View this email in your browser Inside the Colosseum HOW TO VISIT THE ARENA FLOOR This Week: One of the most common questions I get about visiting the Colosseum is how to get out onto the arena floor. It's where gladiators fought, animals popped up through trap doors, and prisoners met their end. Standing on it gives you a completely different sense of the place. Here's how to book this visit, what's included, and what to do if tickets are sold out. ROME'S ARENA FLOOR THE FULL GUIDE Book it...
4 days ago • 1 min read
View this email in your browser The Vatican THE STORY OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL This Week: If you're going to Rome, chances are the Vatican is on your list. And if it is, you're going to want to see the Sistine Chapel. But do you really know the full story behind it? Most visitors don't. My page has the full story, plus the things most people miss when they actually visit. MICHELANGELO AND THE SISTINE CHAPEL The Last Judgment Is Back For about a year, the altar wall behind the Sistine Chapel was...
11 days ago • 1 min read
NEW YOUTUBE VIDEO FLORENCE IN MAY May might be the best month to visit Florence, warm days, long golden evenings, gardens in full bloom, and a city that moves outside. It's also one of the busiest months of the year, which means a little planning goes a long way. Video highlights include: what May actually feels like, what to book in advance, where to eat, and what's on. WATCH NOW More Florencewise Resources Planning a trip to Florence in May? These guides have everything you need to know...
14 days ago • 1 min read
View this email in your browser Right Now in Rome The Best of Rome at the End of April Late April into early May is one of the best windows of the year to be in Rome. Reliable weather, long light, and a short stretch before summer crowds hit. Here's what I'd actually be doing right now. ROME IN SPRING THE FULL GUIDE The Gardens Are in Bloom The Roseto Comunale is open and the roses are coming in. Pair it with the Orange Garden and the keyhole view at the Knights of Malta. Twenty minutes of...
15 days ago • 1 min read
View this email in your browser Food and Drink HOW TO EAT LIKE A LOCAL IN ROME 🍽️ Mercato di Testaccio Some of the best meals you'll have in Rome are in the neighborhoods Romans actually live in. Testaccio is one of them. It's a local neighborhood with a food culture that goes back generations, and is one of my favorite places to eat in Rome. WHERE LOCALS EAT How to Experience it Inside you'll find butchers, cheese vendors, produce, and some of the best street food in Rome. Pizza al taglio,...
18 days ago • 1 min read
NEW ROMEWISE VIDEO WHAT TO BOOK IN ADVANCE FOR ROME There is a lot of confusing and conflicting information out there about booking in Rome. In my new Romewise video, I go through every major sight, plus restaurants, trains, and transfers, and tell you exactly what to book, when to book it, and what you can skip. WATCH NOW Book a guided Tour Want someone to handle the booking stress for you? I have been taking tours with Walks of Italy for years and love their small group sizes and...
22 days ago • 1 min read
View this email in your browser Rome's Gardens and Parks THE ROSE GARDEN IS OPEN This Week: The Roseto Comunale opened early this year, on April 11, and it's free to visit through June 14. No ticket, no reservation, and it's one of the best things you can do on your trip to Rome. ROME'S ROSE GARDEN - FULL GUIDE How to plan your visit The entrance is at Via di Valle Murcia 6, near the Circus Maximus metro stop. Hours are 8:30am to 7:30pm daily. Peak bloom is in May, but there's plenty to see...
25 days ago • 1 min read
View this email in your browser Rome's Pantheon PANTHEON TICKET PRICE UPDATE If you're planning a Rome trip this year: the Pantheon ticket price is increasing from €5 to €7 on July 1, 2026. If you're visiting before July 1, you can still book at €5. Free entry categories are not changing - under-18, Rome residents, and the first Sunday of the month all stay the same. PANTHEON TICKETS THE FULL GUIDE Rome is changing fast in 2026 Between new openings, restored sites, and updated ticketing...
27 days ago • 1 min read
View this email in your browser Rome's Colosseum Planning a Colosseum Visit? Read This First This Week: The Colosseum is one of the first things people put on their Rome list, and it's also one of the places where a little planning goes a long way. I've updated my guide for 2026 with new transport options, current ticket prices, and the practical details that will save you time and frustration when you get there. BEST WAY TO VISIT ROME'S COLOSSEUM When and How to visit ⏰ Go when they open at...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read