Let Go to Truly Experience Rome: A Conversation with Our Partner Eva
If you’ve been listening to the Bella Italy podcast this season, you know it’s been our biggest yet – three mini-series stitched together: the mindset you need to really enjoy Italy, sample itineraries across Northern Italy, and (for the first time) conversations with the partners who make our trips sing. In this episode, Brian and Anthony sit down in a Nashville studio with Eva, our extraordinary Rome partner to talk about what it takes to have a meaningful trip in the Eternal City (and beyond).
“The point of traveling is to discover…not to collect checkboxes.” — Eva
Why Mindset Matters More Than a Checklist
Italy is dazzling, and crowded. Flights, kids, traffic, jet lag, and the sheer volume of “must-sees” can turn a dream trip into a sprint. That’s why we start with mindset. If you arrive determined to do it all, you’ll miss the very things that make Italy unforgettable: conversations with locals, slow meals, unexpected turns down quiet streets.
“Take your picture of the Colosseum…and then put your phone away and be present.” — Brian
Our advice: come ready to be selective. Two to three full days in Rome is typical for many travelers; you won’t see everything. That’s not a failure—it’s an invitation to do the right things for you.
What a Great Guide Really Does
We’re proud of our expertise, but the magic lives and breathes through guides like Eva. As Anthony puts it: “We pass the baton to the partner…and they have the harder job, fulfilling the expectation.” Eva curates your hours on the ground, reading your energy, your interests, even the day’s crowds, and then reshapes the plan so you experience more meaning, not just more monuments.
“If you stood one second in front of every piece of art in the Vatican Museums, it would take 88 days. So we choose. We skip what isn’t essential for you.” — Eva
This is the difference between a script and a relationship. In a group of 60 people, you follow a flag. With a private guide, you follow your curiosity.
Meet Eva: From Sotheby’s to the Streets of Rome
Eva’s path wasn’t linear. She started as a tour leader at 18, pursued art history, and even reached her dream of working toward the auction world—only to discover she hated it. She missed the human side of art. Passing Rome’s notoriously tough guide exam, she returned to the city she loves and built a boutique approach: small, meticulous, and deeply personal.
“I decided to be smaller and personalized—to do the kind of experiences I would want.” — Eva
She’s also relentless about maintaining standards as demand grows post-COVID: selecting guides who share her DNA – curious, rigorous, warm. The goal isn’t luxury for luxury’s sake; it’s craftsmanship.
Beyond the “Instagram Version” of Italy
Rome has plenty of photo-ops, but Eva’s mission is to help you see—not just snap. She tells a story of St. Ignatius Church, where a mirror intended to help visitors admire the ceiling has become a selfie queue. People record the ceiling, backwards, then move on without ever looking up with their own eyes.
“Put away your phone. Look at the ceiling. Be here now.” — Eva
That same principle reshapes everything: skip the contrived gelato shop that “looks Italian” for the family-run counter that sells three flavors until they sell out; swap a race through the Vatican for time to breathe in a single gallery; pair the Colosseum with a neighborhood walk where life unfolds in real time.
Rome and the Joy of Wandering Just Beyond
If you’ve done the big hitters, or you’re craving fresher air and slower pace, Eva lights up when she talks about day trips and weekend escapes:
Tivoli (Hadrian’s Villa) – Imperial ruins, lavish gardens, and a window into ancient leisure.
Sperlonga & the Grotto of Tiberius – A seaside villa where the emperor dined in a grotto; see the dramatic sculptures of Ulysses and Polyphemus.
Anagni – Home to the “medieval Sistine Chapel,” a luminous cycle of frescoes without the crowds.
Viterbo – A jewel of papal history; this is where conclave (“cum clave,” locked with a key) was born.
Umbria – Tuscany’s quieter sister: Spello, Assisi, Perugia (hello, chocolate!), and Bevagna, where you can make candles or paper with master artisans in an authentic medieval quarter.
“Umbria is like Tuscany twenty years ago—more tucked away, with food and artisans that are extraordinary.” — Eva
First-Timers vs. Return Travelers: Practical Advice
If it’s your first time in Rome
Be selective. Two or three thoughtfully planned experiences beat six rushed ones.
Front-load your guided time. A tour on Day 1 or 2 gives context you’ll use for the rest of your stay.
Hold your plans loosely. Trust your guide to reroute around congestion and surface what matters to you.
Capture less, feel more. A few meaningful photos are better than a camera roll of ceilings you never actually saw.
If you’re returning to Rome
Skip the greatest hits. Spend a morning in a neighborhood market, then a lazy lunch people-watching (tables face the street for a reason).
Say yes to near-Rome. Tivoli, Sperlonga, Anagni, Viterbo—rich culture without the turnstiles.
Go green. Dedicate two or three nights to Umbria for artisans, vineyards, and hill towns that linger with you long after you’re home.
The Hardest—and Best—Travel Skill: Letting Go
The biggest barrier to a beautiful trip? Expectations set by someone else’s Instagram or a cousin’s checklist.
“Let go. Let us guide you. We know more than your friends.” — Eva
We couldn’t agree more. Our role is to peel back the layers—to learn what you actually want and then pair you with a partner like Eva who can deliver it with heart and precision. Your job is to arrive open-handed.
Highlights from the Episode
Season wrap & what’s next: Strategizing and lining up fresh stories and partners for fall.
The power of early context: Guided time early in your stay changes how you experience everything after.
Quality over quantity: Excellence is possible—even in peak seasons—when you choose depth.
Rome beyond Rome: Day trips and slow escapes that reset your pace and sharpen your senses.
Travel posture: Fewer boxes, more presence.
Ready to Experience Rome the Way Romans Do?
If you’re planning a trip to Italy, we’d love to help you build a slower, richer journey—guided by people who live it every day. Book a free consultation with Anthony and Denise at italywithbella.com. We’ll listen, design, and connect you with partners like Eva so you can come home with more than photos—you’ll come home with stories.
“You won’t remember checking the box. You’ll remember the conversation, the laughter, the place your guide showed you that didn’t even have a sign.” — Anthony
