A Roman Weekend - Beautiful Villas, Friends and Football with Beer

So this weekend I decided to have quite a relaxed one. I was due to go to friends on the Saturday evening so didn't want to stress about going into the city to then have to rush back, so I decided to spend my Saturday morning walking my local park, which is the home of the Villa Doria Pamphilj.

I had a lazy lay in on Saturday morning, got up, nipped to the shop to get supplies, came back and made myself a packed lunch - who would have known that a plastic tomato box would make such a good lunch box! So salad, tomatoes, cheese's and salami were duly boxed up, some wine decanted into a water bottle and plastic cutlery and cup all added to my rucksack and off I went!

The park is the biggest green space in Rome, boasting lakes, a huge private villa, fountains and woodland areas.... Its one of the most peaceful places in Rome, yet there are so many Romans enjoying this space, its wonderful to see.

I walked past the families playing in the play park and walked towards the lake with its geese, swans and turtles and for the first time I kept going. I headed up the hill towards the ruins in the distance.... They were absolutely beautiful. It was a lovely stone waterfall, covered in green moss and just full of life.

As I kept walking I came to a beautiful fountain, and of course, there were 2 Italian children playing, splashing around.... It's like I was walking through a postcard! As I turned the corner, huge green spaces appeared in front of me. There were families picnicing, people sunbathing, people jogging... It was a space that took my breath away. I followed the path up the hill, now I do feel that I need to point out that this was a very hot day.... It was cloudy but it was unbearably humid.... not my best laid plan to go walking but hey ho... So I kept going up the hill... I came across fountain after fountain, statue after statue.... It was a truly beautiful place...

I then took the next path that I could find, and it was a steep hill.... I was exhausted by the time I got to the top but wow, was I rewarded! In front of me was the Villa Pamphilij... It was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. Unfortunately the public no longer have access and it is gated off, and all of the art etc that was owned by the family is now in the Palazzo Pamphilij in Rome city centre.

The gardens were stunning, beautifully maintained, like a mediterranean Chatsworth, or dare I be twee and say Pemberley?

 

 

I continued to walk through the grounds to try to decide somewhere to eat my lunch. I wandered through the fountains, the ruins, the chapels within the grounds to find some shade. I turned a corner into a large beautiful woodland area which was beautifully shaded and went to find a tree to settle under. I settled, sat and ate my lunch, drank some wine, watched the familes play, the dog walkers walk and the runners run as I sat absorbing the atmosphere.... It was perfect.

 

 

 



I packed up my back pack and made my way down the path towards the entrance of the park, after walking the whole circumference. I must say, I walked past a horse chestnut tree that put Victoria Park and my childhood to shame... I do have conkers here now ready to go and I feel a conker match with my brother coming on some time soon... (Yes, that is a challenge James....)

 

I ended up back at the lake and took a wander back to my apartment. It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday lunchtime and early afternoon.

 

That evening I was off to meet Tiziana and friends for a party at their apartment. I got myself ready and got on the 44 bus to the Bocca della Verita, (The Mouth of Truth.... If you don't know what this is, PLEASE go and rent Roman Holiday straight away!), walked past the Circo Massimo, past a beautiful Italian couple having their wedding photos done, and got onto the metro. Alessia was waiting for me the other end and we made our way to Tiziana and Federicos :)

 

She had prepared a fabulous spread of pasta with rocket pesto, mozzarella and pomodoro, stuffed tomatoes, beautifully cooked potatoes and of course, wine and prosecco :)

 

I had a wonderful evening with them and their friends which I think are slowly becoming my friends. I think thats why I am looking to come back to Rome after Firenze until November....

 

After a wonderful evening of wine, food and laughter, Alessia dropped me home and I fell into bed and slept soundly.

 

Sunday morning I awoke around 10am.... Seems me having a lay in is becoming the norm.... I didnt want to go to do anything touristy today as the weekends are really busy in the city centre. My friend from school Karlijn was off to watch the Roma match today so I thought well why not go to a bar and watch Roma play and have a couple of beers... I decided to go for a light lunch at a restaurant I knew was cheap and served good food. 1 salad and 2 beers later I was off to the bar.

 

 

 

 

I went to the same pub that I had been to with my parents where we met Tizina and Federico the weekend before. I bought a pint, settled in and watched the match. It is safe to say the Italians like their football!!!! 2 beers later and a 2-0 win for Roma, I wandered out of the pub in a nice fuzzy haze and made my way towards the bus home.

 

Quite frankly, it was a lovely relaxed, Roman weekend.

 

I only have 1 left.... Good job I am coming back... :)