Rome
Although I have been there three times now, I never deliberately planned to visit Rome. The city and I share a curious relationship.
In 2015, I came as part of a school trip. In 2022, I was actually heading for Naples and ended up in Rome along the way. In 2026, it was once again coincidence rather than intention that brought me back.
Each time, I am surprised by how profoundly beautiful the city is, and by the sheer weight of history embedded in its streets. I am drawn to the Italian rhythm of life, layered with an ancient presence that feels both distant and immediate. Rome carries its past openly, almost casually, as if centuries were part of everyday routine.
What fascinates me most is how different times coexist here. Ancient stone beside modern gestures. A morning coffee in the shadow of a ruin. Daily life unfolding against a backdrop that has outlasted empires. The city does not separate past and present; it lets them overlap, quietly and without explanation.
At the same time, it is hard to ignore how different Rome might feel without mass tourism. Endless queues in front of its landmarks often turn the Eternal City into an exercise in waiting. For me, the more compelling moments were found elsewhere: in quieter streets, less visited squares, places where the city briefly exhales.
