Favourite place in the world No. 3 – the most incredible city in the world

I am not a fan of big cities – too many people, too much chaos. I love nature-made beauty more than man-made though I can appreciate the creativity of humans. Too often cities are full of ugly buildings and a lack of cohesive planning. This is not the case with the historic centre of Rome – my number 3 favourite place in the world.
I have been there many times and I never get tired of it. I love to see the same sights but always manage to find another corner somewhere that I haven’t explored. A great way to see the main sights is to buy a ticket to the double-decker buses which circle around the city touching on all the main highlights. You can get off and on as many times as you like during the day. Climb up to the top and view Rome from that vantage point. Each corner the bus turns reveals new delights. The first time you see Rome this way, it will take your breath away. The second time, it will take your breath away again, and every time after that.
We live in a young country where our historical buildings are so new the Italians would laugh at us calling them historical. And maybe it is that contrast that makes cities like Rome so spectacular for us New Zealanders.

In fact, Rome’s history spans two and a half thousand years. It was the capital city of the Roman Kingdom and regarded as one of the birthplaces of western civilization. In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
As you wander about the colisseum and through the Roman Forum, it’s hard to imagine another people from a time so long ago populating these places, living their lives, but it’s fun trying.

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From having lived in Italy for almost a decade, I know that there is a life today behind the closed facades of the buildings that rivals any from the past eras. Spectacular interiors and riches beyond belief lie inside and elegant people with long Roman heritages reside within. It’s a level of luxury and entitlement that most of us mere mortals can’t even come close to imagining. But it helps the whole romance of a city which can’t be surpassed for atmosphere and beauty.