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T
he Italians call it
esaurimento
.
Meaning
exhaustion, seldom is the word used with more
depth of feeling than from the visitor who has
attempted to cover everything from the
catacombs to colosseum in just one trip to the
Eternal City. While it’s true that there’s no place
that charms, beguiles and edifies quite like Rome – its elegant
piazzas bathed in sunshine, ancient cobbles and the essence
of
la dolce vita
emanating from every gelato vendor – it’s also a
place that’s always on. Horns constantly honk in the legendary
traffic jams, and tourists and tour guides fill every corner. After
several days, you’re shattered.
Fortunately, the city is actually surprisingly easy to escape
from, with sandy beaches, near-deserted ruins and bucolic
hideaways all within an hour of the centre. So, whether you
hop a Vespa or buy a (dirt-cheap) ticket from the Termini
station and settle into a seat with a heart palpitating from
strong espresso, it won’t be long before the pomp, ceremony
and bombast of the city has disappeared, replaced by an
altogether more laid-back getaway.
WORDS
ROB CROSSAN
Beyond its buzzing traffic and ancient splendour, Rome sits in
the midst of some stunning countryside that’s well within easy
reach for day trippers (the moped’s optional)
PHOTO
JAMIE BAKER
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