The odd nighttime silence of the Eternal City

It’s déjà vu, all over again….

But so it goes in 2020. Here in Rome, we have a lockdown lite.

Perhaps not that ‘lite’, however, to businesses trying to get back on their feet after our long lockdown. Currently in Rome, restaurants and bars must shutter up at 6 pm. Supemarkets, pharmacies and some shops can continue to operate until later. City-wide curfew begins at 10 pm.

Since I’m in the office now a few days a week, I am often walking home through a deserted home at 7 pm or 8 pm.

My walk takes me by many of Rome’s most iconic monuments.

Rome, Italy/ Kimberly Sullivan

The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus.

Usually, these monuments are flooded with tourists. But now, they are closed due to Corona virus restrictions. And nighttime curfews mean I have these monuments pretty much to myself – unless you count the police patrols guarding the area.

Rome, Italy / Kimberly Sullivan

While I can’t complain having the beauty of these ancient monuments all to myself, I’m hoping that soon these spectacular, ancient monuments once again have the audience they deserve.

We’re all anxious to start traveling again. And the Eternal City certainly deserves its fair share of attention by adoring crowds. After all, they’ve been used to millennia of acolytes.

For now, I’ll do my part….

Rome, Italy / Kimberly Sullivan

6 Comments

  1. Claire 'Word by Word' on December 1, 2020 at 8:34 am

    Beautiful and serene, if ghostly. Rome becomes a village at night time.

    • kimberlysullivan on December 2, 2020 at 7:09 pm

      Ghostly is a good word. Rome feels like that by late afternoon – and as the first city to surpass a million (two millennia ago), it definietely needs to get out of village status soon. : )

  2. theunfilteredtourist on December 1, 2020 at 8:47 am

    Absolutely gorgeous. I visited Rome and the Colosseum back in 2009, and it was flooded with tourists. Stay safe!

    • kimberlysullivan on December 2, 2020 at 7:11 pm

      Glad you got to enjoy this beautful spot when in Rome, and yes, it usually is flooded with tourists. And will be again soon. Thanks for the visit!

  3. wordfoolery on December 1, 2020 at 11:43 am

    Beautiful photos, Kimberly, although it must be strange to have them to yourself when they’re usually so busy. No curfew here (plenty of other rules though) although I wonder will that be the next restriction as many EU countries are already using them. Hope you & family have a happy and safe December and Christmas.

  4. kimberlysullivan on December 2, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Hi Grace – yes, the curfew is perhaps the hardest, especially with these short winter days. Glad you have a bit more freedom up in Ireland. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas, too, and a MUCH better 2021!

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