Katie Linsky Shaw

Photojournalist

katielinskyshaw.visura.co

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

Follow Hire

Location: Asheville, North Carolina

Biography: Katie Linsky Shaw has worked as a photographer since college. Following graduation, she worked full-time as a reporter and photographer for newspapers and freelanced for a large, daily newspaper in Memphis, TN. After a move to Arkansas, Katie... MORE

A man plays accordion for diner...onda near the Pantheon in Rome.

1 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A man plays accordion for diners in the Piazza della Rotonda near the Pantheon in Rome.

A vendor sells artwork in the e...g on the Piazzo Navona in Rome.

2 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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.

3 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Dogs relax while owners smoke along the Piazza Navona in Rome.

A woman rubs her eyes after app...Galleria Alberto Sordi in Rome.

4 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A woman rubs her eyes after applying eye drops outside the Galleria Alberto Sordi in Rome.

A woman photographs the Piazza ...n Rome with a Versace ad above.

5 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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.

6 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Locals walk their dogs along the Piazza Navona at dusk in Rome.

A chess match is underway along...nter or Centro Storico of Rome.

7 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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...y evening summer hours in Rome.

8 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A bench in the Piazza Navona is busy with visitors during the early evening summer hours in Rome.

Diners sit outside Rome restaur... supper after a hot summer day.

9 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Diners sit outside Rome restaurants for supper after a hot summer day.

A man walks along a Rome city street.

10 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A man walks along a Rome city street.

A group of men wait on the Piazza Navona surrounded by backpacks.

11 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A group of men wait on the Piazza Navona surrounded by backpacks.

A man sells roses along the Piazza Navona in Rome.

12 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A man sells roses along the Piazza Navona in Rome.

As the sun sets, lights come on...along the side streets of Rome.

13 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

As the sun sets, lights come on for the many restaurants scattered along the side streets of Rome.

A man slowly walks to the Ciard...Pasticceria with his newspaper.

14 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A man slowly walks to the Ciardi Bar Pasticceria with his newspaper.

Tourists explore the ancient ro...turesque roads of the old city.

15 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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 ent...ng extremely high temperatures.

16 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Vendors sell hats along the entrance to Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome during extremely high temperatures.

While temperatures in Rome reac...demand for overheated tourists.

17 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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 windo...ook out the windows.

18 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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 c...date for public transportation.

19 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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.

20 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Two men stop for a smoke break along a side street in Rome.

Families pose for photos outsid...trance to the Pantheon in Rome.

21 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Families pose for photos outside the entrance to the Pantheon in Rome.

Rome hit its hottest temperatur...as tourists tried to stay cool.

22 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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.

23 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Hot tourists wait along the road to St. Peter's Basilica.

The security line was long to e...nse without shade for visitors.

24 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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&...enced record-high temperatures.

25 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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...t St. Peter's Basilica.

26 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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.

27 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Light filters inside the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.

While mass is underway to the r...g those photos after each shot.

28 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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 ...rtist who creates similar work.

29 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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 I...untryside just outside of Rome.

30 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Cacti align a building in the Italian countryside just outside of Rome.

A flock of sheep gather in the ...an countryside outside of Rome.

31 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A flock of sheep gather in the Italian countryside outside of Rome.

A portion of the ancient Roman ...om outside sources to the city.

32 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

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.

33 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Visitors walk toward the Colosseum in Rome.

Silhoettes of tourists visiting the Colosseum

34 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Silhoettes of tourists visiting the Colosseum

A man sits outside a closed tourist shop in Rome.

35 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A man sits outside a closed tourist shop in Rome.

A woman consults her map in the city center of Rome.

36 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A woman consults her map in the city center of Rome.

Tourists fill the benches along the Piazza Navona.

37 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Tourists fill the benches along the Piazza Navona.

A woman in red sits below a large Versace ad in Rome.

38 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

A woman in red sits below a large Versace ad in Rome.

Bicycles and scooters are widely used by locals in Rome.

39 of 39 © 2023 Katie Linsky Shaw

Bicycles and scooters are widely used by locals in Rome.

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Close

Thumbnail of A man plays accordion for diners_tonda near the Pantheon in Rome.

Thumbnail of A vendor sells artwork in the ea_ng on the Piazzo Navona in Rome.

Thumbnail of Dogs relax while owners smoke along the Piazza Navona in Rome.

Thumbnail of A woman rubs her eyes after appl_ Galleria Alberto Sordi in Rome.

Thumbnail of A woman photographs the Piazza N_in Rome with a Versace ad above.

Thumbnail of Locals walk their dogs along the Piazza Navona at dusk in Rome.

Thumbnail of A chess match is underway along _enter or Centro Storico of Rome.

Thumbnail of A bench in the Piazza Navona is _ly evening summer hours in Rome.

Thumbnail of Diners sit outside Rome restaura_r supper after a hot summer day.

Thumbnail of A man walks along a Rome city street.

Thumbnail of A group of men wait on the Piazza Navona surrounded by backpacks.

Thumbnail of A man sells roses along the Piazza Navona in Rome.

Thumbnail of As the sun sets, lights come on _ along the side streets of Rome.

Thumbnail of A man slowly walks to the Ciardi_ Pasticceria with his newspaper.

Thumbnail of Tourists explore the ancient roa_cturesque roads of the old city.

Thumbnail of Vendors sell hats along the entr_ing extremely high temperatures.

Thumbnail of While temperatures in Rome reach_ demand for overheated tourists.

Thumbnail of A man looks out through a window_look out the windows.

Thumbnail of Rome is still one of the more ca_ndate for public transportation.

Thumbnail of Two men stop for a smoke break along a side street in Rome.

Thumbnail of Families pose for photos outside_ntrance to the Pantheon in Rome.

Thumbnail of Rome hit its hottest temperature_ as tourists tried to stay cool.

Thumbnail of Hot tourists wait along the road to St. Peter's Basilica.

Thumbnail of The security line was long to en_ense without shade for visitors.

Thumbnail of A priest visiting St. Peter&_ienced record-high temperatures.

Thumbnail of A young nun looks in awe as she _at St. Peter's Basilica.

Thumbnail of Light filters inside the chapel at St. Peter's Basilica.

Thumbnail of While mass is underway to the ri_ng those photos after each shot.

Thumbnail of A scene along the walls of the h_artist who creates similar work.

Thumbnail of Cacti align a building in the It_ountryside just outside of Rome.

Thumbnail of A flock of sheep gather in the I_ian countryside outside of Rome.

Thumbnail of A portion of the ancient Roman a_rom outside sources to the city.

Thumbnail of Visitors walk toward the Colosseum in Rome.

Thumbnail of Silhoettes of tourists visiting the Colosseum

Thumbnail of A man sits outside a closed tourist shop in Rome.

Thumbnail of A woman consults her map in the city center of Rome.

Thumbnail of Tourists fill the benches along the Piazza Navona.

Thumbnail of A woman in red sits below a large Versace ad in Rome.

Thumbnail of Bicycles and scooters are widely used by locals in Rome.

Public Story

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

Copyright Katie Linsky Shaw 2023

Updated Jul 2022

Location Rome, Italy

Topics News

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…

686

Also by Katie Linsky Shaw —

Trying to Stop the Pain

Katie Linsky Shaw / Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina

Nov 22, 2022

Dry Tortugas National Park - Key West, Florida

Katie Linsky Shaw / Dry Tortugas - Key West, Florida

Oct 14, 2022

Scared, Sad, and Ashamed: The Lonely Journey when a Child is in Crisis

Katie Linsky Shaw

Oct 4, 2022

Early Intervention and the "Relationship Chicken"

Katie Linsky Shaw

Aug 22, 2022

Blue Ridge Pride Festival 2022

Katie Linsky Shaw

Sep 27, 2022

The High Cost for the Right Care

Katie Linsky Shaw

Aug 9, 2022

Street

Katie Linsky Shaw

May 24, 2022

America

Katie Linsky Shaw

May 20, 2022

Growing Up

Katie Linsky Shaw

May 20, 2022

Furry Fandom

Katie Linsky Shaw

Mar 22, 2022

Speedcubers

Katie Linsky Shaw

Jan 14, 2022

Mackinac Island

Katie Linsky Shaw / Mackinac Island, Michigan

Sep 20, 2021

Sand Dunes of Silver Lake, Michigan

Katie Linsky Shaw

Sep 16, 2021

I Lost My Dad to the Lockdown

Katie Linsky Shaw

Jul 26, 2021

Miss Gay Latina Asheville

Katie Linsky Shaw / Asheville, North Carolina

Jul 26, 2021

Join us
For more access