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Rome Travel Guide

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Rome Travel Guide

Introduction

Rome Travel Guide – (Map)Rome is one of the most-visited cities in the world , with 20 million visitors per year. A popular tourist destination, the city is a vibrant mélange of historical ruins and modern architecture. With Eat, Pray, Love having added to the general quaint charm of Rome, walking the cobbled streets and soaking in la dolce vita (the sweet life) is one of the best experiences to have in the city. As you peel through its fascinating and jumbled layers, you’ll find the marble ruins of ancient times, tangled streets of the medieval world, early Christian churches, grand Renaissance buildings and statues, Baroque fountains and facades, 21st-century traffic, and nearly three million people. Visit St. Peter’s, the greatest church on earth, learn something about eternity by touring the huge Vatican Museums, ramble among the rabble and rubble through ancient Rome‘s Colosseum and Forum, savor the sumptuous Borghese Gallery, and take an early evening stroll with Rome’s beautiful people.  Loved Gladiator? You can act the part by enrolling in Gladiator school. Love the food? Rome’s multitude of Italian cooking classes offer a chance to interact with the locals and make some lasting memories. Are you a movie buff? Recreate Roman Holiday on a Vespa at night. And if you’ve got the stomach for it, visit the Roman catacombs and see 4,000 bones of Capuchin monks.  Indeed, Rome has an experience for every traveler, making it a truly global city.

Best  Package Tours with Rome

Best Attractions in Rome

One of Europe’s most historical cities, Rome balances its past with its present, as the historic ruins stand in the heart of this sprawling contemporary city. Its strong cultural offerings make it a must-visit destination! The ancient ruins will take you back in time. Home to the Pope, you can also visit the center of Catholicism at the Vatican and marvel at the grand architecture. No trip to Rome is complete without admiring the treasure trove of art in the museums across the city. Rome’s modern orchestra building and the variety of philharmonic performances are a must watch. And, of course, you can learn all about the mighty Roman Empire which once controlled most of southern Europe and northern Africa.

Rome Travel Guide
Rome Travel Guide : Moor Fountain

The Romans really know how to party and have a good time – the rising number of nightclubs is a testament to that fact. If you’re not into clubbing, many of Rome’s trendy bars serve aperitivo, or the Italian version of Happy Hour, for you to relax and unwind. The rise in upscale restaurants that serve food from all around the world points to the changing tastes of the Romans, and its rise as a global city. Speaking of food, Rome’s strong and distinctive style of cooking sets it apart from the rest of Italian cuisine. The Romans liked to push boundaries when it came to their food, and it shows in their bold use of ingredients. Rome’s pizza al taglio, or pizza by the slice, their suppli (fried rice ball with mozzarella), and the spaghetti carbonara are some must-try delicacies. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, Roman croissants and breads, especially the crostata ricotta and torta ricotta with cherries, are absolutely scrumptious.

A rich history, cobble stoned paths, stunning architecture, centuries-old palaces – Rome has it all.

Colosseum

Rome Travel Guide
Rome Travel Guide : The arena also had lifts, special machinery and trap doors to release animals into the action floor. A special structure, called the Hegmata, was used to lift heavy animals from the hypogeum (an underground network of tunnels and chambers) onto the arena. Combatants entered the arena through a Gate of Life whereas the Gate of Death was used for the exit of the victorious and gladiators killed during the fight! While the Underground and the Belvedere (the top level) were not accessible to the public for the longest time, don’t miss out on travelling back in time as these exclusive areas have recently opened to tourists.

An enduring icon of the Roman World, the Colosseum is a 620 by 513 feet elliptical building, once the site of an artificial lake. The lake was drained to make way for the Colosseum, to signify the end of a tyrannical rule. Built to accommodate 60,000 seated people and another 10,000 standing guests, at any given time the amphitheater was crowded with at least 70,000 spectators. The outer facade of the building, equivalent to a 12-story building, has columns and arches built using different styles; Tuscan at the bottom, Ionic in the middle, and Corinthian at the top. Instead of arches and columns on the fourth level of the Colosseum, the building features small windows. While the rest of the Colosseum was mainly white, the Arena was made using red and black stone blocks. The Romans covered the arena’s wooden floor with sand to prevent the combatants from slipping and make cleaning easy post gladiator fights!

Borghese Gallery

Rome Travel Guide :
Rome Travel Guide : The Borghese Gallery

The Borghese Gallery is one of the most famous art galleries in the world. It is located in Rome, Italy, and housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana. The gallery houses a considerable part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculpture and antiquities, begun by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V (reign 1605–1621). Not only the gallery attracts thousands of visitors, but also astonishing green gardens that surround it in the third largest park in Rome, on the territory of which the Galleria Borghese located.

Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese of Rome is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. The State acquired the gardens from the Borghese family in 1901 and opened them to the public on 12 July 1903. What differentiates Villa Borghese from other large parks such as Hyde Park or Central Park is the perfect combination between nature and Roman art. Villa Borghese is home to interesting architectural elements, sculptures, monuments and fountains created at different times by famous artists.

Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Rome Travel Guide :
Rome Travel Guide : Roman Forum

The Foro Romano (Roman Forum) is located just to the west of the Colosseum and is the truly ancient city of Rome – the very place where history took place, with processions, criminal trials, elections, and intrigue all happening here. It was the site of the original Senate, and where Caesar’s body was brought following his assassination. The ruins of some of Rome’s most important ancient structures can be found at or near the Forum. The flat-topped Palatine Hill that rises above the Forum is where the emperors built their palaces (and indeed “Palatine” is the source of the word “palace”. Contrary to the beliefs of some visitors to Rome, it is not the Palantine Hill, and nor is it the Palpatine Hill!) To visit this incredible place there is a path from the eastern end of the Forum that leads up to the plateau on which Augustus Caesar built his first palace, and eventually Emperor Domitian grew it into a truly vast building containing swimming pools, saunas and fountains, and even a sports stadium. In fact he extended it all the way to the other edge of the hill to overlook the Circus Maximus, where he could watch the chariot races now immortalized in the action sequences of the movie Ben Hur without having to mingle with the hoi polloi.

Arch of Constantine

Rome Travel Guide : Arch of Constantine

The Arch of Constantine was erected in the year 315 in commemoration of the victory of Constantine I the Great in the Battle of Milvian Bridge. It is located between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. Constructed from pieces of previous buildings, the Arch of Constantine is the most modern of the triumphal arches that were built in ancient Rome. It is 21 meters high, 25 meters wide and is made up of three arches. In the reliefs on the monument, which were carved on blocks of marble, display statues taken from Trajan’s Forum and some reliefs showing Marcus Aurelius distributing bread among the poor, as well as a representation of Trajan after his victory over the Dacians. The inscription on the upper part, originally cast in bronze letters, states the following: “To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantinus, the greatest, pius, and blessed Augustus: because he, inspired by the divine, and by the greatness of his mind, has delivered the state from the tyrant and all of his followers at the same time, with his army and only the force of arms, the Senate and People of Rome have dedicated this arch, decorated with triumphs.”

Vatican Museums

Considered one of the most sacred locations in the world by Christians across the globe, Vatican city is home to many iconic landmarks that attract millions of tourists every year. Visiting the Vatican is an experience you will never forget and there are a plethora of museums that await your arrival. Despite being the smallest country in the world with an area of 44 hectares, it’s home to various religious and cultural sites, treasures immense priceless collections of artistic and historical masterpieces by the world’s greatest artists across the famed Vatican Museums.

Rome Travel Guide : The Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museum consists of 54 museums and their collections housed in the Vatican Palaces. The compilation in the museum is art produced in a span of 800 years. Many famous artists of this time including GiottoFra Angelico, Perugino, Melozzo da Forlì, RaphaelLeonardo da Vinci, Titian, and Caravaggio have contributed to the museum’s collection. If you are interested in Classical Sculptures, you must visit Museums of Classical Antiquities, the Pio-Clementine Museum, the Museo Chiaramonti, the Braccio Nuovo Gallery, and the Gregorian Profane Museum. Their gatherings include statues, sculptural groups, reliefs, friezes, urns, and mosaics. Here are some of the other prominent ones you cannot miss:

Gallery of Contemporary Art

The collection of contemporary art is a compilation of 800 works of art by over 250 international artists. This collection is dated from late 19th century to early 20th century. It took over 10 years for Paul Ⅵ’s personal secretary, Msgr. Pasquale Macchi to compile them. It includes important figures from artists such as Van Gogh, Bacon, and provides perspective about how religious art has evolved over the centuries

Gallery of Maps

Located on the west side of the Belvedere Courtyard, the Gallery of Maps contains a series of painted topographical maps of Italy based on drawings by famous geographer Ignazio Danti. The 40 panels of the 120m long gallery, map the entire Italian peninsula in large-scale frescoes with almost 80% accuracy.

The Spiral Staircase
Rome Travel Guide : Stairs

This iconic staircase was designed by Bramante and later in 1932, by architect Giuseppe Momo who was inspired by the original one. It is shaped like a double helix with two sets of staircases designed in such a way that those guests going up do not cross paths with those descending. This makes an excellent photo op. Make sure you pay a visit before you exit the museum to the Sistine Chapel.

The Raphael Rooms

Marking the High Renaissance period in Rome, the four Raphael rooms, known as the Stanze of Raphael give you an experience of a lifetime. Famed for their stunning pictorial decoration frescoes, painted by Raphael and his school, these rooms situated on the second floor of the Pontifical Palace are a must-see.

Sistine Chapel

One of the most revered tourist attractions in Vatican City and even the world, the Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace. The papal chapel has tremendous religious significance and is the place where popes are crowned. For tourists, the primary appeal of the Sistine Chapel is the collection of Renaissance frescoes by Michelangelo. The origins of the Sistine Chapel date back to the mandate of Pope Sixtus IV and construction work was carried out from 1473 to 1481.

Rome Travel Guide : The creation of Adam. The star attraction of the Sistine Chapel is the frescoes on the ceiling and west wall behind the altar, created by artistic genius Michelangelo. The Sistine Ceiling, a name associated with the frescoes on the ceiling, was painted by Michelangelo from 1508 to 1512 under the command of Pope Julius II.

The beautiful papal chapel was designed by architect Giovanni of Dolce but more than the actual building, what makes Sistine Chapel a remarkable landmark are the frescoes that dot the walls and the ceiling. The frescoes have been created by an enviable group of renowned artists including Luca, Michelangelo, Perugino, and Botticelli. Your trip to the beautiful Sistine Chapel will be a part of a tour of the legendary Vatican Museum which is amongst the most loved landmarks in the world.

Rome Travel Guide :  Michelangelo’s most famous work, fresco of The Last Judgement is painted above the altar of the Chapel. The gruesome composition depicts hell as described by Dante in Divine Comedy. The image of a vengeful Christ is central to the painting and it is surrounded by nude figures of apostles and saints. The massive fresco that took the renowned artist four years to complete, is divided into blessed souls on the left and the damned on the right. don’t miss the flayed body of Saint Bartholomew which has Michelangelo’s face on it.

The last stop in your Vatican Museum tour, the Sistine Chapel is more than worth the wait. The glory and aura of the Sistine Chapel are hard to describe in words but your experience here will be memorable. As you step into the revered halls of the chapel, you’ll be surrounded by breathtaking frescoes that are steeped in history and depict incidents and personages from the Old Testament. While the interiors feature masterful artwork by artists at the height of their power, the Sistine Chapel exteriors are something entirely different. Featuring imposing and powerful walls and ramparts, the building exteriors appear similar to an old strongbox housing priceless treasures. Learn everything there is to the Sistine Chapel to make your visit to the acclaimed chapel even more enlightening and rewarding.

Gallery of Statues

This is one of 54 galleries in the Pio-Clementino Museums, filled with masterpieces of Greek and Roman sculptures. The walls were once covered with frescoes showing landscapes and cities. Small cupids painted by Pinturicchio and his assistants still visible are worth a watch. The walls carry a series of niches displaying massive statues, interspersed with columns supporting outsize busts.

Gregorian & Egyptian Museum

The Gregorian Etruscan Museums is dedicated to Etruscan antiques and conserves the rare artifacts unearthed in the excavations carried out in the prominent cities of ancient Etruria as well as other works collected over centuries held in the Vatican. The Egyptian Museum on the other hand brings to light the Egyptian-influenced Rome, history of pharaonic culture, and splendid setting of Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli amongst others.

Vatican Gardens

More than two-thirds of Vatican City is covered with the Vatican Gardens that lie behind the Leonine walls. The Vatican Gardens were groomed to provide the Vatican City with exorbitant beauty and for the travelers to a restorative refuge since the middle ages. This is because Rome experiences very hot summers. The landscape of these gardens is a combination of the characteristics of Italian, English, and French gardens. During the 1590s the Gardens were adorned with many cascades and fountains. Out of these 100s of fountains, the Galea fountain (Fontana Della Galera) is an impressive one that is often overlooked. The massive water-filled basin carrying the modern warship is located at the left of the Bramante Staircase.

Vatican Necropolis

Burial sites offer insight into the cultural practices, society, and history of the place. Little do people know that these sites also spill tea about their best-kept secrets. The Vatican Necropolis is one such site that tells a lot about the past of the Vatican, its various traditions and mysteries. Located beneath the St. Peter’s Basilica, over 2,000 years of Roman history lies buried in the Vatican Necropolis. It is considered to be the final resting place of St Peter, the Apostle. Also, it is an ancient pagan and Christian cemetery from the 1st century. Due to its historical, religious, and cultural importance, great measures are taken to preserve this holy place and protect its integrity.

St. Peter’s Basilica
Rome Travel Guide : St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica dominates the skyline of Vatican City and is often used as the representative structure of this tiny nation. Every inch of St. Peter’s Basilica is heavily laden with architectural genius and historical significance. One of the most exhilarating and awe-inspiring activities at St. Peter’s Basilica is the tour of the cupola.  Michelangelo’s stunning dome, which stands 452 feet tall, was built in 1546. You can take the elevator for 7 euros and skip some, though not all, of the stair climbing. If you want to get some cardio, take the stairs for 5 euros. Be warned, the stairs are much more difficult to ascend than the elevator, and there aren’t many views to enjoy along the way. From the roof, you can take in the amazing view of Piazza San Pietro, as well as the unique view of the nave and altar. The interior of the basilica consists of numerous works of art that you witness during your visit. There have been significant discoveries and excavations beneath the surface of the basilica as well. Some of the pillars of the original 4th-century church have been discovered beneath the surface of St. Peter’s Basilica. In recent times, it has been unofficially said that the Tomb of St. Peter has been found to contain the skeleton of St. Peter. In addition to all these, you can also visit St. Peter’s Basilica to receive Papal Blessing every Wednesday.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Rome Travel Guide :  Known as Hadrian’s Tomb, the Castel Sant’Angelo is a fortress located on the right bank of the Tiber, a short distance from the Vatican City.

The Castel Sant’Angelo is split into five floors which can be reached by a spiral ramp that first reaches the chamber of ashes and subsequently the cells in which a number of historical figures were incarcerated.  Advancing toward the upper part of the castle you will find different rooms that functioned as a Papal residence, decorated with perfectly preserved frescoes from the Renaissance period, besides the extensive collection of weapons. In the upper floor there is a large terrace where you can take amazing photographs of the city from above.

 

Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto

Rome Travel Guide

This must-see sightseeing tour of Rome guides you through the charming, historic neighborhoods of Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto – two of the best places to visit in Rome. Crossing over the Tiber Island we enter the pretty quarter of Trastevere, a sleepy village in the heart of the city on a midweek morning, where we will visit the medieval churches of Santa Cecilia and Santa Maria in Trastevere, and their gleaming mosaics. The Jewish area is known in Rome as the Ghetto. Both the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere have histories that tell another side of life in Rome over the past 2,000 years. In this small group tour, you will be able to learn about the gripping history of the Jewish population in Rome, and their impact in the city’s ancient and contemporary life.

Trajan’s Market

 

Rome Travel Guide : Built between the years 100 and 110 A.D, Trajan’s Market is believed to be the first covered shopping mall in history. 

Situated on Via dei Fori Imperiali, Trajan’s Market is an archaeological complex that currently holds the Museum of Imperial Forums (Museo dei Fori Imperiali). It is considered to be Rome’s first “shopping center”. The complex, made of red brick and concrete, had six levels in which there was once up to 150 different shops and apartments. Although it does not enjoy as much fame as the Colosseum, Trajan’s Market maintains an important part of its original appearance and offers a really interesting visit.

Roman Catacombs

Rome Travel Guide
Rome Travel Guide : The catacombs are subterranean passageways that were used as place of burial for a number of centuries.

The burials of Jewish, pagan and early Christian Roman citizens in the catacombs began in the second century and ended in the fifth century. The word catacomb, which means “next to the quarry”, comes from the fact that the first excavations to be used as a place of burial were carried out in the outskirts of Rome, next to the site of a quarry. The Christians did not agree with the pagan custom of burning the bodies of their dead, for which reason to solve problems created from a lack of space and the high price of land they decided to create these vast underground cemeteries. The catacombs possess a huge number of subterranean passageways that form real labyrinths that are several kilometers long, along which rows of rectangular niches were dug out. The corpses were wrapped in a sheet and placed in the niches, which were then covered with gravestones made of marble or, more commonly, baked clay. Subsequently, the name of the deceased was carved on the cover accompanied by a Christian symbol. Roman law at the time prohibited the burial of the deceased in the interior of the city, for which reason all of the catacombs were located outside of the walls. These separated and hidden places below ground constituted the perfect refuge in which the Christians could bury their own, freely using Christian symbols.

Pantheon

Rome Travel Guide : The Pantheon, completed in 126AD, was a Roman temple with a surprising oculus that is the building’s main source of natural light. 

The Pantheon of Agrippa, also known as the Roman Pantheon, is one of the architectural masterpieces of the Italian capital. It is the best preserved building from ancient Rome. The construction of the current Pantheon was carried out during the reign of Hadrian, in the year 126 A.D. The name of Agrippa comes from the place in which the current building is built, which was previously occupied by the Pantheon of Agrippa, built in the year 27 B.C and that was destroyed in a fire in the year 80 A.D. At the beginning of the 7th century the building was donated to the Pope Boniface IV, who transformed it into a church, in which function it currently finds itself in a perfect state of preservation.

Trevi Fountain

Rome Travel Guide
Rome Travel Guide : Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful fountain in Rome. Measuring some 20 meters in width by 26 meters in height, Trevi Fountain is also the largest fountain in the city. The origins of the fountain go back to the year 19 B.C., in which period the fountain formed the end of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct. The first fountain was built during the Renaissance, under the direction of Pope Nicholas V. The final appearance of the Trevi Fountain dates from 1762, when after many years of works at the hand of Nicola Salvi, it was finalized by Giuseppe Pannini. Interestingly enough, the name of Trevi derives from Tre Vie (three ways), since the fountain was the meeting point of three streets. Why are there always people in the fountain throwing coins into the water and taking photos of themselves? The myth, originating in 1954 with the movie “Three Coins in the Fountain,” goes like this:

  • If you throw one coin: you will return to Rome.
  • If you throw two coins: you will fall in love with an attractive Italian.
  • If you throw three coins: you will marry the person that you met.

In order to achieve the desired effect, you should throw the coin with your right hand over your left shoulder. An interesting statistic is that approximately a million euros worth of coins are taken from the fountain each year. Since 2007 this money has been used to support good causes.

Spanish Steps

Rome Travel Guide
Rome Travel Guide :  Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are a set of steps dating from 1723, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top dominated by Trinita dei Monti Church. The steps are at the eastern end of the old city centre. From the base there is a maze of very narrow lanes crammed full with designer shops waiting to be explored. The Spanish Steps are still a place for artists, painters and poets to visit. Today, at the top of the Spanish Steps you will find a cluster of artists painting visitor’s portraits.

Mouth of Truth

Rome Travel Guide :  Situated in the portico of Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church, the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Veritá) is a worldwide-famous enormous marble mask said to bite the hand of those who lied.

According to the legend, a husband who mistrusted his wife took her to the Mouth of Truth to test her faithfulness. The woman reacted by pretending to swoon and her lover caught her in his arms. After this, the woman swore before the Mouth of Truth that she had only been in the arms of her husband and of the man that had just caught her. This is just one of the many legends that exist regarding the famous sculpture that, with the passing of time, continues to generate enormous anticipation. The sculpture was once located in the Piazza della Bocca della Veritá until 1632. It was then transferred to the outside of one of the walls of the nearby Santa María in Cosmedin, the place where it remains today. It is very common to see large numbers of people lining up to be photographed with their hand inside the Mouth of Truth.

Baths of Caracalla

Rome Travel Guide :   Situated near the Appian Way, the Baths of Caracalla are one of the largest and most impressive thermae built in antiquity in Rome.

Built between the years 212 and 216 under the direction of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, more commonly known as Emperor Caracalla, the Baths of Caracalla were one of the greatest and most spectacular thermal complexes in ancient times. In spite of the fact that today only the brick walls and large collapsed vaults remain, the remnant of the splendour of the Baths of Caracalla is still preserved.

Ara Pacis

Rome Travel Guide : The Ara Pacis is a commemorative monument that was built between the years 13 and 9 B.C. to celebrate peace in the Mediterranean after the victorious battles of Emperor Augustus in Hispania and Gaul.

The Ara Pacis is an altar located in the interior of a closed structure carved in Carrara marble. It stands out because of its impressive decoration made up of various reliefs showing the family of Augustus in procession, in addition to different allegories related to the mythical foundation of Rome.

Circus Maximus

Rome Travel Guide
Rome Travel Guide : Located between the Aventino and Palatine Hill, the Circus Maximus was the largest stadium in ancient Rome built for chariot races.

Roman circuses were the most important centres of entertainment in the Roman cities, apart from the theatres and amphitheatres. They were extended precincts in which the public games were held, consisting of chariot races and different spectacles. The Circus Maximus in Rome (Circo Massimo), located between the Aventino and Palatine Hills, was an extended precinct with space for 300,000 spectators. The arena, which measured 600 meters in length and 225 meters in width, made the Circus Maximus the largest in Rome, ahead of the Circus of Flaminius and the Circus of Maxentius.

Altare della Patria

Rome Travel Guide
Rome Travel Guide : Inaugurated in 1911 to pay respect to Victor Emmanuel II, the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (Altare della Patria) is an imposing building located in Piazza Venezia. It provides some breath-taking views of Rome.

The colossal monument, which is 135 meters wide and 70 meters high, is comprised of scores of majestic Corinthian columns and endless stairs, all carved in white marble. The top is crowned with an equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel cast in bronze and two chariots driven by the goddess Victoria. The monument was strongly criticised at its construction, since it was necessary to knock down numerous valuable buildings to make sufficient space, and Italian citizens did not agree with the idea of having such an eye-catching and elaborate building next to the other classical buildings that surround it.

Piazza Navona

Rome Travel Guide : Defined during the fifteenth century, the Baroque-style Piazza Navona is one of the most charming and popular squares in Rome.

The public square is built on the site where the Stadium of Domitian (Circus Agonalis), founded in 86 AD, once stood. It could hold approximately 20,000 spectators, which came here to see different athletic competitions.The most beautiful parts of Piazza Navona are its three fountains, designed during the papacy of Gregory XIII: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Fontana del Moro, Fontana del Nettuno

Piazza della Repubblica

Rome Travel Guide :  Designed during the urban redevelopment undertaken after Rome was declared capital of Italy, the Piazza della Repubblica is one of the most important squares of the city, and extremely striking.

The Piazza della Repubblica is made up of a large roundabout with an exquisite fountain, surrounded by imposing buildings on one side and a seemingly demolished temple on the other. It was formerly known as the Piazza dell’Esedra because it was laid down on the remains of an exedra (a semi-circular open room with seating) from the Diocletian era.

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