Dear friend,

I’m holding a glass of Aperol spritz, and this is the view in front of me. It’s a hot April afternoon in Rome, about 25 degrees. I’m wearing my black dress, feeling the Roman elegance. A slight breeze touches my face.

On the way here, we climbed a hill. There were many people around in their stylish outfits—tourists and Italians. We ascended numerous stairs that seemed to stretch up to the sky. The stairs were made of stone and there were old, like everything in Rome.

After climbing so many stairs, we entered a garden filled with tall trees. There were no tourists here, only Romans. I guess this is one of Rome’s hidden treasures. I only hear Italian being spoken, no other languages. 

It’s hot, and the sun is shining directly on my face. I take a sip of my Aperol spritz and feel better. It has ice in it. I take a piece of ice into my mouth and let it cool me down.

The view is spectacular. It takes my breath away. There are so many beautiful buildings in front of me. It feels like sitting in a park with a large balcony in the middle of Rome, admiring the city. Rome knows how to melt your heart; you just have to let it. It is so beautiful, maybe the most beautiful city in the world, at least for me up to now.

There is a big church on my left and a few more on the horizon. Far away, you can see trees blending into the cityscape. The street below curves to the right, with many cars passing by. I take out my sketchbook and start to draw.

Valentine is sitting next to me. I love him a lot, and I’m happy we’re here together. Now he is talking to me about his girlfriend. I like that we’re so open with each other. 

Too bad, I finished my drink. The sun is shining intensely, and there are two boys next to us. One of them is shirtless. He reminds me of a character from “Call Me by Your Name.” He looks very young and has a beautiful body like the sculptures in Rome. They’re smoking weed; I can smell it from here.

People around me are speaking Italian. I don’t understand it, but I like it. I think if I were Roman, I would come to this place a lot. And if you were visiting me, I would bring you here.

I know you would like to write your diary here or read your book, maybe Fernando Pessoa’s poems. This place feels like a little escape from the chaos of the city, a spot to sit, relax, and savor Rome.

The place is called Villa Aldobrandini, with the stairs located on Via Mazzarino. I really think you should visit this park. I painted the view for you to find it easily. There is a part of me there, you should visit that place.

Love,

A slice of me