I would return to Rome, the city of romance, because there just isn’t enough time to see and do everything in one long weekend. I see Rome as a giant pizza that you keep taking a bite out of now and again. It is so diverse that you could visit a dozen times and do and see something different every time. Rome is not the ‘sit on a bus’ type of sight seeing city – you have to like walking. It is also best if you buy a good Rome guidebook and plan your journey each day. All you need to know about Rome.

We recently had a three-night break there and enjoyed every minute of it. On arrival we dumped our bags at the hotel and couldn’t wait to start exploring this beautiful city. We wandered along tiny lanes and alleyways and at dusk took a walk over the Ponte Cestio Bridge through the nooks and crannies of the Trastevere district and onto Tiber Island. This is a fascinating place full of esplanades, restaurants and stalls selling books, souvenirs and handicrafts. We had a delicious candlelit meal in one of the restaurants and I fell in love with this little island because it is so relaxing just watching the river flow.

Bright and early the next morning, we took a visit to the exquisite Trevi Fountain. I threw three coins in for luck and wished that I would one day return. Later we climbed up the azalea-lined Spanish Steps, sat down and watched the world go by. After a coffee at one of the many bars in the many squares we went to the Roseto – Rome’s public rose garden. Roses are such romantic flowers – it was amazing to be surrounded by them. All shapes and colours and the perfume was beautiful. Later we watched the Roman sunset framed by heavenly Bernini angels on the Sant Angelo bridge and then had a lovely meal in one of the many restaurants nearby.

The next day we spent doing the usual sight seeing – we went to St Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon and, of course, the Coliseum. We wandered through Rome’s Centro Storico and sipped sparkling prosecco wine at a piazza bar. We spent the first part of the evening looking at floodlit views over the Capitoline Hill from Michelangelo’s sumptuously designed Piazza del Campidoglio. Then we found a family run restaurant and spoiled ourselves with the Parma ham, fresh off the bone, followed by exquisite seafood.

All too soon our fascinating weekend in this diverse and fascinating city was over but we will return one day for another perfect weekend.

**This short Travel Story was submitted as part of the Holiday Travel Writing Competition. All short-listed entries such as this one are published in our online Travel Guide**

Story written by Jan Duncan | Since 2006 Holiday Velvet offers Apartments in Rome.