They both went inside the store and up to the deli-style counters at the back where different cold salad and pasta dishes were on display. Keira chose three items for her lunch, an enormous ravioli parcel stuffed with herbs and ricotta, a broad-bean salad with vinaigrette, and puréed hazelnuts on rye toast. Cristiano picked a simple spaghetti carbonara. Then they both took their meals into the car to eat on the move.

Like everything Keira had eaten thus far, her lunch was a real treat for the taste buds. She was certain that she would write a whole section in her article about falling in love with the flavors of Italy.

The tour of Rome was quite the whirlwind. Cristiano took Keira to see the Baroque-style Spanish steps, a mishmash of flights of stone steps, vistas, and flower-filled terraces with huge fountains upon them, all leading up to a gorgeous church at the top.

Then they hurried on, reaching the two-thousand-year-old Pantheon. Keira was shocked by how well preserved it was, unlike many of the other Roman-era ruins in the city.

“The composition of material is a mystery,” Cristiano told her. “A secret that fell along with the Roman Empire. It has similar properties to modern-day concrete, which is why it has stood so long.”

Keira was awestruck. The Pantheon was enormous, its huge domed center seeming to defy the laws of physics. The hole in the middle—the oculus—provided the only source of light inside. To Keira, the ray of sunshine that streamed through, illuminating the marble floor, looked like light coming directly from the heavens.

But there was no time to bask in the beauty of the Pantheon, for there were still so many places on their list that Keira needed to see.

They hurried on, this time heading to the Coliseum. Again, Keira was struck by the power of history, by the sensation of ghosts all around her. Here, Roman gladiators fought to the death for the entertainment of the citizens. It was such a horrifying thought, and so incongruous with the utter beauty and majesty of the architecture.

“This is the largest amphitheatre the Roman Empire ever built,” Cristiano told her. “Big enough for over fifty thousand spectators.”

Like the other sights of wonder Cristiano had shown her, Keira felt like she could happily spend an entire day at this location, thinking, daydreaming, soaking in the history and culture of the place. But staying here would be sacrificing another site, and they were soon back in the car heading toward Vatican City. They passed over the river, taking the large stone bridge, then Cristiano parked and they walked the rest of the way.

“The queues are extraordinary here,” he told her. “But I have tickets already, and the early afternoon is the best time to visit as it is a little bit quieter.”

Keira quickly saw that he was right. There were tourists everywhere, lining up beside the huge gray wall that encapsulated Vatican City.

“Will I see the Pope?” Keira asked, laughing. “My mom would be thrilled if I got a picture of the pope-mobile!”