re: Traveling to Spain and Italy

I recently did the Domus Aurea tour. It's the ruins of Nero's palace, the Golden House. It's a current archaeological site, and it's an awe-inspiring sight. You have to wear hard hats on the tour. You can get tickets here: Tours available in English, Italian, and Spanish

I also recommend the tour of the Domus di Palazzo Valentini. It's another underground archaeological site that was discovered next to Trajan's column underneath a Renaissance palazzo. The domus dates back to the 3rd Century C.E., and was clearly owned by a senator because of the apparent wealth of the home. You walk on glass floors so that you can see the ruins discovered underneath you, and the museum uses a light show on the walls to recreate what the home would have looked like 1700 years ago. It was incredible. I highly recommend.

There are also a couple food tours that are incredible. Go on the Taste of Testaccio food tour. Part of the tour is one of the best restaurants in Rome imo, Flavio al Velavevadetto. It's built into a hill composed of ancient Roman pottery shards that keep the restaurant cool. A full lunch here is one of the last stops on the tour. You eat from 9:30 to 3 p.m., and during that time, you try some of the best dishes Rome has to offer.

For restaurants, I recommend Flavio, of course, Open Baladin (a craft beer bar near the Marcellan Theater with an amazing buffalo mozzarella burger), and Ai Tre Scalini (a small restaurant in Monti, definitely need a reservation or a long wait). For gelato, I recommend Panna & Co. or Giolitti's. Be on the lookout for whether they cover the gelato in metal containers. If not, it's from powder, and won't be as good. For a spectacular view, there's a cafe with beer and snacks on the third floor of Castel Sant'Angelo with a breathtaking view of the Vatican and Rome. In the end, you won't cover everything, so don't exhaust yourself trying to do so.