Home Rome is where the heart is.

There are cities that impress you, And then there are cities that embed themselves in your heart.

For me, Rome is the latter.

I have travelled extensively through Europe. I adore the glamour of Milan, the beauty of Switzerland and the energy of Paris. Yet every time I return to Rome, I feel something I don't feel anywhere else.

I exhale.

Rome somehow feels smaller than it should.

More intimate. Safer. More authentic.

It isn't polished in the way Milan is. The streets are rougher around the edges, the traffic more chaotic, the service occasionally delightfully disorganised.

But that is exactly the magic of Rome.

It feels lived in.

There is grandeur everywhere you look — ancient ruins, ornate fountains and palaces dripping in history — yet somehow the city never feels intimidating.

Instead, it invites you in.

And when it comes to food, it's almost impossible to go wrong.

There are fewer "see and be seen" restaurants than Milan, less pomp and circumstance, and more soul.

You can stumble into a tiny trattoria and have one of the best meals of your life.

Not for success. Not for money. Simply for love.

And somehow, life delivered more than I could ever have imagined.

Years later, with my husband who I met a few weeks after I threw that coin, I returned to the Trevi carrying a different hope.

After years of longing and heartbreak, I stood before the fountain once again and wished for a baby.

I remember closing my eyes, throwing the coin over my shoulder and allowing myself, just for a moment, to believe.

Five weeks after returning home, I discovered I was pregnant.

Coincidence? Perhaps.

But I prefer to believe Rome has a little magic woven into its ancient stones.

That is why I never tire of returning.

Because every time I stand before the Trevi, I am reminded of the dreams I once held so tightly, and the extraordinary life that followed.

Rome reminds me that hope is powerful.

That wishes are worth making.

And that sometimes, in ways we cannot explain, dreams really do come true.

Shh, can you keep a secret?

Well... I am not sure it is a secret anymore.

While everyone visits the Trevi Fountain, fighting through crowds to snap a blurry photo before moving on. The very best way to see the Trevi is from above.

Book a table at Hotel Fontana, order cocktails and a few snacks, and settle in.

The food is completely forgettable.

The drinks are well below average.

But the view?

Absolutely magical.

You can watch people laugh, make wishes and experience Rome for the first time.

And from above, the Trevi somehow feels even more beautiful.

Perhaps because from there, you remember that Rome isn't just a city.

It's a place where dreams are born.

A place where wishes are whispered.

And, at least in my experience, a place where miracles sometimes happen.

Just don't tell too many people.

Some secrets are worth keeping.

The Fendi Suites Roma.

Every year, I spend hours researching hotels.

And every year, I return to the same place.I have stayed in many beautiful hotels, but the Fendi Suites make me feel completely seen — never in an intrusive way, simply in the way true luxury should.

Warm. Thoughtful. Effortless.

Tucked discreetly at the top of Via del Corso, above the bustle yet moments from everything, it feels more like a private residence than a hotel.

There are only a handful of suites.

It is completely secure.

And somehow, despite being in the heart of Rome, astonishingly peaceful.

The suites themselves are glorious.

Spacious. Elegant.

Unmistakably Roman with a contemporary edge.

And then there is the shower.

Not just any shower — a magnificent marble sanctuary with water pressure so glorious it deserves its own five-star review.

After twenty thousand steps through Rome, stepping inside feels impossibly indulgent.

You half expect someone to hand you a Grammy or ask for your autograph.

It doesn't just make you feel pampered.

It makes you feel like a rock star.

And while luxury isn't always marble and designer brands, the tray of chamomile tea delivered quietly to your room at night reminds you why you return back.

The Fendi chocolates left on your pillow.

The warm welcome after a long flight where the staff somehow remember exactly how you take your coffee.

The breakfast that is generous without being overwhelming.

It's these little things that keep calling me back.

Fendi Private Suites Roma

And then, of course, there is Zuma upstairs.

Living in Australia, I generally avoid Asian food when travelling through Europe.

It feels wrong somehow when surrounded by pasta, pizza and carbonara and always disappointing.

Zuma is an exception.

The food is exceptional.

The cocktails are, in my opinion, some of the best in Europe.

Perfectly balanced, beautifully presented and dangerously easy to order another.

After a day wandering cobbled streets and ancient ruins, there is something wonderful about ending the evening with a cocktail overlooking Rome's rooftops.

If I had to choose one restaurant for romance, it would be Le Jardin at Hotel de Russie.

An Instagram dream brought to life.

Lush gardens hidden behind ancient walls, flickering candles and an atmosphere so beautiful it almost feels unreal.

For homewares, there is nowhere I love more than La Menagère.

Candles. Scents. Beautiful crockery. Cutlery you'll never find back home.

Soft furnishings that somehow make you want to redecorate your entire house.

And all displayed in the most magnificent setting imaginable, surrounded by flowers and anchored by a grand piano.

You go in to browse. You leave wanting everything.

For somewhere more authentic, there is Da Enzo.

Everyone talks about Da Enzo.

And yes, it is Instagram famous.

But unlike many places that become famous online, it absolutely deserves the hype.

Located in Trastevere — pronounced Tras-TEH-veh-reh, please, if you want to sound like a local — it sits in what I believe is Rome's most authentic foodie neighbourhood.