Ryan's planned a Rome day trip!
So stop 1 - Circus Maximus.
A real exercise in the imagination. Once the largest hippodrome in Rome, now...a hole in the ground :)
We did spend a little time drawing out where we thought everything should go, but a quick half hour here was more than enough really.
The next surprise, was supposed to be a wonder to a lovely rose garden, but unfortunately closed!
Not to worry because it was directly on our way to Giardino Degli Arnci. A pretty garden, filled with orange trees and a stunning view of Rome.
The gardens back onto the side of Basilica di Santa Sabrina all' Aventino. I think people just call it Santa Sabrina as the second bit alludes to it's location.
It is a very very old church on the Aventine Hill with some lovely painted walls. I think it may still hold services looking at some of the more modern benches.
This is probably the first time we have really just roamed Rome, and the streets we were on were beautiful, filled with flowers and pretty views :)
We were looking for Il Buco Della Serratura (or the aventine keyhole) also on Aventine Hill. It is supposed to be semi- secret, but there were a few people waiting to have a peep when we arrived!
The door is pretty normal looking, big, green, heavy.
The grounds used to belong to the Knights Templar in 1100's (I know of them from Assasin's Creed!)and then to the Knights of Malta in 1400's.
Anway it lines up perfectly long a tree-lined avenue to St Peter's Basilica. Either amazingly planned, or really lucky :)
We were not far from the Pyramide where we did our recent food tour, so we strolled around to get a bonus hot chocolate at the patisserie,
The day is not yet over!
We decided to check out the Cimitero acattolico di Roma.
Ok a cemtaery is a bit gloomy, but this one is in fact a major stop off on a few tours, so we went to check it out. It is a very old non-Catholic cemetary, and includes Keats grave.
The place was very pretty, and peaceful all in all :)
It has the best views of the pyramide:
We did find keats grave - and it has a solemn passage written at his request ' here lie's one whose name was writ in water'
I suppose very fitting for a romantic poet.
We found another pretty passageway/garden by chance too!
Anyway - definitely time for dinner. We went to a restaurant we had spotted previously.
The starting antipasto board was AMAZING - coming from the girl who doesn't like cheese really - I am not a full convert, and have since been eating too much of it :)
Ryan's main was not too great (super salty pasta) but mind was lovely.
We will try this one again for sure!
Overall a bits and bobs kind of day, but soem worthwhile bits and bobs <3
Much love,
x