Subtitled ‘A Love Affair with Rome’, this short guide to the eternal city is a very personal view of a place very popular with tourists. Having visited as part of a short tour of Italy in September 2018, I was willing to read the book, which was sent to me by the author.
I’m sure this intimate view of the city will find favour with many readers. However, for me, the concentration on the Vatican, the churches, and associated aspects was of little interest, as I’m an atheist and find religion largely distasteful.
Most of the places referred to in the book were actively avoided on our short stay in the city. But we did enjoy the accounts relating to the street performers, of whom we saw few. Their personal accounts brought life to the book. Our secular visit took us to the overcrowded Coliseum, the Palatine Hill, Forum, Circo Massimo, Arco Di Constantino, and several walks along the banks of the Tiber, with crossings of the many bridges, as well as a day trip to Pompeii, which was a place we could have spent many days studying.
I agree with the author’s description of the dirt and general untidiness in the city. We encountered graffiti in many places, and litter from overflowing rubbish bins. The evenings, however, held a certain magic after reasonably-priced food at a local trattoria close to our hotel that was too pricy for evening meals. The visual displays on some of the ruins, accompanied by appropriate music, lent those evening walks a romantic and magical air.
We ate most times at an open-air trattoria where, one evening when a storm erupted overhead, we all helped close-up the tables under the awnings to protect those at the edge of the place from the downpour. That made for a very friendly atmosphere, and we met and chatted with a number of visitors and locals. The food was excellent, and the wine very good.
We dislike cities generally, but it was history that took us to Rome, and we’re glad we visited, but are unlikely to return. The visits to the Trevi Fountain and the Coliseum in particular demonstrated the fact that, in common with many other locations, popularity has rendered the place no longer viable as a destination for those who wish to ‘stand and stare’.
So, for me, this book was an interesting read, but certainly not one to encourage my return. But I recognise many visitors make their visits as pilgrimages to the overblown and hypocritical Vatican, and they would be much more likely to find real value in this book.
I wrote this review based on an advance reading copy the author sent me.
#
[Any review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can manage is an honest reaction to any given book.]
Stuart Aken 
Rome is FULL of wonderful art to see, to know. Churches have often masterpieces inside, anyway you can skip churches and find a lot of art to enjoy. I think it’s normal that, first time in a new city, we want to see the most popular sites and monuments, but Roma is not only Colosseo and Fontana di Trevi, not at all. Hope to see you in Italy again 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Paola. I agree that churches often contain masterpieces, but these are generally depictions od religious events or myths. I have no desire to spend time on such subjects, so I avoid them. And, certainly, Roma has many ancient historical sites to visit. I enjoyed that aspect of my own visit, which was only four days.
I found the people of the city friendly, too. But I’m no lover of cities, preferring the open spaces of the countryside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right, each of us has to choose the best holiday, the one we prefer. According to religious picture, painters had to paint such subjects to get paid … Catholic curch has always been quite rich 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was born in a city, but left it at an early age. The rural has always engaged me more. I agree about painters and religion; the need to eat is a big factor when creating. And the Roman Catholic, along with almost all religious empires, is far too wealthy. I loathe their hypocrisy in encouraging poverty while collecting alms so they might live in luxury.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right. Anyway thank you for appreciating my country
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our churches are often filled with the work of skilled artisans, Lynette. The carvings in wood and stone are often superb. But I can no longer enter such a building without a feeling I’ve stepped back into an age of ignorance, superstition, and division.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s still with us, unfortunately. Humans have a tendency to want fixes (especially quick fixes) and religion is more than willing to step into that void.
The pope recently visited Canada to meet with indigenous peoples about the cruel and abusive behaviour of its nuns and priests against them. He couldn’t bring himself to openly and widely apologise (he apologized for “their behaviour;” – their behaviour was church policy at the time) which is what they want and deserve. They also want their artifacts returned, but were ignored. Many indigenous people have dropped the church, but it still surprises me how many just ignore his behaviour or make excuses for him. Ugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, most church officials, regardless of the specific religion, have that air of entitlement that has been the hallmark of recent governments here. It’s as undesirable in those of a religious nature as it is in the secular. But, of course they believe they have ‘god given rights’, which is one of the most destructive beliefs around.
Here in the UK, the catholic church, in particular, has been responsible for some terrible treatment of the youngsters in the care of monks and nuns. And the sexual abuse of boys and girls by clerics of all religions is unforgivable, of course.
Those aspects, along with the declared admiration for poverty while the authorities dwell in luxury, are just other reasons to expose these hypocrites for what they are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. They drip with hypocrisy. Yes, the sexual abuse committed against children is unforgivable. There has been so much of it, and the church’s (here, most of it has involved the Roman Catholic Church) attempts to cover it up have been worse. Canada is a rather secular country (the latest figures show 46% of those aged +15 are atheist) and these so-called religious leaders are finding it hard here because of how often they get called out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good news, Lynette. The more secular we can make society, the better for all. UK is now in a situation were less than half the population consider themselves religious. The sooner we can disestablish the link between our monarch and the church, the better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t agree more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have on occasion visited churches (I use the term loosely) just because of all the resident history. I remember being awed by Westminster Abbey when I was about 12. The size of the place and its ties to the sweep of history were fascinating to me. I have visited several others for the same reason: Rouen, Strasbourg and Salisbury Cathedrals. Like you, I am much more interested in smaller cities (I love Verona and have visited several times) and could spend days at Pompeii. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 1 person