- Shopping for leather products at Gazelle (Via del Corso, 30). I always find a "must-have" here where the items on display come straight from their own factory.
- Crunching on a coffee granita (Italian ice) from Tazza d'Oro (a coffee roaster located near the Pantheon on Via degli Orfani, 84). A mid-morning stop here for a quick espresso is also wonderful.
- Observing Mass at the Pantheon. I'm not Catholic, but there is something really special and uber-spiritual about participating in a Mass held in an ancient temple (later converted to a church).
- Watching the sun set over the city from Piazza Garibaldi atop Rome's highest hill, Janiculum.
- Sitting in an outdoor cafe on Piazza di S. Maria in Trastevere while listening to a string quartet and watching the locals stroll by--nothing better after a long day of site-seeing!
- Eating pizza at Dar Poeta in Trastevere--simple, but cheap and good!
- Enjoying a gelato from San Crispino (OK, so does every other English-speaking American, but hey, it makes me happy!)
- Shoe shopping on Via dei Giubbonari (just off Campo di Fiore). I always save room in my suitcase for a pair!
Eating pasta carbonara, almost anywhere! It's like tasting a little piece of heaven!
- Watching the activities of Piazza della Rotonda from the rooftop garden/bar of Albergo del Senato. This is especially wonderful at nighttime with the sounds of clanging dinner dishes, strolling musicians, the soft murmurs of conversation, and if you're lucky, a full moon overhead to accentuate the magic felt by all.












