Rome - go or cancel?

[IReallyLikeYorkshire]

I've booked a weekend in February next year but for some reason I just can't get excited about it. It just doesn't fill me with excitement as it did before I started looking on street view. It looks... quite run down and just not what I expected. But then sometimes the best trips are the ones that surprise you.

Go or cancel? I'll not lose much £ if I cancel soon...

I proposed to my husband in Rome in late February one leap year many moons ago, we had the best long weekend of our lives. Every corner you turned there was a new wonder of architecture and art, incredible food (if you avoid the tourist traps) I'm not religious but the Vatican was a highlight too. Its a wonderful city. One tip if you're with a partner would be to buy a rose from a florist and walk around with it so you're not pestered by the pushy flower salesmen on the Spanish steps as they assume you've already been sold too! 😅

Don't remember the graffiti in Rome, but I actually enjoyed some of the graffiti when I was in Barcelona, I thought some of the street artists were incredibly talented!

OP's flounced off the thread and probably swapping her trip for a few days in Benidorm instead.

Stay away from Belgrade then! Every building is covered in graffiti.

Scarborough I think

Like any city there are good areas and bad, it’s definitely worth going to

I never look on street view before I go on holidays, ( except for maybe the hotel location) I find it spoils the experience

I'm not a Catholic, so have no skin in this particular game! However, it would be sad to be put off the Vatican because of the appalling actions of a few. There are so many Catholics who really try to follow the example Jesus set. They work among the poor and disadvantaged. And never look for the approval of others. We rarely hear of those.

If she didn’t like graffiti, I hardly think she will like Benidorm

No neither can I remember seeing any that particularly stuck out. Paris, yes, quite a bit of graffiti. But as another pp said, it is viewed a bit differently over there and neither of those cities have the slightly sad and ground down feeling London currently has.

It's a fabulous city op. I go quite frequently and it's seductive in its own way. You won't have that golden light Rome has in the summer, but you will have far fewer crowds.

If you really worry, stick to the very upmarket areas - and you can still enjoy things like the Spanish steps, browse the shops along via del Babuino and via dei Condotti, visit the Vatican and Capitoline museums, and there is certainly no graffiti at the forum or Coliseum. There is no basis whatsoever to think these parts of Rome are run down. Really. It will be better than where you are.

Rome remains one of the best weekends away we’ve ever had. I was completely blown away by it.

It doesn’t sound like it’s for you OP. Perhaps cultural, historical, archeological and scenic cities aren’t your thing?

Yeah, forget thousands of years of history, most of them as the epicentre of western and Christian civilisation, there’s some graffiti.

OP my eyes have nearly rolled out of my head.

Cut the snobby shit, Scarborough's great. We spent our silver anniversary there, had a fantastic time.

Also op, you've had a bit of a pounding on this thread for your lack of appreciation of what the city offers, but I would point out that looking at places on google street view is not flattering. It's a bit like looking at your complexion in that weird light in aeroplane toilets. It's sort of too up-close and granular to get a proper feel.

My favourite city on Earth. Amazing food, art, history and people.

But it's a city and not a painting so yeah there's still litter and graffiti and stuff, but no worse (and probably better tbh) than any other capital city.

In fairness, Scarborough has its own beauties, as do many places in Yorkshire; we don't have to elevate wonderful places in Europe at the expense of the UK's own pleasures.
But yes, go Rome!

Yeah agree with both of you. I used to live in London and go there about once a month now for work and it’s an incredible city. Some Brits seem really bitter about London, its inhabitants and the mayor lol

Re. OP, I’ve Not been to Rome so can’t comment much on that from experience, but it looks and sounds amazing.

Fucking hell, this place really is Snooty Arse Central sometimes.

ive been many places and Rome is by far my favourite! Just something so special! So much to see and do, amazing food, amazing shops if your into that, something to see in every corner! I’d be more than willing to swap and go lol! It’s honestly an amazing city

Why would you ever cancel going to Rome. Honestly the mind boggles

Maybe the Sistine Chapel will move you? It certainly has other Mumsnetters.

Some people are genuinely incapable of praising something without decrying something else at the same time. Sad, but there it is. 🤷‍♀️

I'm not anti-mayor at all, but I do feel sad about London these days. Even just the roadworks everywhere. It's just lost its mojo.

ETA and I'm meaning central London - all around the parks, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Notting Hill.

I think that totally depends on the person. My OH is non religious but agreed to go because I wanted to. In the end he was more fascinated by the Vatican than I was. I got a bit more out of it in terms of a deeper understanding of religious imagery etc. but the artistry and history is amazing regardless of religious inclination.

For goodness’ sake how silly. Give your ticket to someone else who will actually enjoy it in all its grit and glory. Or else open your mind a little and go and learn something.

I nearly cancelled a holiday because I thought I wasn’t excited enough for it. I go tomorrow and I can tell you now , I’m super excited and can’t wait ! Nearer the time you may start looking forward to it more . I’ve been to Rome and I don’t recall much graffiti.

No one can tell you what you want to do.
I have been to Rome and loved it.
It depends what you want.
Yes parts of it are run down just like any very old city. But for me that is part of the charm.
If you want somewhere all shiny and new it's not the place for you. If you like history and beautiful architecture and art then it is