By Rachel Diebel
Full of art and ancient history, Rome spent many centuries as a center of power and still holds on to some of that character. It is impossible to walk more than five minutes without encountering a swooping colonnade or imposing facade. It can be difficult to sort through the dozens of attractions in the city, especially if you only have a short time to spend there. Making sure to hit the highlights is essential for anyone’s first trip to Rome, and if the myth of the Trevi Fountain is true, you will find yourself back in the city again before you know it.
Vatican City
Vatican City is a quick Metro ride from Rome’s city center, and is well worth the three euro round-trip ticket. The Roman Metro is incredibly easy to navigate, with only two lines that cross at Roma Termini, the main railway station. Taking line A to the Ottaviano stop puts you a short walk from the famous round plaza in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica.
The Basilica itself is open to the public for free entry almost every day. Take your time wandering through, because Saint Peter’s is one of the largest and most ornate basilicas in the world. Boasting the second largest nave in Christendom, St. Peter’s serves as the workplace of the Pope. The Basilica is closed until one o’clock on Wednesday mornings, the traditional time when the Pope greets his followers in the plaza outside the Basilica. Tickets to enter the plaza during this time are necessary, but free. Vatican City is also home to a host of spectacular gardens and museums, including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Buy your ticket ahead of time for these locations, as they are generally packed with tourists.
Roman Forum and Colosseum
Though clearly the most well known of Rome’s many attractions, what most people do not know about the Colosseum is that it sits next to the Forum–acres and acres of land covered in ancients ruins, many of which are as impressive as the Colosseum itself. The best deal for the cash-strapped tourist is to buy a combination ticket to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for 12 euros and be prepared to do a lot of walking.
Save the Colosseum for last and start with the forum and Palatine Hill. These areas alone could take you several hours and you still won’t see all that there is to see, so don’t try. Simply wander and take in the huge stone columns and the ruins of ancient palaces, temples and government buildings.
Be sure to read about the fascinating history of the Vestal Virgins, women chosen at the age of six to serve the church for 30 years and then given elaborate dowries. Then make your way to the Colosseum. The ancient arena still inspires awe, even in its state of crumbling decay. It’s easy to imagine the stands packed with spectators watching a lion and a gladiator battle to the death.
Trevi Fountain
Just wandering around Rome with neon-colored gelato in hand can yield some of the best sights. The Trevi Fountain is tucked away on a narrow cobblestone street between gelato stores and pizza restaurants. This massive fountain, built into the side of a building during the 1700s, can keep you captivated for hours just watching the water flow over the sculptures. Though it will look crowded at first, if you navigate your way to either side there’s usually room enough to sit. Don’t forget to toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain before you leave–tradition says it means you will return to Rome!
The Pantheon
A few streets west of the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon is the best preserved building from ancient Rome. The Pantheon was a temple dedicated to the pagan gods of the era, and boasts some magnificent architecture, including the largest dome in ancient Rome. The dome has an opening at its apex called an oculus that provides the temple with large amounts of natural light. Visit in the evening to see the lights of the city illuminate this beautiful structure.
Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps are another beautiful attraction, and are located in a very posh and beautiful neighborhood in north Rome. They’re hard to miss–just look for the giant obelisk pointing toward the sky. At the bottom of the steps is Piazza di Spagna, which is the location of a lovely fountain and many high-end stores, excellent for shopping if you have the money and the inclination.
Lesser-Known Gems
If you’re looking for the best view of the city, find your way to the top of II Vittoriano, the huge marble monument to Italian King Victor Emmanuel II. Though it’s hard to miss the enormous building topped with statues of an angel being pulled by horse-drawn carriages, fewer tourists venture all the way to the top for the perfect panorama of Rome.
The ruins of Torre Argentina are also worth finding, particularly if you are an animal lover. Rome’s ruins are home to many stray cats, and at Torre Argentina they can find a permanent home in the no-kill cat sanctuary housed there. If you fall in feline love, you can even adopt one to take home with you!
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Photo credits:
Vatican City: Diego Cambiaso via Flickr
Colosseum: Bert Kaufmann via Flickr
Trevi Fountain: Benson Kua via Flickr
The Pantheon: Mr Seb via Flickr
View of Rome from II Vittoriano: Leo-set via Flickr