Rome: The ultimate holiday destination!

The Pantheon was built in the 1st century AD., but disasters and fires led to its reconstruction in the 2nd century AD. Initially, it was dedicated to all the gods of Rome, but a few centuries later, during the 7th century AD., it converted to a Christian church. So, after visiting the Pantheon, take a walk in the shops around it, since the Piazza della Rotonda where the Pantheon is located, is a square full of life. Restaurants, cafes, ice cream stores, souvenirs’ shops, and every other kind of thing are a part of it, where it is worth wandering, taking a break, and enjoying a meal, a coffee, or a drink. The store employers are on the street and will invite you to try their cuisine. There is also the menu of each restaurant, so you can see which one best suits your wishes and enjoy it.

This square is one of the most popular in the city. It was the first square that, when I told my friends that I was going to Rome, they said to me that I had to visit. There is a fountain in the center of the square, the Fontana della Barcaccia. Just opposite, there is the famous staircase with 136 steps. The architecture of the court is baroque and makes it particularly impressive. Remember, of course, that there are many people there and if you want to be able to take a picture, you have to go very early. Personally, of all the sights I visited during my stay in Rome, this was the one that had the most people. Also, there are many cobbled streets around the square, where you can find restaurants, cafes, and many shops with clothes, accessories, and souvenirs where you can do your shopping or try everything you like.

Last but not least, I want to talk to you about the Vatican, which was one of the most impressive things I have ever seen in my life! The Vatican is an independent state and the smallest state in size and population worldwide. Then, there is the Holy See, which is the spiritual center of the Catholic Church. The Vatican is built on the banks of the Tiber River and is surrounded by medieval walls. The main building at the entrance to the Vatican from the main gate is the Basilica of St. Peter, and next to it is the Sistine Chapel. This chapel is decorated with frescoes by Michael Angelos and many other works of art that “transfer” history to today. In the central square of the Vatican, there is a fountain and an obelisk, two of the most photographed places. The Vatican, generally, is an awe-inspiring place since both the buildings and the works of art, as well as the feelings of awe that it creates for you, are dazzling. It is also a point that I consider a must near Rome!

I start with this particular restaurant, which in my opinion was the best I tried in Rome. And I’m not exaggerating at all; I mean it. You know how much I love pasta, so you can imagine how demanding I am with it. This restaurant is located near the Pantheon. Its place is magical and very romantic, I would say. We chose it for dinner, and I can say that the low lighting and the lighted candles created a fantastic atmosphere. The staff was accommodating and friendly, while in every way they tried to make us feel comfortable and pleasant. When it comes to food, I can’t say much! This restaurant was indeed the best I have found! The vegan “pancetta” was a dream, while it was combined perfectly with the pasta, the sauce, and the grated vegan cheese. If you visit Rome, honestly don’t miss this carbonara!

We tried also a pizza with vegan mozzarella and mushrooms as a second choice. The best in this pizza was the dough. Extremely crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was also thin and inflated incredibly. Of course, I shouldn’t forget to mention the extra olive oil it had that made the combination unique. This is the place where I ate the best pizza in Rome. Overall, as you can see, this place has got five stars from me, and on my next visit to Rome, it will be the first place I will go again.

Finally, a dessert was required after the meal. The restaurant has a plethora of vegan pastries, but my heart stole the chocolate cheesecake. I’m generally one of the die-hard fans of cheesecake, whether this is the classic or some other version, like the one with chocolate. The dessert was a perfect choice since, despite the chocolate, it didn’t make you feel full at all but instead had a light, white cream that refreshed you.

This restaurant is vegan friendly with a lot of vegan options. I also want to mention that the girl who served us was a sweet creature full of joy and vegan. After we finished our meal, we were treated to a local limoncello. And this night turned out wonderfully! As for the menu, don’t even think about it. I chose the carbonara again! I honestly believe that if I lived in Italy, I could live with pasta every day. The carbonara was delicious and well cooked. The vegan “pancetta” was delicious, and the dish generally had an excellent overall image. I needed some extra spices and extra grated vegan cheese, but I arranged this efficiently as I hurried to ask the waitress for a bit, and she brought it to me immediately.

Also, in the same restaurant, we tried vegan pizza too. We got a pizza with hot sauce, vegan cheese, and vegan bacon. It was delicious, although I think it could have been hotter. For my tastes, at least it was a bit mild. However, it had an excellent dough. In general, I came to the fact that the Italians specialize in the dough, so honestly, wherever you go, you won’t be dissapointed!

I loved this place! It is very close to the Vatican, so we chose it for breakfast and brunch before visiting it. Its location is lovely, and its people are very kind. The waiter didn’t miss anything and brought us the best vegan dishes, absolutely filling and delicious. In general, the restaurant is based on its products’ quality, plus the organic and healthy diet. More specifically, I was looking for something nutritious that would keep me full for many hours since I knew the visit to the Vatican would be endless… And indeed it was! Anyway, the waiter suggested a tortilla with tofu, vegetables, and a dreamy soy sauce. The amount of tofu was more than enough, and it was what I needed.

We also got a dessert to try. We chose a Crostata Vegan with chocolate, which was based on nuts, and in addition to being very tasty, it was also very nutritious. Finally, I chose a vegan cappuccino with pea milk along with the dessert. The employee showed me the incredible variety of plant milk that the store had. In short, it is a station point that you must visit!

The restaurant is very close to Piazza di Spagna, which you will visit, as it is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in Rome. So, as you wander the alleys and see many lovely little shops, cafes, and restaurants, you will find this one. The exterior has nothing special, but the interior is well made with stunning aesthetics. Another element that I hope will change soon is that they had minimal vegan options, including two or three plates of pasta, bruschettas, and salads. In this particular restaurant, we tried two delicious dishes with pasta. The first was an Aglio e Olio pasta, which I love very much and I usually choose it in Greece too when I find it on a restaurant’s menu. It was pretty tasty, but in my opinion, it needed more olive oil (as its name suggests) and garlic. In other words, I wanted an intensity that I didn’t find. It was, however, a well-cooked dish that I would happily eat it again.

The second dish we chose was pasta with hot broccoli sauce. Yeah, I couldn’t stop ordering hot dishes in Italy. This dish was unique! If you love broccoli, you should try it. The hot sauce was also great for spicy food lovers. So, the color of the dish was excellent, and the taste was unique. I recommend it to you without any doubt!

This ice cream store is very close to the Rifugio Romano Ristorante, which we talked about earlier. So, after our meal there, we decided to eat ice cream. For this reason, we walked to the ice cream place, which had many vegan choices in ice cream flavors. There was even a fridge with exclusively vegan ice cream. Looking at all these options, at first, I admit that I was confused. However, my second thought was to try something I love anyway and compare it with the counterparts I have attempted in Greece. So I came up with my favorite combination: dark chocolate and red berries. And indeed, it was unique! Furthermore, the texture of the ice cream was utterly different from what I had tried in my life till now. For these reasons, if you are ever in Rome, I suggest you pay a visit to Fatamorgana and enjoy your ice cream while walking in the alleys of Rome.

This place was the second and last (how many ice creams to eat in winter? Haha) ice cream store I visited in Rome. It is located near the Piazza di Spagna, and you will find it walking in the alleys that intersect with the square. This ice cream store also has tables if you want to sit and enjoy your ice cream. Once again, I preferred to take it in hand and walk in the old streets, as I love to do this, especially when I’m abroad. Okay, I misunderstood the quantity since the word “scoop” didn’t help much, but I finally ate it even though it was more than I wanted. I chose dark chocolate for another day, and of course, this choice is justified once again. Finally, Italy and ice cream go together!