A man plays accordion for diners in the Piazza della Rotonda near the Pantheon in Rome.
A vendor sells artwork in the early evening on the Piazzo Navona in Rome.
Dogs relax while owners smoke along the Piazza Navona in Rome.
A woman rubs her eyes after applying eye drops outside the Galleria Alberto Sordi in Rome.
A woman photographs the Piazza Navona in Rome with a Versace ad above.
Locals walk their dogs along the Piazza Navona at dusk in Rome.
A chess match is underway along a side street in the historic center or Centro Storico of Rome.
A bench in the Piazza Navona is busy with visitors during the early evening summer hours in Rome.
Diners sit outside Rome restaurants for supper after a hot summer day.
A man walks along a Rome city street.
A group of men wait on the Piazza Navona surrounded by backpacks.
A man sells roses along the Piazza Navona in Rome.
As the sun sets, lights come on for the many restaurants scattered along the side streets of Rome.
A man slowly walks to the Ciardi Bar Pasticceria with his newspaper.
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.
Vendors sell hats along the entrance to Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome during extremely high temperatures.
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.
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.
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.
Two men stop for a smoke break along a side street in Rome.
Families pose for photos outside the entrance to the Pantheon in Rome.
Rome hit its hottest temperature on record with 105 degrees recorded as tourists tried to stay cool.
Hot tourists wait along the road to St. Peter's Basilica.
The security line was long to enter St. Peter's Basilica and the heat was intense without shade for visitors.
A priest visiting St. Peter's Basilica used a napkin for shade while waiting in line as Rome experienced record-high temperatures.
A young nun looks in awe as she steps into the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.
Light filters inside the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.
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.
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.
Cacti align a building in the Italian countryside just outside of Rome.
A flock of sheep gather in the Italian countryside outside of Rome.
A portion of the ancient Roman aqueducts still stands. The aqueducts were used to move water from outside sources to the city.
Visitors walk toward the Colosseum in Rome.
Silhoettes of tourists visiting the Colosseum
A man sits outside a closed tourist shop in Rome.
A woman consults her map in the city center of Rome.
Tourists fill the benches along the Piazza Navona.
A woman in red sits below a large Versace ad in Rome.
Bicycles and scooters are widely used by locals in Rome.
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective
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…
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 Story
That Bad Boy Rome - A First-timer's Perspective
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