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...

Yep. Pretty much this

Blimey, don't even think about going to ancient Pompeii then. You'll have a nervous breakdown.

The maps I love! Actually more than the Sistine chapel.

ETA your username is making me hungry ...

Go. You'll love it.

Me too, I hear that Norma makes the best pasta in town. 😋

Why? In what way do you think, eg, St Peter’s Basilica or the Colosseum are going to be less impressive because there’s graffiti in ordinary side streets?

I’ve been to 28 countries across three continents and I don’t think I’ve ever been to any big city that was free of graffiti.

Rome is amazing. I went in December some years ago and was completely blown away with how amazing it is to just wander the streets and BOOM an ancient building seen in history books just nestled there in the city scape. Just felt like such a unique place, I loved it.

I went to Rome in the 90's, I did not like it. There were beggars and pick pockets, it was unbearably hot and unbearably busy. It's only now I'd like to go back with a fresh pair of eyes! I was also very lucky to have seen a lot of historic European cities so was probably a bit spoilt for cultural sites! I also went in August so February is probably much nicer!

I went to Barcelona once (yes different country) and was really surprised by the amount of graffiti and those metal shutters in use everywhere, but it's just a cultural difference in some countries as others have said. It's hard to see it as nothing though, when it's seen as a bad thing, usually, in the UK.

In summary though - If you have the opportunity and ability, definitely go!

Show me any 2000+ year old city which does not look run down in parts.

We were in Rome last year and we loved it.

Graffiti is kind of fitting too for Rome, Coliseum is covered in it, albeit of the historical kind! It's a living city not just a tourist destination, bit like Berlin you're going to get urban scrawl it doesn't mean anything major.

Rome! One of the most fabulous places on earth. Beautiful! So full of history. Gorgeous statues on top of buildings everywhere. It’s like you’re walking through an open air museum. Then there’s the food! The people, oh with so much character! (Cliché maybe, but true.) Did I already mention the city is beautiful? I’ve been twice and loved it twice. It’s just gorgeous and won-der-ful!

Go to Rome. It is something very very special.

I am going back next year hopefully. I loved everything about it and if I could live there I would. I really miss it.

I went twenty ish years ago and it amazed me! Can't particularly remember graffiti but can definitely remember the colosseum, the Vatican, the Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps, the amazing food....

Rome is INCREDIBLE. It’s jaw-dropping walking along a street and then suddenly the most stunning ruins appear next to you, which happens all over the city. And there is amazing art, restaurants etc

I hear Dubai is nice and neat 👍

That's nearly every European city 🙄- Its February - its something to look forward to after January - which i think is the most depressing month of the year

@IReallyLikeYorkshire

if you go to the huge Roman town excavations you can see Roman graffiti!

🫣 The pathetic thread you started you started you mean? 👀

Saw some holiday snaps of Rome recently. It looks amazing.

Depends if you like history and architecture.

I loved Rome. We planned on buying metro passes but ended up walking everywhere. There was something to see around every corner.

Rome is utterly fabulous.

I’ve never been, but literally everyone I know who has been, from all walks of life, have loved it. Based on that, I say don’t cancel.

Odd thread and odd response from OP.

But for anyone else wondering whether to go, I was totally wowed at all the sights in Rome. All I could say to DH in the taxi from the airport was "oh my god, look!", constantly pointing at stuff. I'd never been anywhere like it.

BUT it was the end of May, it was warm, it was sunny, everywhere looked nice, even the graffiti 😉and it was the perfec temperatures for enjoying pavement cafes and restaurants, roof top drinks at sunset, and strolling in the Villa Borgehese gardens.

I think I might have found it less enjoyable in February with everywhere duller and colder, and not able to sit out quite the same.

I think they would be very different in February

I could easily visit every year if time and money allowed. Along with Barcelona.

Run down?? You're kidding, right? It's absolutely amazing! The architecture is out of this world. Everywhere you go , it's like a huge outdoor work of art. It's the most amazing place I've ever been. It's not run down at all. You could be there for a month and not see it all.

Go!!