15 cities you thought were romantic but really aren’t

2. Rome, Italy

A beacon of rich Italian history and artistic culture, Rome can be found on many a traveler’s bucket list. After all, historical monuments like the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Vatican can’t be found just anywhere. While it’s a worthwhile visit, Rome-bound tourists should be prepared to up their threshold for not only crowds and lines, but also unpleasant odors and a whole lot of filth. Indeed, the Italian capital is dirty, with graffiti and scattered dog poo and cigarette butts lining the cobblestone streets. The smell of cigarette smoke can also be overwhelming, although the city is beginning to outlaw smoking in certain places.