The next day we took an early train to Rome. Back in school our class went on an impressive study trip with the two best art and history teachers. I remember hastening through Rome's bumpy streets and getting dizzy by the uncountable number of churches we visited. I was looking forward to some classic art inspiration.
With the Sala Blu Trenitalia offers a service for all train travellers with reduced mobilty. The staff helps travellers e.g. to enter or alight the train. The actual boarding process was flawless. Booking the service and the pre-boarding process was pretty inflexible, though. We had to meet the staff half an hour before departure. Giving us plenty of time to...wait!
Sala Blu, Verona
Wheelchair lift, Verona station
Besides Frecciarossa, the high-speed train of the Italian national train operator, Trenitalia, train travellers can choose the privately owned Italo, too. The train tickets for both of us were cheap, the Italo trains modern and comfortable. Unfortunately the wheelchair space was taken and the broken rest room turned high-speed journey into a smelly adventure. Luckily we arrived at Rome-Termini 3 hours later.
Italo, Rome-Termini
Italo wheelchair space
I never booked a hotel in a big city last minute and liked the spontaneity of the idea. That is why we left our luggage at the station to pick it up later. Relieved we walked towards the Colosseum, not without a detour to San Pietro in Vincoli. Please note: Churches in Rome are closed at midday. We postponed our visit to the afternoon and went down the hill to the Colosseum.
San Pietro in Vincoli opening hours
In Verona I thought the Arena was as big as its equivalent but now it was obvious. The Colosseum was gigantic. As we searched for the entrance a nice man told us that we could skip the long lines to get in. Again we didn't have to pay an entrance fee.
Outside the Colosseum, Rome
A glass elevator takes you to the upper level of the building. Here you can circuit the Roman amphitheatre that once hosted bloody gladiatorial shows.
Inside the Colosseum, Rome
With our free tickets we were also allowed to enter the Roman Forum. I was sceptical to explore ancient ruins in a wheelchair but my boyfriend was eager to go. So we gave it a try. I guess bumpy and grumpy is the best description of this part of the vacation. If you don't like bumpy: Don't go.
Roman Forum, Rome
To escape the Roman sun we went back to San Pietro in Vincoli. The reason I wanted to revisit this church was Michelangelo's Moses. The sculpture has such a presence! I like the horns on Moses' head based on a wrong Latin translation.
San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome
From San Pietro in Vincoli we went up Capitoline Hill to get a perfect, much less bumpy and grumpy view of the Roman Forum.
Roman Forum, Rome
We made our way down the Capitoline Hill to one of my personal Roman highlights. La Bocca della Verità – The Mouth of Truth! We had learned about this marble mask in Italian class and I was excited to see it in real life. No one really knows what the original purpose of the puzzled stone face was. There are a lot legends, though. The most famous one is that if one sticked their hand inside the disc's mouth and told a lie got their hand bitten off by the mouth.
To experience this cheap thrill we got in line for about 20 minutes which I think is hilarous. The attendant scared the brave visitors now and then by screaming uncontrolled when they put their hands inside the mouth. The actual sight, the church Santa Maria in Cosmedin, where the Bocca della Verità is located goes unheeded.
Bocca della Verità, Rome
The sun was setting and we walked to the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument. On top of the white building, that looks a little bit like a giant typewriter, visitors find a viewing platform. The platform is wheelchair accessible by elevators. Entrance for wheelchair users and carers is free.
Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, Rome
Before picking up our luggage at the station and heading to the hotel we found online we went to Piazza Mattei to see the Turtle Fountain.
Turtle Fountain, Rome
Not a lot of Rome's metro stations are wheelchair accessible. We had to get off the train at a station, that was marked as wheelchair accessible, further afar from the hotel. When we arrived we discovered the elevator to be out of order. Fortunately a strong Italian helped us up the long stairs.
Knocked over by all the impressions we were happy to find La Locanda di Pietro just around the corner of our hotel. A cozy place to end a day in Rome, that serves modern Italian cuisine, called 'Pizza revolution'. Continue here.
Pizza revolution, La Locanda di Pietro
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