PHOTOGRAPHING THE ICONIC CITY OF ROME
Summer nights in Rome
Bird bath at the Vatican City
I was in Rome one year ago. It was hot – the dead of summer – yet so alive with people. A stark contrast to the feeling back home in Genova. The further south you go in Italy, the more alive the people are, the richer the food.
While I would not necessarily advise you to visit Rome in mid-July (in fact I strongly recommend against it), I do think there’s a reason it’s on so many lists. It’s one of Italy’s many iconic cities, for a reason.
We ventured into the Vatican City as close to dusk as we could make it before it closed to the public. Many of our tourist adventures happened around these hours to escape the heat. Visiting in the low points of each day made the sites a bit more magical, romantic.
I found myself yet again attracted to the seagulls for my photos. No matter where you go in Italy, you are almost always close enough to the sea to find its most loyal companions. I expect it will be difficult for me to leave this country one day. One of the things I’ll miss the most is the seagulls.
I can’t talk about Rome without mentioning the colosseum. It was crowded and hot. It was beautiful. But all I could think to do was find the closest spot for shade. I recommend taking a guided tour and going in the fall or spring.
The gardens and ruins of the Palatine Hill were the most enjoyable place for me aesthetically. The lush trees provided shade and refuge. I actually liked capturing the refurbishment work of the ruins. Capturing modern versus ancient; they need each other to survive.
