Locals say that it’s busier than usual for this time of year. We’re doing our best to skirt around the crowds to see the sights we want to visit.
A worker was pressure washing the figures in the fountain today so the water is turned off. It looks like a major task to clean all of the statues! Note the the red dot in the photo below…he’s the guy with the red hard hat and the pressure hose. You can see the difference in the clean vs. not yet cleaned part.
The Pantheon was jam-packed as well so we made our way through the crowd and moved on.
We feel fortunate that we’ve visited these sites in the past so we’re not disappointed that it’s difficult to get inside. The Vatican was also busy and that’s probably not unusual any time of year.
Not so crowded on a Monday morning was the La Rinascente Department Store. They are ready for the holidays!
We explore in the morning, rest a bit in the afternoon (it’s been hot) and then head out again in the late afternoon when it’s cooler. Today we walked to the Monti neighborhood behind the Imperial Forums. It’s become a fun place for restaurants and some of the bars host the aperitivo “Happy Hour” and serve some simple snacks with a drink. It is a nice way to have a light meal after too many nights of heavy pasta dishes.
There are some fun shops in the neighborhood as well.
By the time we walked back to our hotel near Campo de’ Fiori it was dark. On the way, we stopped by the Colosseum to see it and parts of the Forum lighted. There is construction work there too so it’s cluttered now with equipment. Seeing it at night though, was just right!
So yes, Rome is crazy-busy but fun and exciting as well!