7 Pictures You Need to Take in Rome

I have lived in Rome for over a decade and still, I literally stop and gasp at its beauty. Don't mistake me for starry-eyed expat entranced by ochre buildings that glow in warm Roman light or the charm of a flirty Ciao. I am well aware that this is a city legendary for its chaos and dysfunction but I choose to focus on the pretty. Take my advice and do the same., Whether you are here for a week or a lifetime, it really does make daily life here worth the challenges. One thing that keeps me focused on the positives in snapping pictures of my adopted home. My phone and multiple hard drives are full of thousands and thousands of images. I recently noticed there were some places and things that I had more shots of than others. To help you narrow things down the next time you are out with your camera, here is my advice for the 7 pictures you need to take in Rome. 

Colosseum

Just a few steps from my front door, I get to walk by Rome's most recognizable monument a few times every day.  Who doesn't love the Colosseum? I love it so much, my pal Kelly painted my favorite view for me. From my side in Monti, the afternoon light is best. 

Coffee

The Italian bar scene is one of my favorite daily rituals. Whether it is a quick cappuccino at the bar on my way to yoga or a leisurely macchiato with a girlfriend I can't resist taking a picture. 

Fiat Cinquecento

They are so tiny and cute and irrepressibly photogenic.  

Italian Shrines

If you follow me on Instagram then you know that I am always on the hunt for one of the thousands of Madonelle. These street shrines which are usually placed on a corner can be made of dazzling and intricate mosaics or be a simple plaster sculpture. Some have elaborate canopies or frames and some are set high into a building's facade. The custom dates back to ancient and pagan Rome when a statue or a painting of a domestic deity (lare) was placed at each crossroads (compita) to protect citizens from after dark dangers. When Christianity came they swapped out Isis for Mary to protect us. Use the hashtag #italianshrines when you find one. 

Rooftop Views

I am almost always on foot and at street level so I really enjoy a change of perspective by getting up high. Climb the Aventine hill or have a cocktail at a fancy department store or hotel and take in the view. 

Pizza and Pasta

If you didn't Instagram your meal did it even happen? 

Vine Covered Buildings

Save for a few months in deep mid-winter Rome is pretty green. Vines twist up from pots and down from roofs often covering the entire facade of a building. On a late spring evening seek out the heady scent of jasmine and on a crisp fall morning, you can probably spot red tinged Virginia Creeper.