St Peter’s, the Tiber and Ancient Rome: a Two-Day Photoshoot

Two sessions on two mornings, 22 and 23 November: the Vatican and the river on the first, the Trevi Fountain and ancient Rome on the second. In late autumn the light in Rome stays low all day, which is one reason November is among our favourite months.

The route

Day one started at St Peter’s Square just before ten, with the basilica seen through an archway. Then along the river: Ponte Sant’Angelo by half past ten, and down the steps to the Tiber embankment, where the plane trees had dropped their leaves.

Day two began at the Trevi Fountain at 9:56. From there we walked up to the Capitoline Hill, through the colonnade in low sun at 10:47, out to the terrace above the Forum, and finished at the Colosseum viewpoint just before noon.

Why November light works

In late November the sun rises around 7am and never climbs high, so even at eleven the light is warm and comes in from the side, as it does in the colonnade and on the Forum terrace.

The crowds are thinner, which let us start at ten instead of at sunrise. It rains more, around nine days in the month, so we keep a spare morning in the plan.