After the Colosseum and a vineyard tasting in Frascati, we were up and out early once again for a very different kind of history.

Early Entry at the Vatican

Today brought an early entry tour of the Vatican. The history and majesty of the Vatican complex and St. Peter’s Basilica is something that should be experienced at least once. There’s so much to see that you could easily find something new visit after visit.

Lunch at Trattoria Da Luigi

All that history built up an appetite, so we headed back over the river to Trattoria Da Luigi for a lunch al fresco: caprese salad, swordfish carpaccio, squash blossom pizza, and some gnocchi. So delicious.

An Evening Food Tour Through Trastevere

In the evening we joined another food tour, this time through the neighborhood of Trastevere.

The first stop was a tiny restaurant with melon, prosciutto, and burrata.

From there, a cookie called an “Ugly Cookie” at a historic bakery — so good despite the name.

Next up was a meat market for porchetta and head cheese with gorgonzola dolce and pecorino romano, followed by a street vendor stop for suppli and pizza (too complicated to get a photo while eating street food).

The tour wrapped with pasta — cacio e pepe and amatriciana — perfect.

Walking back to the hotel, we were met with an amazing view over the city.