We woke up refreshed and ready for another day exploring Rome. To start the morning, we headed to a local bar. In Italy, “bar” often means a neighborhood café, serving coffee and pastries rather than cocktails. It was the perfect place to try a traditional Roman pastry, the maritozzo, a soft sweet bun filled with fresh whipped cream. Legend has it that it’s good luck if you end up with whipped cream on your nose while eating it. Based on the photo, Karen should have plenty of good luck coming her way!
Fueled by coffee, pastries, and a little sugar, we set out for our main adventure of the morning: a pizza and gelato-making class. On the way, we wandered through Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most famous squares. The centerpiece is Bernini’s magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), where the four sculpted figures represent the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata rivers.
After taking a few photos, we arrived at the restaurant, washed our hands, tied on our aprons, and got to work. The class turned out to be a fun way to escape the late-morning heat while learning how to make both chocolate and vanilla gelato before rolling, topping, and baking our own individual pizzas. We may not be professional chefs, but we were pretty happy with the results!
One interesting thing we learned is that traditional Roman pizza is quite different from what many of us are used to. The dough contains less water, allowing it to be rolled much thinner and baked into a crisp crust rather than the thick, airy style found in places like Naples.
After enjoying our pizzas, gelato, and a sample of homemade limoncello, we made the short walk to the Pantheon. Unfortunately, the online ticket system wasn’t cooperating, so we waited about 30 minutes to purchase tickets in person. It was well worth it.
Standing beneath the Pantheon’s enormous dome is an unforgettable experience. We spent time admiring its incredible architecture while learning how this nearly 2,000-year-old building has evolved from a Roman temple into one of Rome’s most important churches.
From there, we continued exploring with another Rick Steves audio tour, passing many of Rome’s iconic landmarks, including the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.
Despite the afternoon heat, Greg decided to climb all 135 Spanish Steps to enjoy the view from the top. If you zoom in on the photo, you can spot him with both hands raised in victory! The rest of the family found a shady spot below and learned that the Spanish Steps get their name from the nearby Spanish Embassy, not because they were built by Spain.
After checking several more of Rome’s “must-see” landmarks off our list, we headed back to the apartment for some much-needed air conditioning and a chance to cool off before dinner.
Since our apartment was just a short walk from the Rome Opera House, we had no shortage of restaurants to choose from. Following another delicious Italian dinner, Karen and Kelsey headed back to the apartment while Greg, Lindsey, and Malik squeezed in one last stop at a rooftop bar. Lindsey’s cocktail, included carbon syrup and edible glitter, it was something to see.
As our second day in Rome came to an end, we reflected on everything we had seen over the past two days. We had only scratched the surface of this incredible city, but it was time for the next chapter of our adventure. Tomorrow, we will board our Mediterranean cruise.
Hammond Adventures 