The eternal city of Rome offers an unbeatable mix of old and new. Historic cultural treasures fought attention with modern fashion houses and trendy bars. The best way to get to know the city is by foot, and yes my feet are still hurting after walking a lot during my last visit!
So much to see!
Rome is crying out of sights and it can be hard to know what to really see. You probably know the name of the building in my first photo of this blog post, it’s the Collosseum and it’s a must to visit, together with som other must see. This picture show me watching the view over Piazza Venezia from Victor Emmanuel II monument.
Piazza Venezias best view!
The view over Piazza Venezia is pretty special. You can take a lift to the top of the building or you can do like me use the stairs and just admire the view from where I stand. Be aware that You are not allowed to use a tripod up here.
About Piazza Venezia!
The Victor Emmanuel II monument seen from Piazza Venezia. Piazza Venezia is the central hub of Rome, in which several thoroughfares intersect, including the Via dei Fori Imperiali and the Via del Corso. It takes its name from the Palazzo Venezia, built by the Venetian Cardinal, Pietro Barbo (later Pope Paul II) alongside the church of Saint Mark, the patron saint of Venice. The Palazzo Venezia served as the embassy of the Republic of Venice in Rome.
One side of the Piazza is the site of Italy’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Altare della Patria, part of the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, first king of Italy.
The piazza or square is at the foot of the Capitoline Hill and next to Trajan’s Forum. The main artery, the Via di Fori Imperiali begins here and leads past the Roman Forum to the Colosseum.
Capitalizing on this modern and ancient symbolism–and the useful open space–Piazza Venezia was the location of public speeches given by the Italian dictator Mussolini to crowds of his supporters in the 1920s-1940s.
The Roman Forum!
The Roman Forum viewed from The Victor Emmanuel II monument, this place is also known by its Latin name Forum Romanum, is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city. People referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum.
For centuries the Forum was the center of day-to-day life in Rome it has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history. It’s located in the small valley between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Forum today is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archaeological excavations attracting 4.5 million sightseers yearly! In the horizon you can spot the amazing Capitoline Hill.
The Collosseum!
Collosseum is on the map of the world’s new seven wonders. In the 70’s, the construction of the Colosseum began. It took about 10 years before it was completed – 80 e Kr.
It’s most famous for their gladiator games during the Roman Empire. It’s powerful to enter the building and try to imagine how it could be to sit here during Roman times and look at gladiator camps between people and animals. There were really horrors that were featured here during Roman times.
It’s said that about half a million people died here with these matches. In addition to humans, you can add all animals killed, about 1 million!
Fact:
The Colosseum 524 meters in circumference, 48 meters tall and 156 meters wide. The entire colosseum had four floors and was 50 meters high. Today, only 4 floors on the northern part are left. In the past there were 76 entrances and seats for about 55,000 spectators.
Explore Colosseum by your own – you can choose a ticket incl. audio tour.
Colosseum opening hours!
The ticket also include a visit to the Roman Forum and Palatino Hill, which is just the middle of the Colosseum. Roman Forum was Rome’s center in Roman times. Use your own pace but keep in mind that you may need a couple of hours in both places. The Colosseum is open every day. You can spot the Capitoline Hills in the horizon of this picture.
Piazza di San Marc!
Piazza di San Marc is one of my own favorites! San Marco is a minor basilica in Rome dedicated to St. Mark the Evangelist located in the small Piazza di San Marco adjoining Piazza Venezia. It was first built in 336 by Pope Mark, whose remains are in an urn located below the main altar. The basilica is the national church of Venice in Rome.
Best city to stroll!
Strolling around i Rome is like walking in history and a fairytale at the same time. There are so many great spots and this pictures you will pass on your way to my other favorite…
Pantheon!
This magnificent building, located in the center of Rome, is an attraction not to be missed during your visit to the city. It’s an ancient temple that, when it was built, was used as a gathering place for the people to worship all the gods who stood as statues along the walls in the great roundabout. The Pantheon was also ones the largest concrete building in the world. In 600, the Christian doctrine had been rooted in Rome and the temple went from worshiping all gods to a god.
Pantehon architecture!
The Pantheon was built for the first time about 27-25 before Christ, to later rebuild 120-125 years after Christ. The building is famous for its architecture. What makes Pantheon so special is that this ancient building has been used since it was built and therefore it has also been preserved in a good way. Earlier, when visiting the site, you only saw the entrance to the large building, so the visitors were amazed when they went to the great roundabout that was hidden from the outside.
Inspired others!
The architecture of architecture has inspired many architects with their large columns and their triangular fonton resting on the columns. Its design has been moored in many different places in the world. As you enter the Pantheon, you will be captivated by the many colors preserved in the stone, and the large vaulted ceiling. Looking up you will see a giant dome in the ceiling and the only light source in the church, a nine-meter wide hole that illuminates the entire building.
Fontana de Trevi!
Immersed in narrow alleys lies the famous fountain of Fontana de Trevi, where Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni bathed in the ”La Dolce Vita” movie. This place gets crazy crowded during the day but who cares! It’s a must to eat an ice cream while visiting this place. And if you want to have it all to yourself you need to get there before the sun goes up! And yes I did that to be able to take some great pictures.
Castel San’t Angelo!
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant’Angelo is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family.
The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. This place is very popular on Instagram and I felt like it was crowded 24/7 but it’s a lovely feeling to stroll around in the area. This is also on it’s way to the Vatican if you choose to walk like I do.
The Vatican City!
Visiting The Vatican City makes me feeling religious, and I think I was not the only one! To be honest I’m not religious at all. But this place is pretty special, and I can imagine that it must be magical during spring and christmas when the pope do appear!
Vatican City officially Vatican City State is an independent state located within the city of Rome. With an area of 44 hectares, and a population of about 1,000,it’s the smallest state in the world by both area and population. However, formally it is not sovereign, with sovereignty being held by the Holy See. In Vatican City you can visit St. Peter’s Basilica and see Michelangelo’s famous ceiling paintings in the Sistine Chapel.
Villa Borghese!
This amazing view over the city you get from Villa Borghese! Visiting the park up here where the Romans go when they want to chill and escape from the noice. Villa Borghese is a landscape garden in the naturalistic English manner in Rome, containing a number of buildings, museums and attractions. It’s the third largest public park in Rome after the ones of the Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ada.
As you can see the list of timeless sights can be done endlessly and that’s not for no reason Rome is called the Eternal City.
Hotel suggestion!
If you looking for a great place to stay I can recommend Hotel dei Borgognoni it’s a very nice boutique hotel situated close to the Spanish Steps! For more information use this link
http://www.hotelborgognoni.com/eng/index.html
Great hostel!
If you looking for a hostel to stay The Beehive is a good one close to the central station. The owners are Linda & Steve, they moved to Rome in 1999 with 2 cats and a Swiss Army knife to start a hostel, The Beehive. The hostel has a courtyard garden where their guests can relax and where they host many events, a vegetarian cafe where they serve breakfast daily as well as weekly family-style dinners and cooking classes, and a cozy lounge for reading and socialising. For more information use this link https://www.the-beehive.com/
Trastevere, my favorite district!
Trastevere on the other side of the Tiber River in Rome is my favorite district. This is a charming and increasingly popular part of the eternal city and is considered to belong to the historic part of the city.
It probably meets most expectations of most about how Rome will look. Full of narrow alleyways with cobbled streets, old buildings, small churches, piazzas and cozy tavernas, cafes, bars and shops.
Although it has become increasingly noticeable in recent years, it is less touristy than Rome’s oldest and most visited parts, such as Centro Storico. Its charm, sights and cozy tavernas make it an obvious destination when visiting Rome.
Good to know if want to stay in Trastevere!
If you are going to stay in Trastevere, it’s easy to go by train from Fuimicino airport to Trastevere station, it takes about 25 minutes. Take tram nr 8 towards Largo Argentina outside the station. Get off two stations before the tram crosses the river.
Or you can take bus nr 75 from Piazza Venezia.
I hope you want to visit my favorite city Rome and don’t hesitate to ask me if you have any questions!