If I wanted to time travel backwards, I would go to Rome in the 16th century during the Renaissance.

The first thing I would notice is that there is no modern technology like cars or phones and no electricity. The main source of light would be oil lamps and candles. In our time, some lights don’t dim through the night, and public areas like churches would be dark.

The next thing I would notice would be that information would be slow, either by letter or personal contact. Since it could be by word of mouth, the information I’d get from people telling me would probably be wrong and hard to understand.

Another thing I’d realize is the limitations of medical knowledge. The absence of modern hospitals and treatments would be much worse than the healthcare system I would be used to. Common diseases like the plague or other infections could be much more dangerous, and antibiotics or surgery would not be available. The use of herbal remedies and primitive surgeries would probably be ineffective or frightening.

The last thing I would notice is that the structures that are ruins in our times, such as the Colosseum or Pantheon, would be there but in a different condition. You might find the Colosseum partially destroyed and repurposed for other uses, and the Roman Forum would be much more unorganized than it is now. However, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican would be under construction, and St. Peter’s Square would be in its early stages of development.

Despite all the bad things, the looks of Rome would be enough to blow me away. I could learn much more than in school about Rome during the Renaissance and learn more about art and maths/science from going back in time to the Renaissance.