PM: BigGrantHolt - Rome...

Something I wrote for our daughter and her husband when they went (based on my own visit a couple of years back)

ROME…

There’s a lot to see, but it’s all closer together than it might appear. The rough map above sort of shows where things are in relation to each other - it’s not extremely accurate but may help in orientating yourself in the city. It also details the pages in the Eyewitness Travel Guide which relate to that area.

Arriving
Getting from the airport to the city is easy – You can get the train (The Leonardo Express) to Termini station which is the hub of the Rome transport network (busses, trams and both metro lines run from here)

I think the fare was 11 Euros each but a few years ago now.

Metropolitana
Rome’s underground is the Metropolitana and is quite easy way to get around but, obviously, you don’t see much. There are 2 lines which cross the city and join with each other at Termini station. It doesn’t go everywhere though, so some walking required… but nothing is that far away.

Line “A” (red) goes from the West to the South-East and Line “B” (blue) goes from the North-East to the South-West.

Useful Stations:-

“B” Blue Line
Colosseo – For the Coliseum and Palatine Hill
Circo Massimo – For Circus Maximus and Santa Maria in Cosmedin (which has the “Mouth of Truth”
Termini – Main train station & change to “A” Line

“A” Red Line
Barberini – Trevi Fountain, Via Veneto
Spagna – Spanish Steps, “posh” shopping!
Ottaviano San Pietro – Vatican
Termini – Main train station & change to “B” Line

Sightseeing
One of the best ways to see the major sights, work out what is where, and get around is to go on one of the open-topped bus tours. There are 2 or 3 companies operating them and we used the “Rome Open Tour” which was 19 Euros for a day-long hop-on hop-off ticket. The circuit takes in all of the major sights and there are convenient stops for all of the major attractions. Nearest stop to your location would be Piazza Barberini.

Water
Don’t buy water, take a water bottle and keep filling it up from the many fountains around the City. Due to the Roman aqueduct system that brings water down from the hills, all of Rome’s water is clean and drinkable.

Sights/Visits
Depending on time available and what is really of interest, the following are all worth visiting. Taking a tour inside some will obviously take more time (and money), but can be worthwhile to learn more about the facts and the history. Although possible a little more expensive, it’s worth trying to get a guided tour in advance for places like Coliseum and Vatican.

Coliseum/Piazza Del Colosseo (area – Forum) [M – Colosseo]
No visit to Rome would be complete without visiting and seeing the Coliseum. During the day it looks fantastic, but is also impressive at night when it is all lit up. Tour – to see inside you will have to pay for a tour. There are usually girls outside selling tours and it’s well worth paying for this as you’ll avoid the, usually massive) queue and you’ll get a guide. We paid for a joint tour of the Coliseum and the Palatine Hill (with a break in between)
Also to see here is the Arch of Constantine

The Roman Centurions around the place will charge you for photos, so be careful!

Eating places, pizzerias and restaurants around the Coliseum are expensive… even more than everywhere else! It’s better to plan to eat elsewhere if possible.

Just off of the Piazza Del Colosseo, heading towards San Giovani in Laterano there are cheaper places. This is one of the areas where the gay scene is at, but its fine. Try Via Di Giovani In Laterano or the Via Dei Quattro Cornoati

Roman Forum/Palatine Hill (area – Forum/Palatine) [M – Colosseo]
It’s probably another must see really as there are a lot of ruins to see including the Temple of Vesta, House of the Vestal Virgins, Temple of Romulus and Arch of Titus.

Spanish Steps (area – Piazza De Spagna) [M – Spagna]
Definitely worth a visit, night or day, but both will be busy. It’s FREE and it’s worth climbing the steps to take in the views. Find lots of young people relaxing and enjoying a coffee or a snack on the steps. Also here is the Keats/Shelley memorial house (which is where Keats lived until he died)
Don’t forget the Via Condotti where you can (window) shop for Gucci, Chanel, Valentino, Prada, D&G, etc.

Trevi Fountain (area – Quirinal) [M – Barberini]
Try to visit at night as it looks fantastic all lit up. Be prepared for crowds as it is busy but is, again, a must see. Lots of little alleys/streets surround the location with cafes, restaurants and stalls – very cosmopolitan

Pantheon (area – Piazza Della Rotunda) [walk/tour bus]
One of the great, iconic buildings of European history and, almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. This temple to the gods is another of Rome’s key tourist spots and worth a visit as the interior is awe inspiring – FREE to go inside.
Nearby is the Sant Ignazio Di Loyola church which has a fantastic example of a Baroque fake-perspective ceiling painting. Well worth the extra 5 minute walk from the Pantheon.

Vatican & St Peters Basilica (area – Vatican) [M – Ottaviano San Pietro]
Another MUST see sight in Rome, even if you don’t go inside. If you want to see the magnificent art works and the Sistine Chapel, you’ll need to go into the Vatican Museums and it is, again, worth booking a tour as the crowds and queues are massive! To do it justice, it’s about 5 hours but it is breathtaking.

Circus Maximus (area – Aventine) [M – Circo Massimo]
Not much to see these days but the enormous grassed arena where once there would have been chariots racing.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin/“Mouth of Truth” (area – Aventine)
[M – Circo Massimo]
The legend goes that if you put your hand into La Bocca della Verità (mouth of truth) and tell a lie, it will get bitten off!! This appeared in the romantic comedy film “Roman Holiday” with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
Also here are the Temples of the Forum Boarium – the best preserved of Rome’s Republican temples. If you walk down to the river you can also see the Ponte Rotto – the ruined bridge over the Tiber built in 2nd Century.

Piazza Navonna (area – Piazza Navonna) [walk/tour bus]
Supposedly Rome’s most beautiful Baroque Piazza. It is unique as it’s the only one shaped like a Roman Racetrack. It contains 3 lovely fountains and some stunning décor.

Area Sacra Dell Argentina (area – Campo De Fiori) [walk/tram]
The remains of 4 temples, within one of which was where Julius Caesar was murdered on the Ides of March. It is now a Cat Sanctuary!!! Woth a look for the historical importance… even if there’s lots of cats about!

Trastevere (area – Trastervere) [tram]
Restaurants, clubs and bars; this is a young, cosmopolitan and a little bohemian part of the city. This area is over the river and is usually busy with young people on warm evenings. A maze of cobbled alleyways around the Piazza Di Santa Maria, filled with pizzerias bars and kiosks.
No metro to here but the easy way is to catch the TRAM number 8 from Largo di Torre Argentina which crosses the river and runs down the Viale di Trastevere.

Victor Emmanuel Monument (area – Capitol) [walk/tour bus]
In the Piazza Venezia is the huge white marble monument, visible from many places, and was built for Italy’s first King. You can climb the steps and also go inside to the museum. Spectacular views from the top over Rome including the Forum.

Capitoline Museums (area - Capitol) [walk/tour bus]
If you really want to see some of the history and see the classical statues, sculptures and art works, this is the place to go. You have to pay to go into the museums.

Piazza Barberini (area – Via Veneto) [M – Barberini]
Just round the corner from where you are staying is this Piazza and the Via Veneto which is where there are some posh restaurants. This is a rich area of the city. Look out for the Fontana Del Tritone (Bernini’s Triton Fountain) and (on the corner) the Fontana Delle Api (also by Bernini and decorated with Bees)

Also here on the Via Veneto is the Santa Maria Della Conzezione which contains a macabre collection of vaulted chapels decorated with the bones and skulls from Capuchin monks – creepy but well worth a visit.

Santa Maria Maggiore (area – Esquiline) [M – Termini/Termini]
Not far from the Ternini station is this chuch which has one of the most richly decorated interiors in the whole of Rome.

Posted By: Worthing Yellow, Mar 21, 08:47:11