Rome
If Milan is the fashion capital of Italy, then Rome surely must be the history capital—according to legend, this city was founded in 753 BC by twins Romulus and Remus, descendants of Trojan prince Aeneas. Rome’s history has been a fascinating and turbulent one—the rise and fall of the Roman empire, the famous gladiatorial games, the Pantheon and the Colosseum, and the presence of the seat of the Roman Catholic Church—the Vatican City—all make Rome wonderfully exciting and richly atmospheric.
Walking around the city rather than traveling by car or public transport will help you get the best out of a visit to Rome. Most major tourist attractions are within a mile or two of each other, and with so much to see walking around the city is a delight. There are plenty of tiny side-streets to explore, where you’ll find fountains, piazzas, and shops tucked away off the beaten path. One thing that may surprise you is the sheer number of fountains in the city. Many of these are elaborately decorated, and most of them have clean, fresh, drinkable water.
During the day, the piazzas are wonderful places to visit, to relax and drink coffee, or an authentic Italian meal. A piazza is simply a town square, with gardens and works of sculpture or fountains in the center, and often lined with cafes, restaurants and shops. Eat tartufo, a sumptuous chocolate desert at Piazza Navona, or visit the Trevi Fountain for a cup of what many say is the best gelato in Rome. The Campo dei Fiori during the day is a vibrant open-air market full of hustle and bustle—a great place to relax in the morning before visiting one of the historic attractions of the city.
Rome is a fabulous place to shop—whether it’s leather goods, clothing or souvenirs, you’ve got an enormous range of options. For an amazing open-air market experience the Porta Portese is the place to go—there’s a fantastic variety of goods on sale here including antiques, books and clothes. Enjoy the unique atmosphere of this bustling market, and remember to bargain! One of the best places to shop for labels such as Armani and Versace is a discount store on Via di Gesù e Maria near the Spanish Steps—shoes, clothing and accessories can be found at great prices here. For leather goods, visit the stores on the Via del Corso—you’ll find well-crafted jackets and coats, wallets and handbags all moderately priced. You’ll find souvenir stores dotted all around the major tourist attractions, too. Many souvenirs are overpriced but you can always bargain the price down to something reasonable with a little patience.
After a day spent seeing the sights of Rome, there are many options when it comes to nightlife, whether you want to dance the night away, see live music or simply spend the evening relaxing in a piazza with a drink or two, the atmosphere of this ancient city is all-pervasive. A great piazza to visit at night is the Campo dei Fiori—there’s a wide range of bars here, and it’s a favorite for locals and tourists alike—the perfect place for people-watching and taking in the relaxed atmosphere of the area.
Historical Places to Visit
The Colosseum once provided an audience of up to 55,000—this enormous building can be likened to modern-day sporting stadiums, and provided a similar function for the citizens of Ancient Rome. Of course, the Romans were witness to more blood-thirsty events in their ancient stadium—fights between man and man, and man and beast were the order of the day— often to the death. The Colosseum is the most popular tourist attraction in Rome—try visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid some of the crowds. Tickets are less than ten Euros and for a small fee you can often hire a tour guide. This is well worth the money since in addition to getting a guided tour you’ll be able to jump the queue! A guided tour takes around 30 minutes, and after it’s over you can stay to explore on your own.
The Roman Pantheon, originally built in the first century BC, was dedicated to the deities of the Ancient Roman religious state. In 609 AD the Pantheon was dedicated to St. Mary and became known as Santa Maria ad Martyres and the building is still used as a church on select days throughout the year. The lavish decoration and harmonious design of the massive interior are awe-inspiring. Admission to the Pantheon is free, and advance booking is not required. However, to beat the crowds it’s best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon. The Pantheon is very easy to find between the Trevi fountain and the Piazza Navona, and there are plenty of sign-posts to mark your way.
The Vatican Museums are another must-see. Located in Vatican City, these public museums display thousands of pieces of sculpture and art obtained by the Roman Catholic Church over several hundred years. Pope Julius II founded the museums in the sixteenth century, and since then many Popes have founded new museums and added an astonishing wealth of items to the collections owned by the Church, including tapestries, maps, jewelry, paintings by some of the greatest Italian masters including Caravaggio, Raphael and Leonardo, the stunning collection of rooms known as the Vatican Palaces, and religious artifacts from all over the world. The ticket price (four to twelve Euros) includes a full day of access to all the museums and they’re open almost every day (closed on Sundays and religious holidays).
Perhaps the most famous building in the Vatican Museum collection is the Sistine Chapel. The interior walls were decorated in 1481 and 1482 by some of the great Italian artists, including Boticelli and Rosselli. The most well-known Sistine Chapel artist must surely be Michelangelo, who spent four years painting the incredible ceiling frescoes which are considered by many to be his greatest artistic achievement. Taking photographs and touching the walls of the Chapel is forbidden, as these activities can contribute to fading of the painted frescoes.
All of these places and more make Rome an incredible place to visit—a trip to Rome is a historical journey like no other.
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