What to Do in Rome Italy for Foodies and Great Pics
You’re walking down a cobblestone street, a Vespa drives past you, you look to your right and see a gelato shop nestled in the corner. You stop, grab some gelato, continue walking and before you know it, you stumble across a structure over 1,000 years old: the colosseum. There is something surreal about traveling to Rome. One minute you’re in the congested city filled with thousands of tourists and the next minute you are staring down a valley that is the home to ruins over 2,000 years old. I had an amazing experience traveling to Rome Italy when I studied abroad in college. Many people have asked me what to do in Rome Italy that allows you to feel you have soaked up every opportunity to experience everything Rome has to offer. From finding the best scenic spots, to…well you guessed it…the food, here’s my tips in photography and food for having an unforgettable trip to Rome.
What to Do in Rome Italy to Capture the Perfect Insta Post
Whenever I travel, I love to seek out the most scenic places that are authentic and don’t seem overly “touristy.” Sure, a picture in front of the colosseum is sure to be a winner. But let’s be honest…whenever you visit a famous tourist attraction, it’s sure to be packed with people. What to do in Rome Italy when it is extremely packed for pictures is a question many of us have. This in turn leads to pictures that have a lot of people in the background and truly makes you stand out as a tourist. Nothing is more touristy than having photos that contain complete strangers in the background holding up their iPhones trying to get a picture!
The colosseum is also a massive structure, so trying to get a photo with you and as much of the colosseum as you can get in the background is not an easy task. As you’ll see in my before and after, I’ll walk you through exactly how to capture the colosseum to get that Insta worthy picture that is sure to leave you amazed.
The image below is what you want to avoid…an image that doesn’t capture the colosseum to its fullest potential.
If you fear you will make the same mistakes as me, don’t worry! I’m about to fix the way you go about getting the perfect pic that doesn’t require you to purchase a $6,000 Canon camera or be a photography pro. Here’s my tips:
1. Go for a Hightop View
Many people think in order to get the perfect pictures they need to be right up against the tourist attraction to capture it, but that isn’t necessarily true. While getting closer to the colosseum is great for a close-up detailed pic, it is too big of a structure to try to capture it in its entirety. So…find a farther away picture place. In Rome, a street leading up to the colosseum will have a bridge that you can cut across and take in the colosseum (address below). This is the spot to take a picture with you and the full colosseum in the background. While this may seem like an obvious picture taking spot, the bridge is hidden and is harder to find especially when fighting the crowds. Below is the address of the exact bridge (bridge shown in above picture) where I was able to get a great pic of the colosseum.
Bridge Address: 12 Via degli Annibaldi, Rome Italy
2. Capture Unique Angles
The colosseum has all kinds of unique angles, so try to highlight them in your pictures. I found that the view from Via Nicola Salvi was the perfect angle for capturing the broken part of the colosseum.
There is also a cafe along Via Nicola Salvi’s scenic wall named Caffe Roma that is the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee (order a cafe Americano) while admiring the colosseum. This truly is another great spot for pictures and would highly recommend it.
3. Blue Skies = Great Pics
This may seem obvious but I promise, blue skies make a difference! The first day my friends and I traveled to Rome, it was a very cloudy day. Assuming that I would still be able to get great pics was definitely not true as a dull structure that is made from stone doesn’t photograph well when it isn’t sunny out. Luckily, my friends and I returned to the colosseum on our second day in Rome to redo our pictures as it was a beautiful sunny day and I was able to get great pictures (as shown in the above image)!
However, if you are wondering what to do in Rome Italy if the clouds are covering the sun for pics, I suggest you put a filter on your image and turn it to black and white to give it more of a vintage aesthetic with sharp contrast :)
What to Do in Rome Italy for Foodies
Let’s be honest, when it comes to Italy, food is one of the first things that comes to mind. Italy is known for their simple and delicious food using ingredients that are in season and not overdoing it when it comes to their dishes. With so many food options in Rome to select from, it can seem overwhelming. However, I have a few suggestions that are a must try on your next visit to Rome!
Take a Cooking Class
If you’re wondering what to do in Rome Italy to eat good food and have fun, then taking a cooking class is the answer. But not just any cooking class…schedule the “Eat and Walk Italy” class located in a great restaurant, Restaurant Gusto.
This class has great instructors that even if you are someone who has had minimal cooking experience will end up cooking an amazing meal. My friends and I ended up making fettuccine and tiramisu and it was such a fun process to make!
Speaking of Tiramisu, if this is one of your favs from Rome, consider my business, Global Gourmet Towel Co.’s unique memorabilia recipe towel featuring Rome Italy’s tiramisu. It makes a great gift and is a great conversation starter!
2. The Best Spot for Gelato
Gelato is a must try dessert when heading to Rome. With so many shops, it can be hard to decide where to find the best spot to try it. When I went to Rome, I found Gelateria Cremilla, a shop that features high quality Gelato that you need to try. I would definitely recommend the pistachio and coffee flavored gelato!
Pro Tip: it is very close to the cooking class so I recommend trying it on your way to the class!
3. A Favorite Spot for Lunch
If you’re looking for a great spot for lunch in Rome, look no further than La Carbonara. A great spot to eat at after the Colosseum visit, it is a must visit place that has great carbonara pasta (hence the name).
Not only is the food amazing in the restaurant, but the atmosphere is one to remember. From the visitors writing on the walls to the small, cozy feeling of the restaurant, you truly feel that you are sitting in the kitchen that has hosted generations of families (and it has as the restaurant opened in 1906)!
Conclusion
So, next time you travel to Rome, be sure to consider the above advice to have a smooth, memorable, and fun trip. Whether you are studying abroad, vacationing for a week, or just staying a weekend, Rome has a lot to offer and doesn’t have to be overwhelming. A lot of people have asked me what to do in Rome Italy as many guides can seem overwhelming, so I hope my recommendations for getting the perfect photo and where to eat/what to do are ideas that make your list on what to do in Rome Italy for an unforgettable trip!
