What's so beautiful about Rome?

The road along the Lungotevere River

Usually, autumn brings a melancholic feeling, at least for me when autumn arrives in Hanoi, because of the solemnity of the fading autumn leaves. But autumn in Rome gives me a completely opposite feeling.

In Rome during the summer, especially around August 15th when the whole country observes the Ferragosto holiday (lasting about 3-15 days), everything seems to enter a state of "summer sleep" due to the scorching heat. Autumn marks the return of normal business activity, and Rome seems to come alive again in the cool air. The sudden brilliance of the changing autumn leaves leaves me in awe. It is for this reason that autumn gives me an indescribable feeling of joy.

Every autumn, I take a stroll along the Tiber River, called Lungotevere (meaning "Tiber Riverbank"). Along both banks are rows of large trees bending towards the river. This image is characteristic of Rome, much like the weeping willows over Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. I love the soft yellow of the leaves, which look like maple leaves gently swaying in the shimmering, yet not hot, sunlight of autumn. Did you know that in psychology, yellow symbolizes joy and happiness because it evokes the warmth of the sun? Despite the endless stream of cars and the often irritable drivers around me, I feel an unusual sense of peace under the trees of Lungotevere.

Trastevere Old Town

In contrast to the tranquil Lungotevere, the old town of Trastevere (meaning "on the other side of the Tiber") is one of Rome's most vibrant areas. Visitors flock here to immerse themselves in the narrow streets with their ancient cobblestones and charming craft shops. Adding to this historic atmosphere are numerous ivy patches, some lush, others sparse, each with its own unique beauty. In summer, the ivy is a vibrant green, but from October onwards, nature paints the leaves in a kaleidoscope of autumnal hues—yellow, orange, brown, and red—evoking the image of a sunset. Only autumn can make Trastevere so enchanting.

Besides its romantic scenery, people also visit Trastevere to see the Santa Maria Church, one of the oldest churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In addition, Trastevere is known for its delicious, nutritious, and affordable food, perfect for young people. The charming little Italian restaurants with their red and white checkered tablecloths are a highlight of this old town. The pizza place I frequent is Dar Poeta, the most famous in Trastevere. Besides traditional wood-fired pizzas, they also serve pizzas with cheese sauce or cream sauce instead of tomato sauce, which are delicious and not at all greasy.

Villa Sciarra's Secret Garden

Rome has no shortage of large parks, such as Villa Doria Pamphili, Villa Ada, or Villa Borghese. All of these parks boast beautiful, clean green spaces, but in autumn, there's one secret garden that captivated me the most. I call it the secret garden because I'm sure tourists don't know about it. Visitors to the garden are usually locals, mostly families with young children.

I stumbled upon Villa Sciarra because it was located across from my school. From the outside, the garden looked abandoned, with the quiet stillness of the old fountain often running dry. Yet, behind the sturdy walls surrounding the garden lay many interesting things. The fact that Villa Sciarra wasn't as well-maintained as other parks only added to its mystical beauty. Each time I visited the garden, I discovered an old statue hidden in the overgrown grass, left uncleaned.

Although not as large as other parks, Villa Sciarra is home to beautiful old trees. I remember how surprised I was to see the vibrant yellow of the largest ginkgo tree in Villa Sciarra. Because it was an old tree, the ginkgo had a wide canopy, occupying an entire corner of the garden. The dazzling yellow of its canopy was much brighter than the yellow of the trees on Lungotevere. And instead of many trees being planted, there was only one tree standing alone in the garden, looking like a magical tree trunk. The moment I encountered this ginkgo tree was when I realized autumn had truly arrived.

The Tiber River flowing through the golden foliage overhead, or the ivy in its myriad shades of red, yellow, and orange against the backdrop of ancient walls—these are the most vivid images of Italian landscapes in my mind. Even more so is the pleasant feeling of breathing in the gentle breeze along the Tiber and watching the slow-paced yet vibrant life in the old town of Trastevere. Autumn is the season to discover Rome's secrets. Perhaps it was the shimmering golden leaves that drew me toward the mysterious Villa Sciarra? And who knows, in such a captivating setting, a fairytale romance might unfold unexpectedly, just as autumn has arrived in Rome?

Additional information

Visa:Detailed information on applying for an Italian visa can be found on the official website of the Italian Embassy in Hanoi: http://www.ambhanoi.esteri.it/. However, if you have a valid Schengen visa from another European country, for example France, Germany, or the Netherlands, you can still enter Italy freely.

Journey: There are no direct flights from Vietnam to Rome, so travelers must choose connecting flights with various airlines such as Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Silkair, and Vietnam Airlines. If you are unfamiliar with connecting flights, you should choose a layover time of at least 3 hours (especially at Frankfurt Airport) to avoid missing your connecting flight and to have more time for shopping.

Move:In Rome and other cities in Southern Italy, the public transport system is terrible. Therefore, when sightseeing in Rome, it's best to walk or use Uber. You can take the bus if you have plenty of time, as buses in Rome often don't run on time. The entire city only has three metro lines (A, B, and C), and I found the metro inconvenient. If you take a taxi, you're very likely to be taken on a roundabout route or cheated when charging. While Uber is more expensive, tourists can be more confident about the price.

Accommodation:

Unfortunately, Rome's public transport system isn't very convenient. Therefore, it's best to choose a hotel near Termini train station or major attractions such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and Vatican City. Areas easily accessible for sightseeing include: Colonna, Monti, Pigna, Roma Centro, Borgo, Trevi, Sant'Angelo, and Parione.

- For those who love romance, choose Trastevere, the most beautiful place in autumn when the leaves are falling. However, if young people don't mind traveling a long distance, enjoy exploring, and want to save money, they can stay a little further from the city center. Some areas with many interesting things but less frequented by short-term tourists include Monteverde, Testaccio, Trieste, Ostiense, and Prati.

- Tourists can book rooms in advance through online booking sites, but if you don't have experience using Airbnb, you shouldn't try it in Rome.

Cuisine:Autumn is the season of pumpkins, truffles, pine mushrooms, and chestnuts. When visiting Rome in autumn, you should try specialties made with these ingredients to not only admire but also taste the Roman autumn, such as risotto alla zucca (pasta with pumpkin), tagliolini al tartufo (pasta with truffles), and roasted chestnuts.

Skin:

- Autumn in Rome can be a bit chilly, so it's a good idea to bring a light jacket, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and sneakers. It can also rain occasionally, so a waterproof jacket would be very useful.

- The best way to experience Rome is on foot, so choose a pair of comfortable shoes.

- For carrying personal belongings, choose a sturdy crossbody bag with multiple compartments to protect against theft and pickpocketing.

Additionally, prepare a draft of places to visit and carefully plan your time. Rome is a large city with many must-see attractions, so having a specific itinerary will save you time.

Tran Dan Vy