5 Reasons to visit Rome

When I was a kid I used to travel a lot with my parents. I even lived for long periods of three or more years in different countries like Belgium, Honduras, Morocco or the U.S.A.

When I was a student and during my early years of working life (as an intern) I had so little money that I couldn´t afford a trip. Now that my life has changed and improved since I moved to my hometown, I wanted to visit Rome with my savings.

I love to travel because, I come back to home with a completely different outlook, more inspired and enriched by the singularity of each place.

1. The Beauty of the City

Rome is beautiful. One of the most charming and fascinating cities in Europe. What I love about this place is that it is full of contrasts, it is the pillar of occidental culture, but at the same time it is chaotic and full of life. It was a pleasure to walk along the Tiber River, the tiny cobbled streets or to discover accidentally a masterpiece of art or architecture. It was really touching to see all these iconic places and to imagine what Rome was like at the time of its greatness, when it was the capital of knowledge, supremacy and progress. 

2. History, Art & Architecture

You can find a piece of Art and History at any corner of this city. It blew my mind to see the perfection that they achieved millions of years ago in all the fields with less means. What I personally liked the best was the ruins of Circus Maximus, Forum Romanum and Palazzo Palatino. The city of Vatican and the Colosseo are a must-see, but they are full of tourists while the other places were more spacious and with less visitors. All the Museums in Rome are marvelous: Musei Vaticani e Cappella Sistina, Musei e Galleria Borghese, Palazzo Altemps...But my favorite was the Musei Capitolini, because it was very comfortable to visit, had the most magnificent sculptures that I have ever seen and there were just a very few people. As you can tell, I'm quite stressed with crowds...My most-loved church was Santa Maria in Trastevere with its mesmerizing mosaics. The fountains are everywhere, but the one that I highly recommend is the Fontana Dell'Acqua Paola, because it has a breathtaking view and again, there is barely nobody at this magnificent spot of tranquil crystalline water. A picturesque fountain that you will love to see.

3. The Freedom to Walk Easily

I love to stroll, see and discover things and Rome is a great city for pedestrians, even though you have to be careful because Romans drive like crazy people and the sidewalks and the priorities are not always very clear. 

My absolutely most enjoying part of this trip was to explore hidden gems, peaceful tiny places of nature where you are almost alone and you can actually listen to the birds. Villa Sciarra is a gorgeous place, a secret park surrounded by cypresses that is located in a enchanting neighborhood. The Giardino Degli Aranci also worth the visit with its incredible view of the city and its beautiful Orange Trees. A very romantic lovely little spot not far from all the important ruins to visit. Last, but not least, the Orto Botanico in my cherished Trastevere, a lush blooming green place to find serenity.

4. The Food 

The food, OMG, the food!I didn't stop eating during the entire trip and I'm not ashamed. The pasta, the pizza the gelato!!! Everything was delicious. If you are like me and you love very authentic places located in bohemian and eclectic districts, here are some recommendations for you.

Osteria numero 6, is the best home style italian food that I have ever tasted. You have to book a table first and ask to eat on the terrace, because that is the charming part of this place with its red checked tablecloths. The burrata with rocket was so fresh, the Melanzane Alla Parmigiana was so tasty and if this wasn't enough, my boyfriend ordered fresh pasta Alla Matriciana and pasta with Funghi Porcini e Tartuffo for me. For dessert, we had, of course, a homemade Tiramisu with the best foamy cappuccinos... We ate a lot, but we had a blast!

Grazie e Graziella is also a very good place to eat, with the best laid back atmosphere and a great ambiance at any time. In this restaurant I ate, for the first time, the Caccio e Peppe pasta. Cream, Pecorino Cheese and a lot of pepper, simple but delicious. My boyfriend had a huge plate of Spaghetti with Meatballs and he loved it! If you love vegetables like me, don't forget to try the artichokes.

Baffeto 2, is not very fancy but has a delicious Fiori di Zucca Pizza, made with zucchini flowers and lots of cheese, very special and yummy. The staff is very friendly and you can eat easily at any hour, late in the evening like 11:30 p.m. or at strange hours to have lunch, like we did at 5:30 p.m. A very convenient place to eat located in the central area of the city, near the lovely Campo dei Fiori.

5. The People and the Weather

What surprised me the most was the kindness of people. I knew that Italians were very friendly, but the locals that I met exceeded my expectations. I personally prefer to stay in a apartment, because it's sometimes cheaper and more comfortable. Airbnb was a great choice as we found a beautiful apartment, the landlady was very warm and welcoming and she sorted out everything. We also met a young couple from Sicily, owners of the coffee shop down the street, that were absolutely adorable with us. 

Besides that, I was thrilled by the beautiful weather in Rome, I think that it's even warmer than Madrid. Humid and Mediterranean, the sun was shining everyday, as we went during the month of March at the period of the Wisteria blooms.

Trastevere

Piazza del Popolo

Colosseum

Fontana di Trevi

Foro Romano

Musei Capitolini and Monumento a Vittorio Emmanuelle II

Trastevere

Wisteria

Musei Capitolini

Basilica di San Pietro, The Vatican City

Piazza di San Pietro, City of Vatican

Vittoria District

Tiber River

The Pantheon

Palazzo Palatino

Palazzo Palatino

Villa Sciarra

Orto Botanico

Orto Botanico

Giardino degli Aranci

Orto Botanico

Orto Botanico

Cafe Settimiano

Grazie e Graziella

Grazie e Graziella

Osteria numero 6

Osteria numero 6

Osteria numero 6

Zucchini Flower Pizza at Buffeto 2

Grazie e Graziella

Osteria numero 6

Gelato alla Nocciola, Gelateria Comme Il Latte

Cappuccino

Trastevere

Musei Capitolini

Orto Botanico

Glow Baby Glow

A glowy skin is the key to look fresh, healthy and sexy. 

You have to start from the inside. Drink and eat as healthier as you can, sleep well, exercise and the most important, smile and be happy. As Roald Dahl said " If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely".

Once you have this inner glow that is the foundation of a beautiful skin, sometimes you need something more right? I'm not perfect and now I'm learning more and more to accept it and embrace my imperfections. For the days that my skin looks tired or dull, these are my "pick-me-up" products.

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

I'm sorry but Mary Lou-Manizer is the Best Highlighter in the entire world! I'm a total fan of the brand and this highlighter is a staple for me. It has the most incredible pigmentation, buttery feel formula and last hours and hours. It suits all skin tones as it has a neutral color that can be described as a shimmering champagne. It really matches any makeup look, it is not too yellow, not too pink, not too white, just a perfect shade in between. Also, you need the tiniest amount to have glowy cheeks and the product will last you ages. You can also use it as an eye shadow to highlight the arches of your brows or the inner corners of your eyes. If you don't own this wonder, please get your hands on this!

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

At the end of 2013 I read on Twitter that this amazing woman was going to launch her own makeup brand. I was thrilled and excited to try her well known Magic Cream that she has been using for years on models and celebrities. This cream is rich and very emollient, an incredible product to transform your complexion in the perfect canvas to put into practice your skills in the art of makeup. Its unique formula has a blend of precious ingredients: camellia oil, rosehip oil, damask rose water, vitamin E, bionynph peptide, UVA filters, frangipani and hyaluronic acid. This cream will make your skin look glowy and plumped, it's a dream base for makeup.

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

This luxurious milky liquid spray is spectacular. I swear the first day that I applied for the first time one of my work colleagues said that I looked great and two different men were flirting with me during the same day. So that's something...I love when I have to review a product to judge if it's good or not and the external response is so obvious and positive. I apply a spritz of this secret beauty weapon after I've done my makeup and during the day if my skin is dry. Enriched with Botanical Oils, Red Algae and HANDSEI-3 TM Complex for a dewy, luminous and replenished face. A boost of soothing hydration to look gorgeous.

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow Face Primer

This is more than a primer, it's a miracle instant soft-focus beauty flash. Charlotte Tilbury was inspired by Gisele Bundchen's flawless golden spotlight complexion to create this product. Its fluorescent core light diffuser absorbs UV particles from the sun and re-emits their energy as visible light, flooding the skin with powerful luminosity, just wow...It is also an anti-age elixir that has ceramic microspheres to disguise fine lines and correct skin tone. A game changer that can be used before makeup, blended with foundation or even on its own for an effortlessly dewy look, even patted on your makeup to create points of light.

Madina Chic & Shine Highlighter

I bought this super stick during a trip to Italy with my friends. I've heard that Pat McGrath loved it and didn't doubt, I saw the store in Milan and I immediately walk straight to the counter. Unfortunately this product is only available in Italy, so it's very exclusive, but that's also the beauty of it. If Mary-Lou Manizer is the Queen of Powder Highlighters, this stick is the number one of the creamy formulas category. The pigmentation is unbelievable! Doesn't crease, last for hours and blends beautifully on the skin without creating any flakes. I own the palest shade that it's a very light champagne that reflects the light and has a glossy and flattering sheen.