Rome at Night
via Vespa Sidecar
“Yes, I have finally arrived to this capital of the world! I now see all the dreams of my youth coming to life...only in Rome is it possible to understand Rome.”
-Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Our group of six friends
soon found out on arrival in Rome last May that it would take more than one brief visit to understand it. Yet we didn’t travel to Rome to study it. We came for fun. Architecture, monuments, art, culture and history come alive here. Of course, cozy cafes with outdoor seating, good food and wine also animated our group. As glorious as Rome is under sunny skies, it was the Vespa sidecar tour at night that spawned the distinct experience of our stay.
THE PLAN
Our group likes to plan ahead. Before heading to Rome, we gathered at our house in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to research potential tours, attractions and activities while in the “capital of the world.”
We booked tours of the Vatican, Colosseum and the usual famous highlights. We studied maps for our exploration hikes as well as for bus routes. While doing web searches, we stumbled upon the Vespa side car tours. Though the tour guide advertises morning and afternoon rides, we asked if it was possible to book an evening ride. No problem.
THE VESPAS
Sleek and shiny, the three Vespas were waiting for us at the Piazza della Repubblica as we stepped out of our shuttle van. Luca, the owner, greeted us and introduced his two other drivers for the evening. As the setting sun bathed the piazza in a warm glow, Luca gave us an orientation to the Vespas and the tour. He suggested that the women could ride in the side cars for comfort, if they wished. The guys would sit behind the drivers. The early May evening was cool, so we came prepared with warm jackets.
Luca handed out helmets with disposable head covers. Once on, he tested the in-helmet speaker system that allowed each of us to hear his narration during the tour. His first message was that our usual speed would be less than 25 miles per hour. That gave us a chance to snap some quick shots while tooling past city highlights. Then we climbed aboard while a phalanx of onlookers admired the Vespas, taking photos of the unique side cars.
THE TOUR
As we navigated thoroughfares, side streets and alleys, the Vespas continued to attract smiles and waves. Luca led our caravan to Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, People’s Square, St. Peter’s Square, the Pantheon and Colosseum, among other landmarks. We wove through narrow lanes lined with cafes, bars and restaurants. Morning Vespa tours include a breakfast stop with cappuccino and cornetto, an Italian pastry. Afternoon tours feature a tasty stop for gelato, an Italian frozen dessert. For our night-time tour, we enjoyed the atmosphere of a wine bar.
We learned snippets of Roman history, art and architecture on our guided tour. Luca was also free with his commentaries on Roman and Italian politics. Regarding Roman traffic, he said it’s lighter at night and heavy in the morning.
“Well dressed drivers on their way to work repeat every bad word you can think of!” he joked.
Night time vehicle traffic might be less hectic, but we found the street life more vibrant under the lights. We made several stops for photos and to admire vistas of the Eternal City at night. As grand as the bird’s eye view of the city from the crest of Gianicolo Hill was, for example, it was the pulse of people on the streets, pausing to window shop or lingering over wine and pasta at an outdoor cafe that made life in Rome both real and immediate. That, and of course the wind in our face as we rolled through one of the world’s most loved and visited cities.
