Last 24 hours in Rome

The final day is here and I already miss this perfect city. Started the day with my morning ritual of visiting the local coffee shop for a cappucino. Next, I visited the Campo di Fiori market for a few items to bring back to the states. Decided on white truffle oil, olive oil and truffled honey.

Christmas decorations twinkle from the corners of each cobbled street. The store windows are at their best, horse drawn carriages and the smell of toasted acorns warm the atmosphere.

Behind the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese and the immense park provide the ideal day. I walked along the quiet paths, the ground covered in a pale yellow and green glow of the fallen dried leaves.

The area started as a vineyard in the 16th century. In 1605 cardinal Scipione Borghese, a nephew of pope Paul V, turned the vineyard into a park. In 1903 the city of Rome obtained the Villa Borghese from the Borghese family and the park was opened to the public. 

The Villa Borghese park is also home to several museums, including the Museo e Galleria Borghese, which has a collection of sculptures with some important works by Canova, Bernini, Titian, Rubens and Raphael. The park also contains an amphitheater (the Piazza di Siena), an 18th century arch (the arco di Settimio Severo) and a botanical garden.

The day turned to night and I made it back to the steps. Such a gorgeous view of everyone bustling about as they shop and find a nearby restaurant for apperativo.