“You are living the Lizzie McGuire dream!” followed by singing This is What Dreams Are Made of was all I heard when I told people I’d be studying abroad in Italy. While Florence is a short train ride from Rome, Italy’s capital is a must see during your semester abroad. Being mistaken for a pop star may not happen to everyone, but there are certainly other ways you can live like Lizzie during a trip to Rome!
First off, you need to make a promise to your friends that during your time in Rome, you will find adventures (just as Lizzie and Gordo did). Then head straight to the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) to toss your coin in and make your wish. While Paolo Valisari or a cute Italian guy may not be standing in front of you once you make your wish, it is definitely a “bucket list” moment. Restoration on the fountain was just completed last year by Fendi so be sure not to miss out on one of the greatest aspects of Rome.
Head over to Piazza di Spagna to climb the Spanish Steps, or do a cartwheel at the top like Lizzie McGuire did! Trinita dei Monti church rests at the top of the steps and the location is a very popular spot to visit and relax. The area also offers a great deal of stores for high end shopping i.e. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Michael Kors, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, etc.
Other spots that are seen quickly in passing during the movies which you may consider visiting are; the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Palace of Justice, Piazza del Popolo, and a few others. In order to get the full “Lizzie McGuire experience” you may need to hop on the back of a red Vespa!
Although it is not technically located in Rome Lizzie and her classmates didn’t visit the Vatican, be sure to. Inside the Vatican you can see the one and only Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The Vatican is also home to the world’s largest Catholic church, St. Peter’s Basilica. If you are around on a Sunday afternoon, stop by and wave to Pope Francis as he waves to the crowd out his window.
Finish your trip off by a visit to the Colosseum. Chances are you won’t be preforming This is What Dreams Are Made of, but the Colosseum still has so much to offer. It is the largest amphitheater in the world located in the center of Rome. With a capacity of 80,000 spectators, Why Not see this incredible monument for yourself?
So as long as you’re not a sneaky little brown noser with a hidden agenda you’ll be saying, “Goodbye Lizzie McGuire and hello fabulous” during your trip to Rome, the Eternal City!
