part of seeing and experiencing the world through art, history, passion and food.
I hope you enjoy my recommendations on where to stay, eat, shop and drink!
With love, chaos & rigatoni -
PM xxx
STAYING
Over the years I have stayed in a mix of hotels and Airbnb’s. I like to stay in different neighbourhoods each time so that I can explore new streets and keep it fresh. The links below are a mix of where I have stayed, both alone and with friends - so a multitude of budgets can apply.