I Could Walk To The Colosseum In 2 Minutes From This Hotel

Arriving at midnight you can never truly appreciate the location of your hotel. But the next morning, with a tour of the Colosseum starting at 9am, we soon realised we had chosen wisely. In less than 2 minutes away, staring at us on the horizon, beckoning us with its ancient arches and calling to us with its ageless history, was the colossal Colosseum.

As the name suggests, the Retrome exudes vintage.  When the cab driver dropped us off I must admit some slight confusion at the big red door. We rang the doorbell and mystically the door unlocked.

The reception was decorated with bright Vespa helmets, vintage books and a colourful kitchenette where we were offered water or coffee. We sat on a big comfy couch while a map was provided and locations highlighted.

We were shown up to the first level to our room. Styled with vintage boutique panache and brown and cream chairs. It featured a big bed, shuttered windows and a private bathroom. They have many different room sizes to fit families and singles, but this was perfect since I was visiting with just my sister.

Wi-Fi in Rome can be pretty hard to come by, but we had no concerns with the Internet connection in the hotel. Our room sported an LCD TV, air-conditioning and even a small kitchenette just outside the room to organise our own breakfasts if desired.

While all this was lovely, the real sense of place came when we walked out the front door into the cobblestone streets of Rome. There was a gelato store at the end of the street and plenty of restaurants (some even cooking after midnight, thank goodness for us).

And then within minutes walk, the Colosseum. Every night (after 9pm in summer) we left our hotel to have a wander around the beauty of this ancient structure. It was so close and made the evening strolls an absolute delight.

We ate at 3 restaurants in the nearby vicinity and all of them were an absolute delight. Within a few streets was also the well-known Gay Street, full of atmosphere and pumping music at any time of the night, in any type of weather, under the shadow of the Colosseum.

A quick 3 to 4 minute walk and we were are at the Colosseo metro stop with direct access to the large Termini railway station. Or a ten minute walk we could find ourselves on the A-metro line with direct access to Spagna and the Trevi Fountain.

If location is key, then Retrome in Rome is king. You will not wish to be anywhere else.

Can Overome Make The Colosseum & Ancient Rome Kid-Friendly?

When you see the colossal ruins sitting in the humming centre of Rome you can only be amazed at its rock-steady tenacity to keep its place in a constantly changing world. 

My sister, Rhiannon, and I had to visit the Colosseum. I mean who would come to Rome and not see it? And while we were not visiting with my children they were always on top of my mind.

We met our guide at the Colosso train station early in the morning and managed to skip the already super-long line forming outside. For that reason alone I love using a guide anywhere in Rome (like the Vatican as well). 

Inside the Colosseum I noticed that ancient Roman sites, and in particular this one, could be fairly unfriendly for children:

• It had stairs, fairly steep ones so forget bringing the stroller.
• Most guides could drone on and on for hours about the history and intricacies of the place, which while informative to some of us adults, may not make a great story for kids.
• It can be very hot in the sun during summer and there is no water for sale or fountains for drinking.
• There was no café so when the “I’m hungry” song starts you are out of luck.
• Most tours are 3 to 4 hours (usually including the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum), which is a long time for little legs to walk around and still keep smiling. 

After my own tour of Rome, I had the opportunity to sit down with my guide and the owners of Overome to discuss these details over lunch.

To my surprise all three ladies had previously worked at the Colosseum and were very aware of the setbacks for children inside the colossal walls of this ancient wonder.

Not only that, but having children of their own, they wanted to do something about it.

This got me excited. And although I could tell you about my great experience with this tour company and how much I enjoyed my Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum tour, which I did, it was clear to me over lunch that I was passionate about their dreams for a family-friendly Colosseum.

We sat down to eat at a restaurant very close to our hotel, serving delightful Italian cuisine and they let me know about their plans to edutain the children of the world. 

Their enthusiasm was contagious and I left ready to bring my family to Rome, knowing that my kids would be able to tour the Colosseum without having an epic meltdown and quite possibly learning some very cool history.

They have plans from the moment you book to get the kids interested. You’ll receive a document providing terminology and facts that will excite and encourage them in preparation for the tour. Other cool things for families will include a little gift to keep the kids excited and amused. Of course you’ll also be able to skip the long lines and there will be plenty of rest stops with opportunity for toilets and water.

Included in the family friendly tour will be a pop-up book that illustrates colourful artwork, plus funny stories by the guides and educational games.

I don’t have images of this tour, it’s brand new and I don’t have firsthand experience yet as it hasn’t started. But I can tell you now from the passion these ladies shared with me over wine and pasta – I will.

We will be back, Rome!

Editor's Note: Family Tours Start August 14th. You can find more information on Overome.

An Evening In The Vatican: The Tour For Art Lovers and Lovers of Skipping Queues

Sometimes a destination deserves more than just a regular tour. Sometimes I can crave deeper insight. And when looking for an intellectually stimulating visit in Rome, I found Context Travel’s tour guides to please my penchant.

The Vatican simply needs to be seen to be believed.

It’s a whole other country. In fact, it’s a world within a world. I believe they call it an ecclesiastical, one of the last six remaining absolute monarchies that is ruled entirely and completely by the Pope, Bishop of Rome.

The Vatican is a walled enclave within Rome. It’s only covers an area of 110 acres, but the line of Catholic Popes have been living there since 1929. They survive financially through postage stamps, tourist mementos, fees to the museum, and book sales.

Within the walled city are the majestic St Peter’s Basilica, the extraordinary Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums showcasing a selection of the world’s most valuable and famous art. 

The spectacular St Peter's Basilica in the evening. Amazing!

As I mentioned in my tips for the Colosseum, guides are your best bet for beating the long tourist queues, and our evening tour of the Vatican was no different. I happily bypassed the folks with their single tickets eagerly waiting for the opportunity to enter. 

Our guide carried an art book that she flicked through highlighting to us pieces we would find inside, detailing their significance, illuminating meanings and describing characters with meticulous and loving detail. After this we entered the museum.

You can spend hours and hours in the Vatican gazing wide-eyed at art, sculptures, even the wallpaper. But for a thorough explanation and to fully appreciate the experience, then a knowledgeable tour guide can not be beaten. 

The highlight of the Vatican tour was, of course, the Sistine Chapel. A hallowed hall - no talking and no cameras - just Michelangelo’s masterpiece and I in a moment where time seemed to stand still. Gazing deeply into the colourful fresco, I couldn’t help but catch the infectious passion for what this artist envisaged. The intricate details assailed the senses like a hammer made of feathers, it was intense but without injury. The absurd scale was mind-boggling. The unshakable dedication was unparalleled. 

Back in 1482 the first frescos depicting the Life of Moses and the Life of Christ were painted within the Chapel. It wasn’t until 1508 that Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling. He painted from 1508 and 1512 and then returned from 1535 and 1541 to complete the rest. 

Did you know that there were disputes with the fact that all the characters in the fresco were naked, so another painter was hired after Michelangelo was finished to put clothes on them. This man earned the nickname "Il Braghettone" ("the breeches painter").

Since photography is a big no-no inside the Sistine Chapel, this photo and the above 2 are courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

These were only some of the many fascinating details that were revealed by our tour guide.

The Sistine Chapel, unquestionably, was the pinnacle of the tour (and possibly any visit to Rome) so make sure you save enough time to really soak in it’s splendour.

To be honest, I found the tour slightly overwhelming, an information overload. But I know Josh was super jealous and I had to rehash all the stories to him when I returned to London. I also know my creative-minded brother and sister would have adored this tour. 

Perhaps you’ve been to the Vatican before unguided or perhaps you’re after a more in-depth experience. Perhaps you’re an art lover or are interested in the fascinating and revealing stories behind the art. Whatever tickles your fancy, the team at Context Travel can cure that itch with an evening walking tour of the Vatican.

Sun setting over Vatican City

Helpful tips: The Vatican has strict dress code requirements. No shorts of any kind. For women, knees, shoulders and upper arms must be covered. For men, no shorts or cut-off trousers/pants and again shoulders and upper arms must be covered. Also note, large bags, purses, backpacks, umbrellas (especially those with hooks) and any sharp objects will need to be deposited at the entrance, camera bags are ok.

This Is What A €5 Million Violin Looks Like

This one-of-a-kind Stradivari violin is worth a pretty penny. In fact it's so much, I can't bear to show all of it.

I’ll be honest. I had never contemplated where violins were born. Nope, it never crossed my mind. But this is what I love about travel – it opens up new experiences that I may not have jumped at previously, but sneakily managed to capture my fascination and imagination in unexpected ways.

Situated in the beautiful northern Italian province of Lombardi is the town of Cremona, home to 70,000 residents and 160 violin workshops. Yep, that’s a lot of workshops.

This town is known around the world as the birthplace of the modern violin and still home to the best violin makers in the business. In the early 16th century a local craftsman, Andrea Amati, designed a ground breaking stringed musical instrument which went on to change the face of music forever. 

The craft is amazingly meticulous, from selecting the perfect timber, to honing the shape, to lovingly applying layer upon layer of custom-made varnish. Every instrument is handcrafted to sky-high standards.

Violin Museum

I visited the aptly named Museo del Violino (Violin Museum) in the centre of town, which amongst other things, exhibits a collection of unbelievably valuable violins. The “hall of treasures” is the pinnacle of the museum with beautifully displayed masterpieces by the very craftsman who have shaped the music we listen to everyday like Andrea Amati and his famous protégé AntonioStradivari.

As a lover of classical music I admired these instruments of unequalled beauty, but even the casual visitor has to be impressed – if not for the boundary-pushing craftsmanship, then at least the mind-boggling price tags.

Realistically, the instruments in this collection are not for sale, so you can put your credit card away. But they have been appraised and valued, and the final violin in the hall, a Stradivari masterpiece, sits proudly in it’s spotless glass cabinet with a valuation of €5 million. 

Yes.

5 million euro-smackeroos (*Dr Evil pose*).

That’s a lot of cheddar.

I’ve thought about what I could spend that dosh on. A fleet of private jets. 100 Porche cars. A giant luxury yacht. A private island. 1000 sharks with lasers on their heads (*another Dr Evil pose*). 

The remainder of the museum is equally as interesting and cleverly designed. I enjoyed the room, which provided an experience that felt like sitting inside an actual violin and watched a symphony, complete with all-surrounding music, projected on the ceiling. 

The original woodworking instruments used by the earliest violin makers are on display which really elevates their ability. The tools look so simple, almost archaic, yet the end product was incredible.

Naturally, other instruments are on display, such as cellos and guitars. The museum contains a series of informative panels which take visitors through the history of the region and musical instruments it is now known for.

Violin Workshop Visit

To complete the violin experience, I visited a real violin workshop. Now this particular one doesn’t usually take visitors off the street, so if you do wish to visit then sending a request via email in advance is a good idea. However, there are other workshops that cater for tourists.

The workshop of Edgar Russ was located down a non-descript laneway with only a small sign above a solitary doorway to hint what magic was occurring within it’s walls.

I had the privilege of personally meeting Edgar and his team. He explained his background and shared details about the processes used to craft the instruments. He was very relaxed and friendly, and made the visit all that more enjoyable. His staff quietly worked away at their stations with soft music playing in the background. His journey from a budding woodworker to a master craftsman was fascinating. Now his pieces are played by at least 7 members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – the highest aspiration for any violin maker. 

Having recently visited Vienna, Austria and explored its museums and history of classical music, this trip in Italy really connected the dots for me. This one town gave birth to new, exciting musical instruments that went onto inspire the greatest classical musical geniuses of all time – Mozart,Beethoven, Strauss and more. Music would not be the same without the town of Cremona.

I now have a much deeper appreciation for the art and science of violin making -something I didn’t expect before this visit. But the gorgeous town of Cremona is definitely a memorable part my trip in Italy. Without hesitation I’d highly recommend a visit. And even if music isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll still want to visit the museum just to cast your eyes on the shiny bit of wood worth €5 million.