It’s challenging my perspective on time, and life, to believe it; but I first came to Rome 50 years ago. Half a century! I have changed a lot in that time, but I wondered how much the Eternal City had.
I was last here 10 years ago, when I first returned to Europe after a long time traveling in the US and Asia. I have been delighted by this city every time. As big cities go, it’s the big daddy: It was once essentially the capital of the world. Only Istanbul can match it for historic heft, as a metropolis. Together, they invented the whole notion.
So I returned to Rome from New York with a combination of excitement and anticipatory wonder. I love Italy in general, and have been here nearly 10 times now. But recently, I’ve been mostly in Bologna, Firenze, Milano and Venezia.
Rome is different.
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