Image: Sharon Becker

Travel by: Vespa. There’s only one way to see Rome and that’s to travel like the locals, and avoid the ubiquitous tourist buses. No excuses: it’s easy enough to hire one.

Wear: Oversized sunglasses, a mini sling bag, and flat pumps (though I noted Roman women are not afraid of riding a Vespa in heels).

A spritz of: Bulgari, Goldea Roman Night. With its blend of night-blooming jasmine, tuberose, mulberry, black peony, and black musk, this fragrance is the sensuous spirit of Rome in a bottle.

Must see: The Bulgari flagship store on Via dei Condotti. This legendary boutique has been open since 1905, and today the museum on the first floor is filled with iconic jewellery pieces. Step into a bit of jewellery history and admire Elizabeth Taylor’s unforgettable platinum, diamond, and sapphire necklace. Via dei Condotti 10, Centro Storico-Tridente

Coffee at: Antico Caffè Greco. Take your coffee and pastry standing at the bar as the Romans do in the oldest café in the city — and that’s something to brag about in historic Rome. Via Condotti 86, Centro Storico-Tridente

Look: Through the Aventine Keyhole. This famous landmark is situated on Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta. Press your eye to the keyhole and discover a perfectly framed view of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica at the end of an avenue of trees. It’s one of the best things you’ll do in Rome! Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 3

Drink: The Nasoni. Since 1874, these cast-iron, public drinking fountains have provided delicious drinking water to locals and tourists alike. The best thing about it? Quenching your thirst is free.

Eat: La Pace Del Palato. Small, intimate, unassuming, and filled with Italians, this restaurant is perfectly placed in the heart of historic Rome, near the flower market. The menu is traditional Italian, and you can’t go wrong with pasta or meatballs. Via del Teatro Pace, 42A/43

Wander: Through the cobbled, less touristy streets of Monti. This residential suburb, filled with vintage stores and charming Italian design, is also said to be home to what was Pope John-Paul II’s favourite coffee shop.

Selfie at: The Colosseum
The second-most visited monument in Rome, and the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire, is very Instagram friendly, so much so that vendors sell selfie sticks outside. Sad, but true. Piazza del Colosseo, Colosseo

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