University of Wisconsin–Madison

Italy: Kaitlyn Cardona (Top Ten List: Rome)

Stone pillars support intricately carved portions of a building.
Columns located at the Imperial Forums
Three people pose in front of an intricately carved building made of white stone at night.
My friends and I celebrating Sydney’s birthday at the Trevi Fountain

Top Ten List: Rome

  1. Visit the Trevi Fountain! My favorite site to see in all of Rome was the Trevi Fountain, especially at night and with friends. I love looking at the statuary of Rome but the scale of this foundation caught my attention and the water makes it more beautiful.
  2. Visit the Colosseum. I visited this site many, many times for my classes as there is so much to learn about its history. This is a must-do in Rome!
  3. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica on a Wednesday morning. The Papal Audience happens every Wednesday and is the perfect opportunity to see the Pope (for free)! Be sure to get a seat close to the edge of the railings to get the best view of Pope Francis as he rides around in the popemobile.
  4. Visit the Vatican Museums. If you’re a fan of art and history, this is the place for you. The Vatican Museums are very elaborate and fancy. It is very big and full of art and at the end, you get to see the Sistine Chapel with famous frescos painted by Michelangelo himself. Be sure to wear Church attire and walking shoes because this place is huge.
  5. See the ancient ruins still out for display in Rome. You can find ruins everywhere in Rome but more specifically in the Roman Forum and at the Imperial Forum. Walk where Julius Caesar walked and see the incredible architecture of the eternal city. I loved going to the light shows that are offered in the summer at these locations as it visually shows you what ancient Rome used to look like, on-site!
  6. Get good Italian pizza at a place called Pizza Florida! Some of the best pizza you’ll have in Rome comes from small Italian shops that price their pizza by weight. Usually, these places are inexpensive and taste so good!
  7. Try gelato!! There are so many flavors of gelato to try. Anybody can find a favorite flavor here. There are so many good places I can’t recommend just one, but I will advise that a small gelato should be around 2.50 to 3 euros!
  8. Try Tiramisu! This is an Italian dessert that I didn’t try until living in Rome. It is a classic and tastes so amazing after dinner.
  9. Go to the Pantheon! This monument is a must see and it is amazing to see while it rains. The pantheon is great architecturally as it has a huge dome with a hole in the middle. This hole lets the rain in, but the floor is designed to drain the water. Fun fact: after ancient Rome, it was turned into a church. An exorcism has occurred here!
  10. Try all the different types of pasta you can. I recommend you change your order at every place you visit. My favorites are anything pesto and Ravioli di ricotta.
A square plate with ravioli covered in red sauce drizzled in brown.
The best Ravioli di ricotta I had was at a restaurant called Trattoria Memmo
Kaitlyn stands in front of a stone wall with painted purple flowers and yellow suns.

Kaitlyn Cardona

Major: Communication Arts – Film, TV, and Radio

Hometown: Pingree Grove, Illinois

Program: CIEE Rome Open Campus, Italy