That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A man plays accordion for diners in the Piazza della Rotonda near the Pantheon in Rome.
A man plays accordion for diners in the Piazza della Rotonda near the Pantheon in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A vendor sells artwork in the early evening on the Piazzo Navona in Rome.
A vendor sells artwork in the early evening on the Piazzo Navona in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Dogs relax while owners smoke along the Piazza Navona in Rome.
Dogs relax while owners smoke along the Piazza Navona in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A woman rubs her eyes after applying eye drops outside the Galleria Alberto Sordi in Rome.
A woman rubs her eyes after applying eye drops outside the Galleria Alberto Sordi in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A woman photographs the Piazza Navona in Rome with a Versace ad above.
A woman photographs the Piazza Navona in Rome with a Versace ad above.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Locals walk their dogs along the Piazza Navona at dusk in Rome.
Locals walk their dogs along the Piazza Navona at dusk in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A chess match is underway along a side street in the historic center or Centro Storico of Rome.
A chess match is underway along a side street in the historic center or Centro Storico of Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A bench in the Piazza Navona is busy with visitors during the early evening summer hours in Rome.
A bench in the Piazza Navona is busy with visitors during the early evening summer hours in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Diners sit outside Rome restaurants for supper after a hot summer day.
Diners sit outside Rome restaurants for supper after a hot summer day.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A man walks along a Rome city street.
A man walks along a Rome city street.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A group of men wait on the Piazza Navona surrounded by backpacks.
A group of men wait on the Piazza Navona surrounded by backpacks.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A man sells roses along the Piazza Navona in Rome.
A man sells roses along the Piazza Navona in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - As the sun sets, lights come on for the many restaurants scattered along the side streets of Rome.
As the sun sets, lights come on for the many restaurants scattered along the side streets of Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A man slowly walks to the Ciardi Bar Pasticceria with his newspaper.
A man slowly walks to the Ciardi Bar Pasticceria with his newspaper.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Tourists explore the ancient roads of Rome like Via Dei Coronari in the historic center,...
Tourists explore the ancient roads of Rome like Via Dei Coronari in the historic center, considered one of the most picturesque roads of the old city.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Vendors sell hats along the entrance to Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome during extremely high...
Vendors sell hats along the entrance to Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome during extremely high temperatures.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - While temperatures in Rome reached an all-time high of 105 degrees, two men cooled off at one of...
While temperatures in Rome reached an all-time high of 105 degrees, two men cooled off at one of the many drinking fountains scattered throughout Rome. The water is free, safe to drink and in high demand for overheated tourists.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A man looks out through a window of the Porta San Sebastiano, the largest of the gates through...
A man looks out through a window of the Porta San Sebastiano, the largest of the gates through the Aurelian Walls in Rome once used to defend the city. Visitors can walk inside the gate and go upstairs for free to look out the windows. 


That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Rome is still one of the more cautious European city when it comes to Covid regulations. The city...
Rome is still one of the more cautious European city when it comes to Covid regulations. The city recently renewed its mask mandate for public transportation.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Two men stop for a smoke break along a side street in Rome.
Two men stop for a smoke break along a side street in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Families pose for photos outside the entrance to the Pantheon in Rome.
Families pose for photos outside the entrance to the Pantheon in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Rome hit its hottest temperature on record with 105 degrees recorded as tourists tried to stay cool.
Rome hit its hottest temperature on record with 105 degrees recorded as tourists tried to stay cool.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Hot tourists wait along the road to St. Peter's Basilica.
Hot tourists wait along the road to St. Peter's Basilica.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - The security line was long to enter St. Peter's Basilica and the heat was intense without...
The security line was long to enter St. Peter's Basilica and the heat was intense without shade for visitors.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A priest visiting St. Peter's Basilica used a napkin for shade while waiting in line as...
A priest visiting St. Peter's Basilica used a napkin for shade while waiting in line as Rome experienced record-high temperatures.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A young nun looks in awe as she steps into the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.
A young nun looks in awe as she steps into the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Light filters inside the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.
Light filters inside the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - While mass is underway to the right, two girls spend 20 minutes in the same spot taking photos...
While mass is underway to the right, two girls spend 20 minutes in the same spot taking photos with their phone, posing, removing the required shawl to cover their legs for a few photos, and examining those photos after each shot.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A scene along the walls of the historic city center in Rome addresses the child abuse scandals in...
A scene along the walls of the historic city center in Rome addresses the child abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. The work was created by street artist Salvatore Benintende who goes by the artistic name of TVBoy. He is often considered the "Italian Banksy" in reference to the anonymous British graffiti artist who creates similar work.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Cacti align a building in the Italian countryside just outside of Rome.
Cacti align a building in the Italian countryside just outside of Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A flock of sheep gather in the Italian countryside outside of Rome.
A flock of sheep gather in the Italian countryside outside of Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A portion of the ancient Roman aqueducts still stands. The aqueducts were used to move water from...
A portion of the ancient Roman aqueducts still stands. The aqueducts were used to move water from outside sources to the city.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Visitors walk toward the Colosseum in Rome.
Visitors walk toward the Colosseum in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Silhoettes of tourists visiting the Colosseum
Silhoettes of tourists visiting the Colosseum
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A man sits outside a closed tourist shop in Rome.
A man sits outside a closed tourist shop in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A woman consults her map in the city center of Rome.
A woman consults her map in the city center of Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Tourists fill the benches along the Piazza Navona.
Tourists fill the benches along the Piazza Navona.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - A woman in red sits below a large Versace ad in Rome.
A woman in red sits below a large Versace ad in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective - Bicycles and scooters are widely used by locals in Rome.
Bicycles and scooters are widely used by locals in Rome.

That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective

Profile photo of Katie Linsky Shaw
Katie Linsky Shaw
Photojournalist based in Asheville, North Carolina
Rome, you’re a hot, grungy, “in need of a haircut” kind of city, but like a woman who goes after the bad boy, I think I love you.

And while a few of your days hit high temps usually reserved for August, registering 105 degrees at one point, you still lured me from the air-conditioned apartment to your cobblestoned alleyways to search for that perfect, Audrey Hepburn, “Roman Holiday” moment. I think I found a few.

There were the tired tourists exhausted after a busy day; several pups on the piazza making their nightly stroll; a well-timed entry into St. Peter’s Basilica where I watched a young nun’s face light up as she stepped into the impressive chapel for her first time; and two girls on the other side of St. Peter’s who spent at least 20 minutes trying to perfect what I assumed to be an Instagram pose. This was the Rome I saw.

And yes, we had a canceled flight on the way home like the rest of the world and brought back one case of Covid but it was still worth the two days of travel time to see this incredible city.

Until we meet again, Rome…
Public Project
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective
Copyright Katie Linsky Shaw 2024
Updated Jul 2023
Location Rome, Italy
Topics Family Travel, News, Travel, Vacation
LOVE
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