Rome is the capital city of both Italy and Vatican City. Also was the capital of the World for long time. It was the city which i wanted to visit most.
When To Go :
We needed to visit Rome on July but it is so hot on July and August , that’s why i would recommend to visit on Spring or Autumn.
How To Go :
There are flights to Rome from all around the World. There are 3 different airports in Rome but the main one is Fiumicino Airport which is also called Leonardo Da Dinci Airport. From Fiumicino Airport to center , you can use train. You can visit https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html and check the train tickets. While there is no confirmation coming to mail adress from website , you will have to buy the ticket at train station. You can buy a ticket for 13 euros to Termini Train Station from airport or else for 8 euros to Trastevere. If you would like to use metro or bus , you will need to pay 1,5 euros each time.
Where To Stay :
Hotels seem quiet expensive to stay in Rome unfortunately. For a room for 2 people , you will pay at least 100 euros per night. A good one will be around 200 euros. But if you do like me , you can make it cheaper. If you buy the ticket in advance or much earlier , you will pay more. But if you have a look at hotels around 17:00-18:00 , you will see that prices are going down. By this way you will need to move to different hotels everyday. You can generally find reasonable hotels near Termini Station.
What To Do in Rome :
There is big history in every corner of Rome. All the buildings are old and beautiful. Even only walking in the streets would be great but there are also many places which must be seen. Let’s start with clichies.
Note : To Do List was not listed by importance. Just starting from Colosseum and moving to places nearby.
1-) Colosseum :
Biggest amphitheatre ever. One of the new seven wonders of the World. Along the history , Colosseum hosted many events , theathres , shows , fests , gladiator fights. To visit Colosseum , you can buy a ticket through https://www.coopculture.it/it/prodotti/biglietto-colosseo-foro-romano-palatino_24h/ for 18 euros including Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill. If you be ready fort he entrance around 08:30-09:00 , you can be one of the first to enter and you can visit it while it is not crowded. Also i would definitely recommend to be around Colosseum around towards evening.
2-) Roman Forum :
Roman Forum is the Rome’ older city center actually. Inside Forum , many buildings and ruins of town halls , temples , agoras and monuments from different ages of Rome. It is located next to Colosseum. You can visit Roman Forum with he ticket which inludes Colosseum and Palatine Hill too.
3-) Palatine Hill :
Palatine hill located next to Roman Forum. Palatine Hill is the oldest settlement of Rome. Besides its great view , it hosts many remnants. As we can understand from its name , Palatine Hill , you can see the ruins of the palaces where Roman Emperor’s lived. Its history goes back to 1000 years BC.
Note : Colosseum , Roman Forum and Palatine Hill will take at least several hours.
4-) San Pietro in Vincoli :
Located 7-8 mins by walk from Colosseum. Compare to other churhes , San Pietro in Vincoli doesn’t look sth so special but one of the best piece of Michelangelo , Moses must be seen here. Entrance is free.
5-) Archbasilica of St. John in Laterano :
Most of the places to see in Rome , located on the westernd side to Colosseum , if you visit Colosseum , in case if you don’t go there again , you should definitely see Archbasilica of St. John in Laterano. It is located 20 mins by walk on the eastern part. On the contrary to known , it is the seat of Pope. It is the mother of all the churches. It is free like all the churches in Rome.
6-) Victor Emmanuel 2 Monument :
Seeing that we started with Colosseum , we can go on with the places next to it first. Victor Emmanuel 2 Monument was built in memory of Victor Emmanuel 2 , the unifer of Italy. It is a magnificient building , 15 mins by walk from Colosseum and can be seen nearly from all around in Rome. Entrance is free but if you would like to go up to the top of the building by elevator , you will need to pay extra 12 euros.
7-) Capitoline Hill(Campidoglio) :
Capitoline Hill is on the right behind Victor Emmanuel 2 Monument. It is the highest of the 7 hills of Rome. On the hill you can see Replica Of The Equestrian Statue Of Marcus Aurelius and Capitoline Museums.
8-) Capitoline Museums :
Capitoline Museums are located on the Capitoline Hill , consists of 3 buildings ; Conservatory Palace , Senatorial Palace and Nuovo Palace. It is thought to be oldest museum in the World. The most important pieces here ; original of the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius , Bust of a Flavian Woman and Romulus and Remus. It is not necessary to buy the ticket online , you can buy the ticket on the entrance for 16 euros.
9-) Venezia Square(Piazza Venezia) :
One of the famous squares of Rome and located in front of Victor Emmanuel 2 Monument.
10-) Church Of The Gesu :
Located next to Piazza Venezia. Known as the mother church of jesuits. Its facade accepted as the first truely baroque facade.
11-) Sant’ Andrea Della Valle :
Another baroque style church can be visited while it is also just 5 mins by walk from Church Of The Gesu.
12-) Campo De Fiori :
It is another famous square in Rome and located just 3-4 mins by walk from Sant’ Andrea Della Valle. A marketplace can be visited in the day time.
13-) Navona Square(Piazza Navona) :
It is located 5 mins by walk from Campo De Fiori , can be said the best square in Rome. It is a quiet large square compare to others in Rome. You can also see the Moro Fountain and Neptun Fountain.
14-) The Church Of St. Louis Of The French :
It is also worth to visit this french church next to Navona Square.
15-) Pantheon :
Then you will arrive at Pantheon soon. I think one of the most import 3 buildings in Rome. For me all church to reach at Pantheon. It is tought to be built more than 2000 years ago. It is the best preserved temple building up to age. Its dome is still the largest dome. Ground motives of Pantheon is very similar to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul so it seems Hagia Sophia copied it. I would visit Rome even only for Pantheon.
16-) Churhc Of St. Ignatius Of Loyola :
It is located only 3 mins by walk from Pantheon. It is one of the places which must seen especially its ceiling.
17-) Popolo Square(Piazza Del Popolo) :
After visiting St. Ignatius Church , you can walk around 20 mins through one of the most famous street , Via Del Corso and reach at Popolo Square.
18-) Villa Borghese Gardens :
You can arrive at Villa Borghese Gardens by climbing up the stairs from Popolo Gardens. It is actually kind of park , even one of the biggest parks of Rome. On the other hand the view at the entrance of the park is one of the best views in Rome.
19-) Borghese Gallery(Galleria Borghese) :
It is the second most important gallery in Rome after Vatican Museums. It is located in Villa Borghese Gardens. You can find many important pieces here especially Apollo and Daphne of Bernini and Paolina of Antonia Canova. This is the most important places that i couldn’t visit. While their website was not working to buy tickets online , it was only way to g oto museum directly but i was told that tickets are finished fort he next 5 days.
20- ) Spanish Steps :
You can arrive at Spanish Steps soon after leaving Villa Borghese Gardens.Spanish Steps first built to reach at Trinita Dei Monti Church which belongs to France but later its name turned to Spanish Steps while it starts from Spanish Square. Spanish Consulate also located on Spanish Square.
21- ) Trevi Fountain :
You can reach at Trevi Fountain in 10 mins by walk from Spanish Steps. I don’t know if it is right to call it as a fountain but it must be the best fountain in the World. Trevi Fountain is one of the most crowded point in Rome.
22-) The Basilica Of St. Mary Mayor(Santa Maria Maggiore) :
One of the most important 3 basilicas in Rome , located close by Termini Station. It is really so old that built in 432. But the facede and some parts added much later. It is one of the must seen in Rome.
23-) Santa Maria Degli Angeli e Dei Martiri :
It will be better to visit this church too in Republic Square while already next to Termini Station.
24-) Trastevere :
Now it is time to pass Tiber River. One of the most beautiful area to see in Rome is Trastevere Area. There are many good restaurants in part. Also you should have a walk in its streets.
25-) Santa Maria in Trastevere :
You should better visit the most important building in Trastevere an deven one of the oldest in Rome , Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.
26-) St. Peter’s Basilica :
St. Peter’s Basilica is the biggest , most magnifent church of the World. The entrance of the basilica is in a different direction than Vatican Museums. It was designed by Michelangelo. I would recommend to visit quite early and still you will need to wait in the line. Entrance is free. One of the most important thing to see in basilica is Pieta Sculpture of Michelangelo. Also you can visit Treasury Part with a 5 euros payment.
27-) Vatican Museums :
Vatican Museums one of the biggest museums in the World. When you leave St. Peter’s Basilica , you can turn left and follow Vatican City Walls and reach to entrance. Divines brought from America belonging to Indians , nearly everything about Christianity , masterpieces of many famous painters and sculpturers , Laocoön And His Sons Sculpture , Sistine Chapel , Sphere Within Sphere , Spiral Stairs , Gallery Of Maps and many else should be seen. If you can’t find ticket online , before entrance , if you turn right before the last corner , you will find Roman Trips on Google maps , here you can buy a ticket for 35 euros and they will take you inside with a group of 11-12 people , they will organize it well and you will not need to wait much. Later you can visit museum separately.
28-) Castel Sant’ Angelo :
It was built as Mausoleum Of Hadrian and later turned in to a castle. Now it is like a middle east castle in the middle of Rome. It is located at the end of St. Peter’s Square and next to Tiber River. You will need to pay 12 euro to visit castle. At the top of the castle , you will have one of the best view in Rome.
FOOD
Italy has many different dishes and has a good cuisine. For me not enough of course while i am from Turkey. But at least there are some really good food.
1-) Tonnarello :
Tonnarello is located in Trastevere , next to Santa Maria. For me definitely the best restaurant in Rome. Unfortunately i visited this restaurant the first day , that’s why i couldn’t like other places. Here you should first try Cacio E Pepe. An Italian classic spaghetti made with Pecorino Romano cheese. You can also find many other pastas here. In other places i didn’t like pastas with tomato sauce much. But i can say that Cacio E Pepe is the best ever. Another thing to try in Tonnarello is Pizza Capricciosa. Normally i wouldn’t like sth like these which is mix , has many different things inside egg etc. an deven artichoke. But i can say that i never had such a pizza in my life. Later i tried many different pizzas in many different restaurants but enjoy. Here we paid around 10 euros for both.
2-) Suppli Roma :
Another place to visit in Trastevere. It is the most famous suppli place in Rome. Suppli is a really special dish to eat. We paid 2 euros for each.
3-) Giolitti :
Giolitti is the most famous ice cream shop in Rome. Rome ice cream is really delicious , also known as Gelato. I like Turkish Maras ice cream but Rome ice cream also something delicious.
4-) Dar Filettaro A Santa Barbara :
Here you can try fish fillet Morina. It is really delicious and costs 6 euros per one but of course 1 will not be enough.
Except from these , i visited many other restaurants in Rome. But i don’t have any currenct place to recommend with any current food. Other foods to try in Rome in general ; other kinds of pastas and pizzas ; most comman one is Margherita. Tomato pieces or olive puree on fried bread ; Bruschetta. A sandwich with kind of purees and jambons called Panini. An Italian coffee in a random place , especially Espresso. In any coffee or restraurant , Tiramisu. Some kind of pizzas sold per piece or per kg , Pizza Alla Romana.
SHOPPING
I don’t know a special place in Rome for shopping except from daily requirements. We didn’t prefer actually. I just found magnets and keyholders generally for 1 euros which is cheaper compare to many other things. Many other things are quite expensive. In the mini markets , 2Lt bottle water is 2 euros , beers also 2 euros. But if you can find a supermarket like Carrefour which on the way to Trevi Fountain from Spanish Steps , you will pay quarter for them.
BONUS : There are many fountains in Rome , every square and most of the corners. If you carry a bottle with you , you can full it always and you will not need to pay for water much.
At the end i can say that everybody must see Rome. It was the best for me so far. Thank you for reading patiently.
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