ALEXIA EMUZE | TRAVEL | JOURNAL | WATCH | ABOUT

Three days in Rome with my parents, from the Colosseum and Vatican to an unexpected encounter with a priest—and everything I would do differently next time.

Rome was never on my list.

I don’t really know why. There are places I’ve spent years imagining myself visiting, but Rome simply wasn’t one of them. I ended up there because I was planning a 22-day trip through Europe for my parents—part birthday trip for my dad, part anniversary trip for the two of them—and Rome was somewhere they wanted to experience.

So I planned three days there.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy it. There was something incredible about standing in a city where pieces of history I had only ever seen in photographs were suddenly right in front of me. By the time we left, Rome had gone from a place I had never really thought about visiting to somewhere I knew I would come back to.

SEEING THE COLOSSEUM IN PERSON

Seeing the Colosseum in person was probably the moment Rome really clicked for me. I knew it was old, obviously, but standing there and realizing that this structure has survived for nearly two thousand years was completely different from seeing it in photographs. Looking down into the maze of passageways beneath the arena was one of my favorite parts. I kept thinking about just how much history had happened in the exact place where we were standing.

We arrived around 8 a.m., right when it opened, and it was already busy. We bought our tickets at the Colosseum rather than online. If tickets are sold out online—or if you need accessible tickets—we were told that going in person when they first open is an option. Based on our experience, I would absolutely go as early as possible.

One thing I especially appreciated was how they accommodated my mom. They provided a wheelchair, there were elevators we could use, and her admission and the admission of one companion were complimentary. Traveling with someone who needs accessibility accommodations can make you worry about whether everyone will actually be able to experience an attraction together, so having those accommodations available meant a lot to us.

The hardest part wasn’t necessarily the building itself—it was the crowd. Even that early, navigating a wheelchair through so many people could be difficult. If you’re visiting with someone who uses a wheelchair or simply needs more time getting around, go early and give yourself plenty of time.

THE HEAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

We visited Rome at the beginning of August, and the heat was intense. I knew summer in Europe would be hot, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much the temperature would affect what we could comfortably do—especially traveling with my parents.

Before the trip, I told them to bring portable fans. They did not listen to me.

Bring the fan.

The heat followed us pretty much everywhere. We used Uber to get around, but we also took one of the sightseeing buses to see the city. I liked being able to ride around and take everything in, but in that kind of heat, sitting on a bus without strong air conditioning was rough. My parents definitely didn’t enjoy that part as much as I had hoped.

Our hotel thankfully had good air conditioning, which became much more important than I ever expected. If you’re traveling to Rome during the summer, especially with older parents or someone who is more vulnerable to heat, I would make good air conditioning one of the things you actually check for when choosing a hotel instead of assuming it will be there.

The heat eventually affected more than our comfort. By the time we were exploring the Vatican, my mom wasn’t feeling well, and we had to make decisions about what was worth pushing through and what could wait.

And unfortunately, one of the things that had to wait was something my dad really wanted to see.

The Sistine Chapel.

WE GOT LOST AT THE VATICAN—AND I’M GLAD WE DID

The Vatican was another place my parents really wanted to experience. We spent time looking at the sculptures and walking through the outdoor gardens, and once again, I appreciated the accessibility accommodations. They provided a wheelchair for my mom, and admission was complimentary for her and a companion.

It was also incredibly crowded. Between navigating the wheelchair, the number of people, and the heat, getting around wasn’t exactly easy.

At some point, while trying to figure out how to get to the Sistine Chapel, we somehow ended up outside the Vatican.

That’s when we met a priest.

The funny part is that I didn’t realize he was a priest at first. I just remember seeing this man dressed completely in black and wondering how he wasn’t sweating. We were sweating. Badly.

I stopped him and asked, “Do you speak English?”

“Yes.”

Perfect.

I asked him how we were supposed to get to the Sistine Chapel, and he explained that we needed to go back through the Vatican and continue through the tour because the chapel comes toward the end.

But then our conversation turned into something I never could have planned.

He told us that he was carrying Marian coins that had recently been made and blessed. He explained to us the story and meaning behind them and told us to keep the coins with us for guidance and protection.

Then he reached into his pouch and pulled out three.

One for my dad.

One for my mom.

And one for me.

We had gotten lost trying to find something we wanted to see, and somehow ended up walking away with something cooler.

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We got lost trying to find the Sistine Chapel. Instead, we met a priest who gave each of us a blessed St. Marry coin.

THE SISTINE CHAPEL WE NEVER SAW

We never made it to the Sistine Chapel.

By that point, the heat had taken a toll on my mom, and continuing to push through the crowds just wasn’t worth making her feel worse. I was disappointed, but I felt especially bad for my dad because seeing the Sistine Chapel was something he had really wanted to do.

If I could change one thing about our three days in Rome, I would have added one more day. Not necessarily to pack in another full day of sightseeing, but to give us time to rest. We could have gone back to the Vatican refreshed and finally seen the chapel without trying to force everything into an already exhausting day.

Still, there’s a strange part of me that’s happy we got lost.

If everything had gone according to plan, we might have seen the Sistine Chapel—but we probably never would have stopped that priest, heard his story, or walked away with those three coins.

So I don’t really look at it as something that went wrong.

It just gave us a reason to come back.

And I would love to bring my parents back one day so my dad can finally see it.

THE ROME I DIDN’T EXPECT

Rome surprised me because I really hadn’t built it up in my head before going. I didn’t arrive with a long list of expectations or things I had dreamed about seeing. I was there because my parents wanted to experience it, and that gave me the chance to just take the city as it was.

And Rome was beautiful—but not in a perfectly polished way.

There was a lot of graffiti around the city, and some areas felt noticeably dirtier to me than Paris or London. At the same time, you’d be riding through an ordinary part of town and suddenly come across something incredibly old or beautiful. That contrast was part of what made Rome interesting to me.

One of my favorite parts was actually much quieter. Our Hilton was in an older building that had a lot of character, and our room had a large balcony with a beautiful view. In the mornings, I would go outside, meditate, and just give thanks for being there.

Those moments mattered just as much to me as seeing the major attractions.

And then there was the food.

I know this may be controversial, especially after visiting Italy, but I have to say it:

Italy created pizza. New York perfected it.

I said what I said.

Rome didn’t turn me into an Italian-pizza convert, but I think that’s also part of traveling. I don’t want to come home and pretend I loved everything simply because I was supposed to. Some things live up to the fantasy, some don’t, and sometimes the things you never cared about seeing are the things that surprise you most.

Rome did that for me.

WHAT I’D DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME

Three days in Rome was enough for us to experience a lot of the city, but if I planned the trip again, I would give us four. Traveling with my parents taught me that an extra day doesn’t necessarily need another itinerary attached to it. Sometimes the best thing you can schedule is time to rest.

I would also stay closer to the heart of Rome.

We stayed about an hour outside of central Rome, and while I really enjoyed our hotel, the distance made getting back and forth expensive. We were taking Ubers and taxis every day, and those costs added up quickly. If I planned the trip again, I would spend more time looking for a hotel closer to the places we wanted to see.

There was a reason we stayed where we did, though. Accessibility was one of my biggest concerns while planning this trip. My mom has mobility limitations, and my dad is older, so I didn’t want either of them having to climb flights of stairs just to get to our room. I wanted a hotel where I knew we would have elevators, enough space to move around comfortably, and easy access in and out of the building.

Our Hilton gave us that. The rooms were spacious, the air conditioning was good—which mattered enormously during the heat wave—and I loved our large balcony. I would sit outside in the mornings, meditate, and give thanks for being there. So I don’t regret choosing it.

It was really a trade-off: we had more space and accessibility, but we sacrificed location.

Next time, I would spend more time searching for a smaller or boutique hotel closer to central Rome that could give us both.

More importantly, I would contact the hotel before the trip instead of relying only on what I could see on the booking page. I’d explain that I was traveling with someone with limited mobility and confirm that our specific room could be reached by elevator—or request a ground-floor room if that wasn’t possible.

That’s something I learned throughout our trip. Europe wasn’t always as straightforward for us to navigate with mobility needs, but many of the major attractions we visited were much more accommodating than I initially expected. Once I started checking accessibility information ahead of time, I realized that some places provided wheelchairs, elevators, accessible entrances, and even complimentary admission for a disabled visitor and a companion.

If I were planning this trip again, accessibility wouldn’t just be something I checked after choosing where we wanted to go. I would make it part of the planning from the beginning.

And yes, I would make everyone bring a portable fan. This time, I’m not taking no for an answer.

I’d take my dad back to the Vatican so he could finally see the Sistine Chapel. I’d also make time for him to get a pair of custom-made Italian shoes, something I think he would really enjoy.

But I wouldn’t stop at Rome.

My mom wants to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so I’d make sure she gets there. And for me, it would be Venice. There’s something about a city built around canals that I need to experience for myself.

There’s still more of Italy I want to see, which is funny considering Italy wasn’t really on my list in the first place.

WOULD I GO BACK TO ROME?

Absolutely.

Rome wasn’t perfect. It was crowded, unbelievably hot, a little messier than I expected, and we didn’t even manage to see everything we went there to see.

But I think that’s part of why I remember it so fondly.

I remember looking down into the Colosseum and trying to comprehend how something could survive for so long. I remember sitting on our balcony in the morning, meditating and feeling grateful that I got to be there. I remember my parents experiencing a place they had wanted to see. And I’ll always remember getting lost at the Vatican and meeting a priest who reached into his pouch and handed each of us a coin.

I went to Rome because my parents wanted to go.

I’d go back because now I do too.

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A TRIP TO ROME

How long I’d stay:
I would recommend four days. Three days was enough to see a lot, but that fourth day would have given us room to rest without feeling like we were sacrificing something we wanted to experience.

When I’d go:
If I had the choice, I would avoid Rome during the hottest part of summer. We visited during an intense August heat wave, and the heat genuinely affected what my parents were able to enjoy.

What I’d bring in summer:
A portable fan. Seriously. Also bring water and plan opportunities to get indoors and cool down throughout the day.

Getting around:
We primarily used Uber/taxis and a sightseeing bus. Staying far outside central Rome made transportation considerably more expensive, so next time I would try to balance accessibility, room size, and being closer to the places we planned to visit.

Colosseum:
We arrived when it opened and purchased our tickets there. Even early in the morning, it became crowded quickly. If you’re traveling with someone who needs accessibility accommodations, check the Colosseum’s current policies before your visit and ask about accessible ticketing, entrances, elevators, and wheelchair availability.

Vatican:
The Vatican was also very crowded, which made navigating with a wheelchair more difficult. We were able to use a wheelchair there and received accessibility accommodations, but I would check the Vatican’s current requirements before traveling because policies can change.

Traveling with limited mobility:
Don’t assume a hotel is accessible simply because it has an elevator listed online. Next time, I would contact the hotel directly before arriving and confirm that the specific room we booked can be reached without stairs—or request a ground-floor room. I would do the same research for every major attraction before leaving home.