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Last updated 9 months ago Rome was never on my bucket list, despite being a mere 90-minute flight from home. So when my husband asked me if I fancied visiting Rome for Christmas, my reply was simple: “Only if the flights are incredibly cheap.” But he had already made sure that this trip wouldn’t break the bank, and an hour later I was brushing up on my (almost non-existent) Italian.

So, is Rome worth visiting? Here’s my honest advice. Table of Contents Reasons to visit Rome Rome is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, drawing in 7 to 10 million tourists per year. Let’s look at the reasons to visit the city.

It’s the perfect place for history geeks Rome was founded in the year 753BC by King Romulus. The city soon become a hub of civilisation and home to one of the largest empires in the world.

The Roman Forum. Photo by Daniela Frendo. Despite being a self-proclaimed history buff, the Roman Era is not exactly my forte. Neither is Italian Renaissance. In other words, I visited Rome without ever having heard of the Romulus and Remus myth, and the great sculptor Bernini.

Needless to say, I learnt quite a few history lessons while I was in Rome. In fact, I was blown away by the sheer number of architectural jewels and priceless artefacts in the city.

The Vatican Museum. Photo by Daniela Frendo If you’re interested in Roman mythology and history, you must visit the Vatican Museums . The Gallery of Statues and the Hall of Busts boasts a wealth of well-preserved sculptures from ancient Rome.

Another must-visit is the Roman Forum . Here, you’ll find ruins of several historical buildings, including the Temple of Saturn, the Comitium (the original public meeting space of ancient Rome), and the Temple of Caesar.

You can get off the beaten path I could have never imagined that one can actually escape the crowds in a place like Rome. A quiet street in Rome. Photo by Daniela Frendo. On our last day, we somehow ended up in a forest, where the only sign of civilisation was an old woman walking out of a creepy, derelict house.

Although this (mis)adventure took place on the outskirts of Rome, on our way to Ostia Antica, we still managed to find a few tourist-free spots in the city centre.

For example, we spend an afternoon strolling through the quiet neighbourhood of Trastevere and the Jewish Quarter . We even climbed Gianicolo Hill to get some stunning views of the city and breathe in some fresh air.

View from Gianicolo Hill. Photo by Daniela Frendo. While my idea of adventure involves climbing mountains and exploring little-known villages, Rome has taught me that you can still get off the tourist trail in popular cities.

Many attractions in Rome are free As much as I hate doing typical touristy activities, I tend to make exceptions when visiting certain cities. I mean, you can’t go to Rome without seeing the Colosseum