Rome, the eternal city, the most beautiful city in the world, history that can be perceived at every step, I am madly in love with this city.

In Rome there are many things to visit and getting to know Rome intimately, visiting all the most beautiful places in a single day is impossible. But many times it happens to be in Rome for a short time and since there are so many things to see, you never know how to start and where to start.

When I was living in Rome, my brother and sister in law came here for 1 day and I took them on a tour of the city,  including the most important and popular stops, so a short supercial tour is very feasible.

How to move in Rome

The usual advice is to walk and move on foot, to better discover the city and capture all its beauty, many points can be reached on foot without problems, for others further away you can fold with the subway.

To go faster and move from stages that are at a significant distance from each other, I recommend the subway, in Rome we find line A (red) and line B (blue), which touch the most important points of the our route, especially line A.

I strongly advise against taking the buses, slow, inconstant and often late, and if you find traffic, goodbye. As for taxis, they are not overpriced, but Rome’s taxi drivers are not all honest, so be careful.

Departure from Ottaviano line A.

St. Peter’s Square

Majestic like few others, the masterpiece can be admired immediately upon entering the square consisting of the large colonnade and the basilica in the background. The dimensions of the façade are admirable, over 114 meters wide and over 45 meters high. The dome reaches 133 meters in height with 537 steps that allow you to get to the top, where a wonderful 360 degree panorama of Rome opens up.

The only factor that will slow down your tour will be the controls and the queue of tourists that you may or may not find, go there early in the morning, you will certainly avoid waiting in line.

opening hours:

winter 1 October – 31 March – from 7.00 to 18.30

summer 1st April – 30th September – from 7.00 to 19.00

remember that access to the Vatican Basilica is allowed to people with decent clothing appropriate to the sacred place.

Sant’Angelo castel

Immediately after St. Peter’s Basilica, walk along Via della Conciliazione and in front of you you will find Castel Sant Angelo, built around 123 AD as a sepulcher for the emperor Hadrian and his family, the view from above the castle is wonderful and I would add romantic. , you can admire the Sant’Angelo bridge in all its splendor.

Hours:

Every day from 9.00 to 19.30.

Cost:

  • Full 14.00 Euro.
  • Reduced 7.00 Euro.

Piazza Navona

Crossing the Ponte Sant’Angelo and taking V. dei Coronari we will find ourselves in front of Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful baroque squares. The most fascinating elements of Piazza Navona are the three fountains, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, the Fontana del Moro, the Fountain of Neptune.

Phanteon

The Phanteon is one of the most important testimonies of the Roman Empire, a Roman temple dedicated to all the Gods. The dome is famous for its large hole in the center, called the “oculus”, the only source of light in the whole building. The Pantheon was designed so that a ray of sunlight, during the summer solstice, at noon,  penetrated from the oculus and hit the access portal. This shows the close link between the Phanteon and the sky, home of all the gods.

The legend says that the hole in the dome, in ancient times, was sealed with a large bronze pine cone that the devils had transported to Rome, and that when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon as a church,  the evil spirits fled from the oculus, taking away the bronze pine cone.

Timetables

  • The Basilica is open every weekday  from 8.30 to 19.30. (last admission at 7.15pm)
  • Sunday  from 9.00 to 18.00. (last admission at 7.15pm)

Trevi Fountain

Just two streets ahead, we will have in front of us the wonderful Trevi Fountain, one of the most beautiful works ever, whenever I see it I am always enchanted both by day,  is  shrouded in night lights, it never disappoints. The Trevi Fountain is the terminal element of the Virgin Aqueduct, one of the oldest Roman aqueducts still in use today, the setting for numerous film sets, including  The Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini. Also known as the fountain where people throw their coins, this is connected to the legend born in 1954 with the movie “Three Coins in the Fountain” which reads:

  • Flip a coin and you will return to Rome
  • Flip two coins and you will find Italian love
  • Flip three coins and you will marry the one you know.

The coin must be thrown with the right hand over the left shoulder, and must not be seen to fall. Each year about one and a half million euros are taken from the fountain to be allocated until 31 December 2018 to the pastoral arm of the CEI.

Altar of the Fatherland

A 15-minute walk to Piazza dei Fiori, have an aperitif in the typical colorful bars overlooking the square, nearby you will find the famous Altare della Patria. AND’  one of the  most important monuments in the history of Italy , the Risorgimento and the Savoy monarchy. This building represents la Patria : on both sides, where the sun rises and sets, there are two fountains representing the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas. The fountains mark the “boundaries” of the monument as well as the two seas delimit the Italian Peninsula. In the center of the altar  instead there is the king Vittorio Emanuele II. the interior of the Vittoriano  can be visited for free you will find several interesting museums such as the  shrine of flags , the Risorgimento museum.

Colosseum

Going along the Via dei Foro Imperiali, you arrive directly at the Colosseum. The largest amphitheater in Rome was built by Vespasian in the early years of his reign (69-79 AD). was considered one of the symbols of our country, and placed both in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO  than in that of the new seven wonders of the world.

Days and Times

  • from the last Sunday of October to 15 February: 8.30-16.30, last admission at 15.30;
  • from February 16 to March 15: 8.30-17.00, last admission at 16.00;
  • from March 16 to the last Saturday of March: 8.30-17.30, last admission at 16.30;
  • from the last Sunday of March to August 31: 8.30-19.15, last admission at 18.15;
  • from 1 September to 30 September: 8.30-19.00, last admission at 18.00;
  • from 1 October to the last Saturday of October: 8.30-18.30, last admission at 17.30.

Attention: In the Colosseum it is forbidden to bring camping backpacks, bulky bags and trolleys, medium and small shoulder backpacks may be introduced, which must in any case be subjected to control with the metal detector.

Piazza di Spagna

One of the most evocative squares in Rome, with the great staircase of Trinità dei Monti which makes it its main feature. It was built in 1726 on a project by De Sanctis, the artist’s intention was to create both a staircase that took the place of the paths along the grassy slope of the Pincio, and that it could become a meeting place for all citizens. In fact, even today, the staircase is a meeting place and therefore called “the living room of Rome”  In spring the staircase reaches its maximum splendor when it is covered with azaleas, making it even more magical and romantic.

Via dei condotti and Via del Corso

From Piazza di Spagna, you can take Via dei Condotti, the most famous Roman street for its various shops of the most unbridled luxury, the signs you will read will be Gucci, Prada, Armani, Fendi, Louis Vuiton, Bulgari and Valentino . But the street I prefer most is the one that makes the corner of via Condotti and that, following it to the end, leads to Via del Corso in the center of Piazza del Popolo. Via del corso is always lively, and if you are looking for something, there, in that mix of shops and stalls, you will find it.

Piazza del Popolo and the Pincio

Piazza del Popolo is also known as the Trident (via del  Babuino  –  Via del Corso  –  via di Ripetta). In the center of the square the so-called obelisk dominates “Flaminio” the height reaches 23.20 meters and presents the hieroglyphs of Seti I defined“he who fills Heliopolis with obelisks because their rays can illuminate the temple of Ra”. It was the first obelisk to be transferred to Rome, at the time of Augustus (in 10 BC), to celebrate the conquest of Egypt. At its feet was the Trullo fountain, the work of Giacomo Della Porta.

Piazza del Popolo is dominated by the most important panoramic terrace known as the Pincio . The Pincio is part of one of the largest green villas in Rome, Villa Borghese. You can access it via a path, with or without steps, located on the same level as the square. Once you get to the top, you can admire the breathtaking Roman panorama.

This route is feasible on foot, and the journey is quite simple. If you have any curiosity or information on where to eat and where not, do not hesitate to contact. I hope  to have been useful, I wish you a fun stay in Rome.