Why A "Roman Holiday" Would Be My Ultimate Travel Dream Come True

Where in the world would be my dream destination?

A place where the sights would forever be instilled in my memory, where the photographs I take would all look like portraits painted by da Vinci and of course, a place where the food I eat is, as Nigella Lawson on Masterchef would describe it, “absolutely heavenly”.

This place, treasured by both who travel there and live there, is Rome.

Where to begin? With the Colosseum, obviously. An iconic ancient Roman gladiatorial arena that would transport you back into history the moment you stepped into it.

Next, off to the Trevi Fountain, a sculpted landmark where it is said that if you tossed a coin inside it, it would ensure that you would return back home safely. But, who on earth would want to go back home once they’ve been to Rome? Not me, that’s for sure.

Where to next? Considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the world: the Roman Forum. Just to list some wondrous features housed here, there is the Arch of Titus, the Curia Julia (for those who are just little bit curious – get the pun? - this used to be the site of the Roman Senate) and the Temple of Caesar. Visiting the Roman Forum would definitely satisfy my inner photographer for more than just a couple of days.

Now we travel a little outside of the city to Tivoli, a small town that resides by the Aniene river in the Monti Tiburtini hills. The most famous site located in this splendorous town is no doubt Villa d’Este. With its exclusive array of water fountains such as the Fountain of the Dragons, the Hundred Fountains and the Water Organ Fountain, it would truly make you feel like you have stepped into a fairy-tale wonderland.

With our little trip to the countryside of Rome finished, let’s travel back to the city to see one last worldly place. And yes, I have saved the best for last: Vatican City. No trip to Rome would be complete without visiting the head-quarters of the Roman Catholic Church. With sites such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, their extensive collection of world famous paintings and sculptures will make you finally understand why the works of artists like Leonardo da Vinci have been treasured and cherished timelessly.

Before I finish, I am dedicating this paragraph to those foodies out there; to those who love to fill their Instagram with salivating desserts, who love to try new things and, to those like me, who simply just love to eat. We see it in the movies, in the television shows and in the books we read: when in Italy, we eat.

We eat the gelato, tiramisu, carbonara, pizza, gelato, porchetta, cheese, minestrone, semifreddo, gelato, gelato, gelato... I think you get the idea.

So, why Rome, you ask? Maybe because Italian cuisine just resonates with my inner foodie, or because the history of Ancient Rome fulfils my inner nerd or maybe because the sightseeing makes my inner traveler go ballistic with all the sites to see.

Whatever it may be, Rome has just always represented more for me; more to see, more to do, more to eat. That’s what life should be about, right? Doing things that make you want to do more. Arrivederci.

Congratulations to Sammi for winning this writing challenge, answering: My Dream Holiday Destination. Sammi wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

Photo: Paramount.