I saw a small part of Rome in 4 days and 3 nights.

With a pair of heels and 53 hours of constant walking, I saw Rome through the eyes of a devotee making her first pilgrimage to the land of ruins, art, and history. Rome was so much like Florence, and nothing like it. Rome has its own air of fierezza — its own boldness and pride — that goes beyond the “forza Roma” of football chants and Vespa.

The city is frozen in time with the juxtaposition of Gucci shops and crowded buses, among the countless tourists who snap 100 pictures per minute to document Rome in her glory. Colosseum, check. The Vatican, check. The Trevi Fountain, check. The Pantheon, check. What do you really see in Rome, uncheck.

The usual touristic sites are regurgitated in every travel guide, and all of them worth visiting. My Bed & Breakfast was 10 minutes away from the Vatican, so I was lucky enough to see the almost-empty St. Peter’s Square at sunrise, and the Basilica without waiting in line.

Give yourself at least half a day at the Vatican Museum to fully enjoy the progression of art since Antiquity, and the Sistine Chapel.

When your watch strikes 12:30AM, start making your way to the more-tranquil Trevi Fountain, where magic goes beyond coin throwing and wishes.

If your shoes are made for walking, find your way towards the Spanish Steps and take a deep breath while you are at the top. Here is where you can see the streets of Rome running far into the horizon.

The next morning, when the sun has settled down, find yourself feeling overwhelmed with the Colosseum and the Roman ruins.

Then have your lunch at the Campo dei Fiori market, or pack it to-go for your picnic at Isola Tiberina.

After your picnic, navigate your way towards the Pantheon and look up at the sky through the ocular to feel like you, too, are part of history.

Before leaving Rome, you should wait in line for the delicious, freshly baked pastries and huge slices of pizza from Dolce Maniera on Via Barletta, 27. It is a 5-minute walk from the Vatican.

Say bye to Rome in the afternoon and catch train back to Florence to experience the romantic sunset over the Tuscan land.

Now cross your fingers and hope that your wish at the Trevi Fountain comes true, because 4 days and 3 nights in Rome are not enough.