How I (finally) found Rome (2 MIN Read)

I never loved Rome. 

It was never my destination, just a layover. I had been at least 8 times. The sheer number of tourists and lines drove me crazy.

A few years ago while teaching in Sicily I would have a few days between student groups. Luckily I had a friend in Rome, who let me treat her house as my own. I would wake up in time to have an espresso with her and walk her to work, then have the entire day free to wander. 

I would take my usual route through the Giardini Borghesi, stop at Pincio and make my way into Piazza del Popolo— the entire city in front of me. 

On this particular day while I was walking down a street I had been on many times before I noticed a sign: “Museum Now Open”. The heavy doors were ajar so I walked in. I unexpectedly found myself in a lush inner courtyard. I found a desk, bought a ticket and an audioguide. 

For the next 3 hours I lost track of time in the antique Palazzo that had been hiding right under my nose. I took and had the time to look at every piece of furniture, painting and listened to how each piece played into the family history. There weren’t more than 20 people in the entire museum. 

Winding through room after room of terrazzo and mosaic floors, ornately designed rooms while listening to the story of the generations that had called this place home I could vividly imagine it all.

When I finally looked at the time I realized I was going to be late to meet my friend. I told her all about it, living in Rome for years she had never heard of or even noticed it. 

A day with nothing to do and no where to go, I fell in love with Rome.