A Final Morning in Florence

Today marked our final journey between cities – we travelled from Florence to Rome.

We had a late checkout (1:00pm), which gave us a flexible morning before our 2:15pm train. First thing, we tackled the unmissable Duomo climb. The streets were blissfully quiet – aside from the family behind us in line, whose teenage children inadvertently made sure everyone knew just how much they didn’t want to be there…

The climb itself is 463 steps, with minimal ventilation – it was a full-on sweat session. Thankfully, there’s a brief reprieve as you circle the interior walkway of the dome, where you can look down into the vast space of the cathedral – truly stunning.

After more winding staircases, we finally emerged onto the exterior lookout, greeted by an incredible panoramic view of Florence’s terracotta rooftops, the iconic bell tower, and rows of cypress trees beyond. The way back down was much easier (though not so kind on the knees).

We popped into the Baptistery for a quick look afterward but decided to skip the bell tower climb – we’d done enough cardio for one day.

A Farewell Stroll (and Finally: Lampredotto)

With time to spare, we took one last wander through what many call the most beautiful city in Europe (and 11th in the world!). I bought a leather belt at the market, and Craig finally got to try lampredotto – and actually really liked it!

I opted for something a bit sweeter: a cornetto and hot chocolate for dipping, enjoyed while looking out over Piazza della Signoria – such a peaceful moment to finish off our time in Florence.

Back at the hotel, we packed, freshened up, and got ready for the train.

All Aboard: Heading to the Eternal City

The train ride to Rome went by fairly quickly – probably helped by the fact we both nodded off for a bit (possibly too much Chianti the night before). We arrived at Termini Station around 4pm and took a quick taxi to our new hotel, located just down from the Trevi Fountain.

The hotel is beautiful, with a big focus on wellness. Upon arrival, they had us take part in a welcome ritual – we had to choose and ring a bell based on something we wanted to experience during our stay. I picked “taste”. Slightly quirky, and I can’t say I didn’t want to laughed a little bit, but cute.

Evening Explorations: Trevi, Steps & Supper

After settling in, we headed out to take in the nearby sights. First stop: the Trevi Fountain. And wow – the crowds. I knew Rome would be busy during the papal jubilee, but I wasn’t prepared for just how intense it would be. We could barely get close enough to take photos.

We tried to check out the aqueducts behind the fountain, but they were under maintenance – a common theme at the moment, as many sites are undergoing restoration.

Next was the Spanish Steps – not built by Spain, but built for Spain by the French, since the Spanish Embassy is nearby. The steps were also busy, but far more manageable than Trevi. Bathed in golden evening sunlight, they were just beautiful.

We climbed to the top and waited for our taxi, which took us to Trastevere – a boho neighbourhood with loads of great restaurants.

Cacio e Pepe in Trastevere

I’d made a reservation after searching for the best cacio e pepe in Rome, and we were excited. But first – an aperitivo stop. I couldn’t help but laugh at the contrast: the locals clustered around the door, chatting, smoking, laughing, while the tourists (us included) sat tidily across the street.

At the restaurant, our early booking (7:00pm) was a smart move – it filled up fast. The cacio e pepe was served in a parmesan-crisp bowl and was absolutely delicious. I asked the waiter not to bring any bread (we’d been getting too full on it), but I think he took it a bit personally – he brought it anyway, and then whisked it away again when we didn’t eat it. Awkward.

Resting Up in Rome

After dinner, we taxi’d back to the hotel – Rome is much hillier and more spread out than Florence, so the taxis are welcome. We turned in early-ish, knowing we’ve got a big day tomorrow with an 8:00am tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

Arrivederci, Firenze – and ciao, Roma!

❤️ Laus