Rome by Night & A Pre-Wedding Surprise: Our Return to the Eternal City

There is something undeniably special about returning to Rome, especially when the journey marks the beginning of an extraordinary family milestone. With my eldest son’s wedding just around the corner, we set off today for the Italian leg of our travels, full of anticipation—and carrying one very precious item of cargo!

A Stress-Free Start & Flying with British Airways

Having cleverly sorted all our packing yesterday as soon as we arrived, we’ve successfully managed the great luggage swap—transferring only the small essentials needed from our Canada bags over to our Italy suitcases. It meant we could enjoy a properly leisurely morning without the usual last-minute scramble.

We skipped breakfast at the hotel at Heathrow, opting instead to wait until we reached the airport to grab a bite. Boarding for our 15:35 flight was delayed slightly, so we had to hang around for a bit, but once we were on board, any minor delays were instantly forgotten.

The real highlight of the journey was the fantastic British Airways crew. I was travelling with my all-important Mother of the Groom dress, and the staff were absolute angels, safely stowing it away in the hanging wardrobe at the front of the cabin. They were so warm and genuinely interested, asking all about the wedding and making the entire flight a real pleasure.

To top it all off, near the end of the flight, one of our lovely stewardesses popped over and presented me with a bottle of champagne to celebrate the special occasion. Talk about starting the trip in style!

Arrival in Rome: Trastevere & A Quiet Slice

Upon landing, our pre-booked taxi whisked us straight from the airport to our accommodation. We quickly dumped our bags and headed straight out for a stroll. It was already past 8:00 pm, but Rome was only just waking up for the evening.

Our apartment is ideally located close to Ponte Garibaldi, making it a breeze to cross the Tiber River straight into the vibrant neighbourhood of Trastevere.

As we wandered through the cobbled alleys, we stumbled across a delightful little pizzeria, Carlo Menta, we’d actually eaten at on a previous visit. I liked it the last time, so we decided to drop in for a quick bite.

However, our quiet dinner was almost thwarted! A boisterous stag party sitting outside was singing and being altogether rather loud, so we nearly upped and left. Luckily, our attentive waitress stepped in. She explained the group had been settled there since 2:00 pm, were predictably rather drunk, and would likely be leaving soon anyway. She kindly offered us a much quieter spot inside, which we gladly took.

What we love about this spot is that it’s absolutely packed with locals—always the ultimate sign of authentic food. The pizzas were wonderfully priced at just €7 to €12, offering a classic, high-quality Italian meal without breaking the bank.

Midnight Magic at the Pantheon, Hadrian’s Temple & Trevi Fountain

Feeling happily full, and despite the late hour, we weren’t quite ready to call it a night. We fancied a proper night walk to soak up the undeniable buzz of a Friday evening in Rome.

Even though we’ve visited these landmarks before, seeing them lit up after dark is a completely different experience:

• The Pantheon: Standing beneath its imposing columns late at night, away from the midday heat, is pure magic.

• Temple of Hadrian: Strolling into Piazza di Pietra and coming face-to-face with the towering, floodlit ancient columns built seamlessly into the modern exchange building is always a breathtaking sight.

• Trevi Fountain: Always humming with energy, the glowing turquoise waters and lively crowd were the perfect snapshot of Roman nightlife.

There is simply no better introduction to Rome than wandering its illuminated piazzas – the energy of Friday night was electric.

Around 90 minutes and several thousand steps later, we finally arrived back at the apartment, completely tired out but thoroughly content. It was time for a good night’s sleep—tomorrow, another busy leg of our journey begins as we head south to Sorrento!