In the entire world there is hardly a city that is as historic as Rome.
According to the legend, the city was founded by the brothers Romulus and Remus. But in 753 BC, after a dispute, Romulus killed his brother and named the city after himself, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire, which lasted for more than a thousand years and heavily impacted a large part of Europe and parts of northern Africa and western Asia. Thus, one of the most important and influential eras in European history began right here, in the Eternal City.
Since the amount of sights in the Italian capital is overwhelming, it is nearly impossible to visit them all in one trip. So to get the most out of your visit without exhausting yourself, I recommend choosing the sights that interest you most in advance, then planning an approximate route around the city and additionally exploring nearby attractions.
I decided to visit some of Rome's most popular sights on this trip, for example the iconic Colloseum, the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built.
The Colosseum was estimated to seat up to 80,000 visitors. Among other things, it was used for gladiator fights and other public spectacles, including animal hunts and executions. Although largely destroyed, the Colosseum is still a symbol of the Roman Empire and was deemed one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The Roman Forum is a plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings. You can visit the ruins, architectural fragments and archaeological excavations of the Roman Forum for an entrance fee, but it is not advisable on hot days, as there is no shade. If you decide to go anyway, I recommend to consider combo tickets including the Colosseum and other archaeological sites.
However, you can also enjoy a beautiful view of the entire Forum from above near Capitoline Hill.
The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument is a large national memorial built between 1885 and 1935 in honour of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy, and is considered one of Italy's national symbols.
The Pantheon is a former Roman temple dedicated to all the gods of the past, present and future and has been a Catholic church since 609 AD. It is one of the best preserved buildings of Roman times, mainly because it has been in continuous use since the 7th century.
Rome is famous for its numerous fountains, built in a wide variety of architectural styles, from classical and medieval to baroque and neoclassical. The Trevi Fountain, at 26 metres (86 feet) high and 49.15 metres (161.3 feet) wide, is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.
Another famous fountain in Rome is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, which translates as Fountain of the Four Rivers. It is located on the Piazza Navona in front of the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, a 17th-century Baroque church.
The base of the fountain consists of a basin, from the centre of which rise four river gods. Above stands an Egyptian obelisk.
Together the gods represent four great rivers of the four continents over which papal authority had spread: the Nile stands for Africa, the Danube for Europe, the Ganges for Asia and the Río de la Plata for America.
The Spanish Steps are a staircase that climbs a steep slope between Piazza di Spagna at the bottom and Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top, where the church of Trinità dei Monti stands.
In 1953 the stairs were featured in the film "Roman Holiday", starring the iconic actress Audrey Hepburn. The sight is often referenced in media eversince.
Villa Borghese is a beautiful large park just north of Rome's historic centre which features several small sights. We rented a group-bicycle at Bici Pincio to explore the park's temples, sculptures and monuments. From the Terrazza del Pincio you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Piazza del Popolo, with the famous "twin" churches and the Egyptian obelisk in the centre of the square. Even though the park is not one of the most famous sights in the city, we found the change of scenery quite pleasant.
Located inside the city of Rome, lies the smallest country in the world, Vatican City.
Within the county stand several religious and cultural sites such as the St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums, which feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures.
There are no passport controls for visitors entering Vatican City and access to the Saint Peter's Square and the iconic Basilica is free of charge. However, keep in mind that, just like in Italy, you must cover your knees and shoulders to enter religious sites.
There is no general public access to the gardens and excavations underneath the basilica, but you can book a guided tour to visit these sights.
The entrance to the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel is north of the Saint Peter's Square. The admission fees vary depending on what kind of ticket you'd like, starting from 17€ for the general entrance. "Skip the line"-passes and guided tours are, of course, more expensive. You can take pictures of the giant halls filled with marvellous art in the museums, but unfortunately photography is forbidden in the Sistine Chapel. The magnificent treasures of Vatican City are definitely worth a visit.
Food:
Restaurants in Rome are quite expensive, especially near the historic centre where your accommodation will most likely be located. However, you don't want to miss out on the experience of the renowned cuisine when visiting Italy's capital.
CiPASSO Bistrot is one of the finer restaurants. Here, pasta dishes cost about 15€ and second courses 20-25€, which are pretty low prices considering the restaurant's location and upscale cuisine. You should book a table in advance as the restaurant is quite popular.
Pasta In Corso is a little streetfood-like diner that, among other things, serves delightful homemade pasta dishes. The prices are mostly below the 10€ mark, which is unbeatable for such amazing food in the centre of Rome.
In conclusion, due to its rich history dating back almost three thousand years and giving the city countless sights, it is not surprising that Rome is one of the most visited destinations in the world. The city's numerous monuments, excavation sites and other architectural wonders put it on probably everybody's bucket list. The entire Historic Centre of Rome and the Properties of the Holy See were deemed a UNSCO World Heritage Site and are definitely worth a visit.
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