To the east of the Spanish Steps lies a spacious green park and gardens. This area includes the city zoo, Piazza di Siena arena, mock ancient temples, imitation medieval castles and an artificial lake. This is a perfect place to relax or have a picnic under big shady trees, hire bicycles to explore the wide smooth paths or rent a boat and row around the lake.
Visit this website to view amazing photographs taken at the Borghese Villa Gardens.
The oldest public collection in the world is housed in two separate buildings of the Capitoline Museums. The Palazzo Nuovo building boasts Italy’s most important collection of Roman sculpture, while the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Braccio Nuovo building festures more ancient sculpture as well as Renaissance and Baroque art. Located at Piazza del Campidoglio.
Near Via Sacra and the 4th century Arch of Constantine lies the gigantic oval of the Colosseum – 186 meters long, 153 meters wide and about 47 meters high. It was the gruesome scene for gladiatorial entertainment – battles to the death between men, lions and wild beasts. The stadium has been pillaged over the centuries and rocked by earthquakes. Today, only its skeletal framework remains, with the winding underground passages used to force animals up to the battlefield of the arena now exposed above ground.
The best-preserved and most beautifully proportioned of Rome’s ancient monuments, the Pantheon has become an emblem of the city. Built as a temple to the gods between 119 AD and 128 AD, the Pantheon was converted to a Christian church in 608 AD – the key to its miraculous survival. The most astounding feature are the large brass doors, which belonged to the original Roman building.
This dramatic piazza, lined with cafés and restaurants, lies at the heart of Rome’s historical centre. Its oval shape follows the form of the former stadium, built in 86 AD by Emperor Domitian. During the Renaissance, the site was flooded to stage mock sea battles. The piazza gained its current form in the mid-17th century, when Pope Innocent X commissioned Borromini to design the Church of Sant’Agnese. In front of the church Bernini built the Fountain of the Four Rivers, adorned with powerful figures representing the four great rivers (the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges and the Rio de la Plata or River Plate) which in turn represented the four areas of the world known in Borromini’s time (Africa, Europe, Asia and America respectively).
Thousands of years ago the Roman Forum was the buzzing political, commercial and social heart Rome and the symbolic centre of an Empire stretching to Greece, Sicily and Carthage.
Fire, barbarians and pillaging builders in medieval and Renaissance times contributed to the Forum’s present state of disrepair. Among the best preserved and most fascinating monuments are the 203AD triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus (built to celebrate victory over the Parthinians) and the remains of Caesar’s rostra, from where his great speeches were declaimed.
Another stunning feature is the former atrium of the House of the Vestal Virgins and the adjacent Temple of Vesta, a circular building where the vestal virgins were entrusted in keeping the eternal flame alight. Just up from the Arch of Titus in the Forum is the Palatine where the palaces of the Roman emperors stood.
A bird’s-eye view of the ruins is gained from behind Piazza del Campidoglio.
The Piazza di Spagna district has hardly changed from the 18th century and is still dominated by the elegant double steps known as the Spanish Steps. Reminiscent of the grand ascent to the Sacré Coeur in Paris, the steps lead up to the 16th century Trinità dei Monti. From here, spectacular views over the city are worth the steep climb.
At the foot of the steps lies the Barcaccia fountain, designed by Bernini in 1627. To the right stands the Keats-Shelley Memorial House, where 25-year-old John Keats died of tuberculosis in 1821. Exhibits include pictures and prints, private letters, an urn bearing Shelley’s ashes and a lock of Keats’ tawny red hair.
Both tourists and Romans alike use the Spanish Steps as a meeting point and place to while away a few hours.
Inaugurated in AD 112-113, Trajan’s Forum was the last built and most impressive of the market places. The complex contained a main square, a basilica, two libraries and the remarkably well-preserved markets. The markets contained about 150 small shops spread over six storeys, the equivalent of a Roman shopping mall.
Trajan’s column, which stands 38 meters high, is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of Roman art, and was probably located between the two libraries on a base containing the burial urns of the Emperor and his wife. Its beautifully carved reliefs tell the tale of Trajan’s war campaigns in Dacia (now Romania).
A string of legends surround the Trevi Fountain, which is situated amid the labyrinthine streets off Via del Tritone. It is said that a virgin appeared in a three-way spring, causing the original fountain to be built. More recently, the far-from-virginal Anita Ekberg immortalized the fountain in the famous scene of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita in 1959. According to myth, a coin cast in these waters will ensure a return visit to Rome.
Saint Peter’s Basilica is immense. To get a good idea of its size, first walk down the Piazza San Pietro for a full view of its grandeur.
The Basilica lies above a former shrine, which is said to mark the burial site of the saint himself. In the centre of the cathedral is the beautiful Bernini Baldacchino, a big Baroque black and gold canopy that marks the special place beneath the ground – the Tomb of Saint Peter.
Pope Julius II demolished the original structure in 1506 in order to build a new basilica. Construction lasted 120 years, during which time a team of architects and artists (including Michelangelo and Raphael) struggled over its enormous edifice. Michelangelo was responsible for the huge dome and supporting drum but died in 1564, before work was finally completed in 1590.
Amid the magnificence, in the first chapel on the right, lies Michelangelo’s Pietà (1498-9). In the central aisle stands Arnolfo di Cambio’s bronze statue of Saint Peter (1296), which is famed for its foot worn to a nub by pilgrims’ kisses.
The interior of the basilica is a tapestry of amazing textures and colours. The vibrant patterns of the marble floor are dazzling. Bernini’s Throne of Saint Peter (1665), above the papal altar and made with bronze from the Pantheon, dominates the far end of the nave.
Optional extras include a trip up into the dome, the Vatican Gardens (pre-booked guided tours only), and the Vatican Grottoes, containing papal tombs. Access to the Necropolis below the Grottoes (the legendary site of Saint Peter’s remains) is allowed with written permission only.
The jewel in the crown of Vatican City is the Sistine Chapel, yet there are many other impressive sights along the way through the passages and galleries to the chapel.
An awe-inspiring glimpse of Michelangelo’s portrayal of The Creation is worth the queues and crowds that go along with visiting Vatican City. In addition to Michelangelo’s incredible frescos, every inch of the chapel is ornately decorated – the floors, walls and ceiling. Although eclipsed by Michelangelo’s artistry, the Renaissance paintings that line the walls are fine works, created by the masters, including Michelangelo’s own teacher, Ghirlandaio.
Try to find a space on the marble benches so you can sit down and look up easily. The ceiling is very high, so bring your binoculars to see the details of the fantastic frescoes.
To get to and from the Sistine Chapel, you'll pass through long galleries and private apartments. Stop at the Gallery of Maps with its old Renaissance relief maps and the Library Gallery, lined with beautifully painted cabinets for books in the Vatican library.
Check out the Egyptian Museum to see mummies, and the Pio-Clementino Museum for the world’s largest collection of Classical statues.
The Etruscan Museum has all the best treasures from the Etruscan Regolini-Glassi Tomb in Ceveteri. Highlights of the museum are the heaps of gold jewellery, Etruscan specialties and exquisite Greek vases.
The Vatican Museums are well organized and you can go through the museums at your own pace. Audio tours are available where you buy your tickets.
Once you've explored the museums, you can relax in the air-conditioned cafeteria and mail a postcard from the Vatican post office with stamps from the Vatican City, a unique souvenir for your friends back home.
To enter the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica all visitors must comply with the Vatican's dress code, or refused entry. For both men and women, shorts and tank tops are forbidden, as are miniskirts and otherwise revealing clothing. Wear a jacket or shawl over sleeveless tops, and avoid T-shirts with writing or pictures that could be offensive. Children may be allowed in wearing shorts, but not bare shoulders.
The Museum Card and the Archaeological Card allows entrance to many museums and historical sites. They also allow you to save money and time but not wait in long queues to buy tickets.
The Museum Card grants entry into the four National Roman museums - Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps, Baths of Diocletian and Crypta Balbi. The Archaeological Card allows entrance to those sites plus the Colosseum, the Palatine, the Baths of Caracalla, and two sites on the Appian Way (the tomb of Cecilia Metella and Villa dei Quintilli). The passes are valid for seven days from the first day of use and can be purchased at any of the participating monuments or museums. The cards allow you to save money and not wait in long queues to buy tickets.
Visit this website for further information about the Roma Pass.Most museums in Rome are closed on Monday. An alternative is to visit the Borghese Gardens, the aqueducts in the suburbs, the Appian Way, or take a day trip outside Rome.
Wander the Appian Way
Walk the old road out of Rome on a Sunday, when no cars are allowed. There are numerous ancient things to see on this peaceful walk, that even children will enjoy.
There are free guided tours of the Appian Way Park which start at 10am and 3pm from the Parco Dell'Appia Park Office.
Take a meander around Capitoline Hill
For the greatest visual impact, approach the Capitoline Hill from Piazza d'Aracoeli and ascend the cordonata, a ramp designed by Michelangelo. It is guarded at the bottom by two ancient Egyptian granite lions and at the top by two mammoth statues of Castor and Pollux, which were excavated from the nearby ghetto area in the 16th century.
See the Colosseum
One place all visitors to Rome simply have to see is the majestic Colosseum, ancient Rome's most famous monument. This was begun by the Flavian Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD and inaugurated eight years later with a programme of gladiator games and shows lasting 100 days.
Get your Archaeological Card to avoid waiting in the long queues for tickets. The Archaeologia Card is good for 7 days, and provides entrance to nine sites: the Colosseum, Palatine, Baths of Caracella, four National Roman museums, and two sites on the Appian Way. It allows you to save money and not wait in long queues to buy tickets. Purchase the card at any of the nine sites, especially before visiting the Colosseum.
See the Holy See
The Holy See, also known as Vatican City is probably the richest country in the world per square foot, all due to its astonishing collection of priceless art and ancient treasures. Don’t miss seeing it. Highlights are the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter’s Basilica and, of course, the Sistine Chapel.
While the Vatican Museums usually charge an entrance fee, you can visit free on the last Sunday of the month. Also free is an interesting visit under the Vatican to see the excavations or a Wednesday audience with the Pope. Bookings are required and you are best advised to contact one of the local tourist information centres for details.
To enter the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica all visitors must comply with the Vatican's dress code, or refused entry. For both men and women, shorts and tank tops are forbidden, as are miniskirts and otherwise revealing clothing. Wear a jacket or shawl over sleeveless tops, and avoid T-shirts with writing or pictures that could be offensive.
Marvel at the Pantheon
Another must see attraction is the famed Pantheon, one of Rome's most impressive and best-preserved monuments. The emperor Hadrian designed it around 120AD and had it built on the site of an earlier temple that had been damaged by fire. The most striking thing about the Pantheon is not its immense size, but rather, the remarkable harmony of the building. Note: Art lovers can pay homage to the tomb of Raphael, who is buried in an ancient sarcophagus under the alter of Madonna del Sasso.
Be Awe-Struck at the Sistine Chapel
“Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.” Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Rome, 1787. These words are very true and it is only you, the visitor, who will ever truly realize its meaning. Visit, see for yourself and be inspired.
Toss a Coin into Trevi Fountain
Certainly the most famous and photographed fountain in Rome, legend has it that whoever throws a coin into the pond will return to Rome. So don’t forget to do this at least once, to ensure you have another fabulous visit in store for the future.
Relax in Rome
Borghese Villa Gardens near the Spanish Steps and Gianicolo Hill, behind Trastevere are excellent places to take a break and soak up Roman atmosphere.
The Borghese Villa Gardens is a lovely expanse of parkland that includes a lake, city zoo, mock ancient temples, imitation medieval castles and Piazza di Siena arena. Enjoy lazing around under the shady trees, have a picnic, rent bicycles or row boats.
Gianicolo Hill bestows fabulous panoramic views of Rome and for children there is a merry-go-round, pony rides and a puppet show at the top of the hill, just off Piazza Garibaldi. Tip: For those who don’t like sudden loud noises, a cannon is fired daily at noon.
I liked the friendliness and intimacy of a small hotel in a typical Roman neighbourhood close to the Borghese Gardens. Breakfast is served in your room as there is no restaurant and my room at the bac...
