Rome certainly wasn't built in a day and being one of the most exciting cities in the whole world, I could merely have stayed there, just to be sat in the courtyard of the Palazzo Ripetta Hotel.
Rome has always been on my bucket list, even since being a teenager, watching Lizzie Mcguire run around Rome and experiencing her Paolo moment! It had been years in the making, dreaming of turning the corner and seeing the Trevi Fountain in the flesh, the abuzz of other tourists each too having their moment.
Despite, this holiday not originally being a baby moon, when we landed, I was four months pregnant and what better place to be in, than a country centred around incredible food. I would wake up in the night, excited for breakfast, counting down the hours until I could have a marmalade-filled, flaky pastry and my latest craving of a latte.
We arrived at Palazzo Ripetta, it instantly felt like I was in a scene from Emily in Paris season 4. The street was vibrant, with local buskers, and men wheeling large crates of lemon-flavoured San Pellegrino into family-run trattorias while families sat to have dinner, with children head first into a bowl of bolognese, with most of it around their face. Their exact moment of peak childhood. Couples walking hand-in-hand, eating freshly made gelato and the chatter of friends catching up over a glass of sweet Italian rosé.
I knew then that Rome would become my favourite city.
Being centred in the most perfect location, it felt like traditional Rome, not Tourist Rome that you see all over TikTok. You are away from large crowds, tucked down a cobbled street but close enough to see so many beautiful sites. Rather than tourist trap restaurants, you have traditional food, right on your hotel's doorstep. Our favourite was Cantina Belsiana – you must try the butter beans on toast!
Walking through the hotel's entrance of terracotta walls and marble accents, guests are greeted by the grand bar serving Italian cocktails of Negronis and Bellinis or in my case, a mock-tail of fresh peach iced tea, that if I could have bought in bulk, from them, I'd have been leaving with a suitcase full. Each room, decorated with beautiful wooden panelled walls, soft cotton king sized sheets and with weeks of Pregnancy Insomnia in full swing, I had my first full nights sleep on the most comfortable bed! Waking up to views of the hotels Piazzetta.
Spending our few days in Rome, we headed to see my first wonder of the world, being 1944 years old; The Colosseum lived up to every expectation I had, if not more! Nothing can quite prepare you for that first sight. One top tip I have is book your tickets beforehand! Despite the queues being long, we skipped the long lines and headed straight in, with many guided tours happening around, everyone is there to experience its history. With many artefacts kept behind glass doors, we got to see up close the bones of Lions, who would have accompanied the Gladiators in their fights, with it being back then a spectators cracking Saturday night out! Plus, you might just run into a man who brought his dog with him in a baby carrier to experience one of the seven wonders too…!
In the evenings, it was time for our ‘la passeggiata’ (evening stroll). The hotel is only a 10 minute walk to the many historical reasons to come and see Rome, from the Trevi Fountain to the Spanish Steps you’ll see on the way there, you’ll hear live music being played everywhere, with people dancing amongst the cobbled streets and you just might seeing a man playing his guitar with a pet rabbit on his shoulder. Yes you read that correctly. Our favourite time of the day to see everything was the evening, with temperatures dropping and everyone having their dinner late, busy crowds were a miss. You’ll feel the sense of home comforts, purely just from the happiness and joy Rome brings. I window shopped in Dior, Chanel and Fendi, soaking in all forms of its glamour.
I know where my baby's first holiday will be…
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For more from GLAMOUR's Commerce Photo Editor, Néamh Randall, follow her on Instagram @neamhrandall
