In Rome we had a long layover between flights, and we, naturally,... At one o'clock in the afternoon we were at Termini. We had about six hours at our disposal.

First of all, we decided to look at the Baths of Diocletian.

These baths are located very close to the station. Emperor Diocletian built them for his people in 305 AD. In area they exceeded all previous buildings of this type. Thus, the no less grandiose Baths of Caracalla occupied 11 hectares, and the Baths of Diocletian – 13 hectares and could accommodate up to 3200 people.

In addition to the washing departments themselves, decorated with all the luxury available at that time, they included libraries, collections of statues and paintings, winter gardens, and halls for physical education and sports. The premises were heated, that is, at any time of the year, any citizen of Rome, including the last poor man, could comfortably spend time there and, not only wash himself, but also improve, so to speak, his cultural level.

Needless to say, the Romans loved to steam. The building is grandiose by today's standards. Suffice it to say that now it houses the National Roman Museum with a collection of works of Roman and Greek art, two churches and a planetarium.

The dome of the planetarium located in the Baths of Diocletian

And many rooms are not used and are represented by Cyclopean ruins.

We approached the museum and upon entering the territory were subjected to a thorough check (due to the difficult situation with terrorism).

in front of the museum entrance

We did not buy a ticket to the museum, since in addition to the Baths of Diocletian, the ticket includes visits to several other sites: the Balbi Crypts, Palazzo Altemps and Palazzo Massimo. We decided that it would be more logical to buy a ticket when we have more time and can visit everything included in the ticket.

Thus, we limited ourselves to an external inspection of the grandiose ruins - truly impressive!

Having crossed a busy street, we found ourselves at Naiad fountain on Republic Square.

The fountain was designed by Mario Rutelli and opened in 1901. Four nymphs surround the sea god Glaucus. The Lake Nymph sits on a swan, the River Nymph on a river monster, the Ocean Nymph on a sea monster, and the Underground Water Nymph on a dragon. The god Glaucus, who according to legend was originally a man and who fights with a dolphin, is a symbol of man’s victory over the elements. According to tourist legend, if you walk around the fountain and make a wish, it will come true. We did this. We're waiting, sir.

When the fountain was opened, the naked statues seemed too erotic, and at first it was surrounded by a fence. Now, in the light of current ideas about morality, it is not entirely clear what caused this.

After visiting the fountain and admiring the semicircular buildings surrounding the square, designed by Gaetano Coch and decorated with magnificent sculpture,

we decided to go back and visit Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, located in one of the premises of the former thermal baths. I thought that you could only enter this church with a ticket. But no, the church is active, admission is free.

Entrance to the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

Visiting the church, designed by Michelangelo himself, was a revelation for me. Imagine, Michelangelo built a church in one of the rooms of Diocletian’s Baths, not much smaller in size than St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg. How big were these baths inside originally?! The length of the church is 90 m (St. Isaac's size is 100 by 100 m), the height of the vaults is 29 m.

The church was completed in 1556, after Michelangelo's death, and was rebuilt several times after 1700. On a tablet inside the church, it is written that Pope Pius the 4th ordered Michelangelo to rebuild the best preserved part of the baths into a church because Emperor Diocletian was a persecutor of Christians.

Michelangelo had great respect for ancient culture and approached the issue delicately, trying to preserve the ancient Roman heritage as best as possible and show its greatness. This is how this one of the most unusual churches appeared. It contains a lot of genuine masterpieces of painting and sculpture, not only Italian work, but also French, in particular, the sculpture of St. Bruno by Houdon. Moreover, wonderful music is constantly playing. The experience is unforgettable.

More. At the beginning of the 18th century, Pope Clement the 11th ordered the scientist Francesco Bianchini to lay a meridian along the floor of the church. There were three goals: 1st - to check the accuracy of the Gregorian calendar, 2nd - to obtain a tool for determining the date of Easter, and 3rd - the ambitious pope wanted to outdo Bologna, where a similar meridian already existed.

Due to the fact that the ancient baths were oriented strictly from south to north (in order to better use the sun's heat), the sun's ray from the round window in the dome at 12:15 was directed strictly along the meridian. The meridian, ordered for the new year 1700, was ready in 1702.

meridian in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

There is also a Foucault pendulum, showing the daily rotation of the Earth.

Who remembers, there was such a pendulum in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. But there, according to the Bolsheviks’ plan, he proved that there is no God. And in the Roman church he proves how great God is, having arranged everything so complexly and perfectly. As we see, opposite conclusions can be drawn from the same phenomenon.

The Chinese also showed up in the nice courtyard of the church, erecting a monument to Galileo Galilei. It is immediately obvious, in my opinion, that Galileo’s face was not sculpted by a European.

Galileo Galilei, sculpted by a Chinese sculptor

church yard

We leisurely walked around Rome, admiring the architectural masterpieces, which are countless in the Great City.

Fountain in San Bernardo Square

Church of San Bernardo, located in one of the corner rotundas of the Baths of Diocletian

Anglican Church of San Paolo Dentro La Mura

We went to the Anglican Church of San Paolo Dentro La Mura. The church is quite recent, from the end of the 19th century, but it is beautiful both outside and inside and is well worthy of being in Rome. Some of its mosaics were made by the Pre-Raphaelite Edward Burne-Jones.

Feeling hungry, we started looking for somewhere to eat. We went into a diner where locals were sitting - this always speaks in favor of the establishment. When we ordered, due to mutual misunderstanding (both we and the employees of the establishment do not speak English perfectly) we took 2 pieces of meat for each instead of one. “Paris (in our case, Rome) is worth mass (we have lunch),” so we ordered 2 more bottles of wine, 0.25 liters each. We were afraid of a big score, but the result was only 13 for two. It turns out that in Rome you can eat cheaply (by European standards, of course) and satisfyingly.

Soon we found ourselves near the Police Tower.

Police Tower

I would translate its name as “Mentovskaya”, this is more consistent with its purpose. And that's why. It was not created in ancient times and therefore could not have been the place from where, as modern tourist legend says, Nero watched the fire in Rome. It was built in the Middle Ages, when gangs of local feudal lords operated on the ruins of the former imperial metropolis. It was built by the Aretino family at the end of the 12th century in order to control their area and monitor competitors who had fortified themselves in the castle of St. Angela.

Then it changed hands several times until it lost its military significance and became simply one of the city’s attractions. Now its height is about 50 m, but before the earthquake of 1348 it was much higher.

Church of St. Catherine of Siena

In front of the tower is the beautiful church of St. Catherine of Siena, one of the patron saints of Italy. As you can understand from the sign, this church is related to the Italian armed forces, which is probably why 2 soldiers were on duty on its steps.

Leaving the church, we found ourselves in front of the entrance to the Imperial Forums, which we went to for 11.5 euros.

“Forum” in translation means market. But this grandiose structure rather corresponds to the modern concept of a “shopping and entertainment center.”

This is what forums looked like in ancient times

The "Imperial Forums" include those of Caesar (46 BC), Augustus (2 BC), Vespasian (75 AD), Nerva (98 AD), Trajan (113 AD) and the Temple Mira. Despite the fact that almost nothing remains of the marble and other decorations, the forum still makes an indelible impression. It occurred to me that modern humanity still has a long way to go before the ancient Romans.

The forum (or rather, what is left of it) has several levels. We either climbed to the very top, then went down, moved from level to level, from the interior to the outside, along galleries, balustrades, and stairs.

The overall impression was spoiled by the modern abstract sculptures placed here and there; they kept getting into the frame. Like, “and we can do no worse.” I don’t know how it is for anyone, but compared to the background of Roman creations, they hurt my eyes. They are discordant with the perfect and strict ancient forms.

modern statue

This is by no means a simple cobblestone, but the creation of a Japanese sculptor

And it was warm outside, street musicians were playing Piazzola, very suitable for this not-so-November-warm evening. Downstairs, where it was free, crowds of people were wandering around (and on the forum, where there was money, there was almost no one).

Flocks of birds soared in the sky, cats ran on the ground among the ruins. And all this against the backdrop of Trajan’s Column, churches and other architectural wonders. By the way, the “Altar of the Fatherland,” which is usually scolded and compared to a typewriter, looked sublime and majestic from this angle (and even against the backdrop of the pre-sunset sky). How glorious it was in those moments!

Altar of the Fatherland

It was getting dark, and it was time to return to the railway station to go to the airport. We couldn’t help but once again pass by the Colosseum, where it was very crowded that evening.

From the Colosseum we climbed Oppio Hill, walked through Trajan's Park and soon reached the Church of Santa Prassede.

This church is somewhat in the shadow of its neighbor, the magnificent Santa Maria Maggiore, but is no less striking. Hidden in the depths of this modest church are wonderful, slightly naive mosaics from the early 9th century. Also kept here is such a Christian shrine as the “scourging pillar” to which Christ was tied when he was beaten with whips.

Of course, after Santa Prassede we also stopped at Santa Maria Maggiore.

And soon we were already at the station and looking for where the trains departed for the airport.

It seems like we spent only a short time in Rome, but Rome has many faces and is so full of masterpieces that even a short walk allows you to see a lot and leaves a stunning impression. How many wonderful creations are concentrated in Rome! How great and beautiful the Eternal City is!

Air ticket price calendar

Useful websites for preparing for your trip

Rome itineraries for 1, 2 and 3 days

Especially for those who are going to Rome for a relatively short period of time and want to get to know this beautiful city as closely as possible, we have prepared several routes for walking around it. So, what can you see in Rome in one, two or three days?

Day 1 - Rome in one day

We think that no one would think of purposefully visiting Rome for just one day. As a rule, such situations arise only when Rome is used as a transit point and a long transfer is made. In this case, the question arises: how to spend this day with interest and benefit? Let's look at all the possible options.

If you are little interested in the main attractions of the city (Colosseum, Vatican, etc.) or, say, this is not your first time visiting Rome, then the most suitable solution would be not to go to the city at all, but from Fiumicino airport go straight to... .sea! The cities closest to Rome, located on the coast, are, of course, far from the most luxurious Italian resorts, but they are also quite pleasant places to relax. Read more about how and where to relax by the sea near Rome in our special article.

For those who can’t wait to see the Colosseum and other ancient sights of the “eternal city” with their own eyes, welcome to Rome! Let's see what you can see here in just one day.

Rome route on the map

Colosseum and Roman Forum

You need to start your journey around the city depending on where you are staying in Rome. If it is somewhere near the center, for example, near Termini Station, then you can safely go on foot. If you live far away, then go to the nearest metro station and go to Colosseo station. This is where our route will begin.

The first objects on our way: the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and nearby - the Triumphal Arch of Constantine

If you only have one insignificant day in Rome, then there is absolutely no point in entering their territory - a waste of time. All the beauties can be perfectly viewed from observation platforms located along the Forum territory.

Read on our blog:

Vittoriano Monument and Piazza Venezia

Having taken plenty of photographs and admired the ancient ruins of the Forum and the mighty Colosseum, we go out to the Vittoriano monument, in Piazza Venezia.

Trevi Fountain

After seeing all the sights here, we walk along Via Cesare Battisti (if you stand with your back to Vittoriano and look at the square, then to the right), and then turn into Piazza santi Apostoli - we move towards the famous Trevi Fountain. On our way we will meet several more interesting objects. We need to walk about 600 meters and we will get to the Trevi Fountain - one of the most beautiful fountains in the world.

Don't forget to throw a coin into it - this is a mandatory item on every traveler's list of top things to do in Rome.

From Trevi we go out to Piazza Colonna and move towards the Pantheon, about 600 meters.

I think it's time to rest and refresh yourself, isn't it? Not far from the Pantheon there is a coffee shop La Casa Del Caffè Tazza D'oro (marked on the map) - here, according to most, is the best coffee in the city.

Pantheon and Piazza Navona

Having rested here, we move to the Pantheon. Be sure to go inside (entrance is free).

From the Pantheon it is just a few steps to Piazza Navona - one of the most beautiful and picturesque in Rome.

After Navona, if you still have some strength left, we go to the coast of the Tiber. From here you have an excellent view of another significant landmark of Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo (Mausoleum of Hadrian). But for now, we are walking past it - we’ll leave it for the second day (for those who only have one day in Rome, you can cross the bridge and walk to the castle if you have any strength left). We move in a straight line to Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps. You need to walk a little less than a kilometer.

Plaza de España

Piazza di Spagna is the final destination of your walk around Rome on the first day. The total length of the route is 4.5 km. If you walk slowly and pay due attention to all the sights, then you will find yourself at Piazza di Spagna by evening. Here is the Spagna metro station, which will take us home.

On the first day, you can also take advantage of interesting excursions around Rome with Russian-speaking guides. They will not only guide you along a similar route, but will also tell you a lot of interesting information about the culture and history of this great city. There are not only group walking tours to choose from, but also individual ones, using your guide’s personal transport! More information about excursions is at the end of the article.

Video Top 10 attractions in Rome

Rome 2 day

If anyone thinks that all the most interesting things in Rome were seen on the first day, then they are greatly mistaken. Ahead of us is a tour of one of the most popular attractions in Italy, as well as a walk through the most colorful district of its capital.

Probably everyone knows that the Vatican is a separate independent state, which is the smallest in the world. It can be called small not only in relation to the concept of “state”, but also in relation to the size of the city itself. In addition, half of its entire territory is inaccessible to ordinary tourists. But even that insignificant part that remains is incredibly interesting and popular - it’s not for nothing that the Vatican attracts millions of tourists.

Route Rome - Trastevere on the map

Before crossing the Vatican border, it is worth taking a look at the territory of another very interesting object located nearby - Hadrian's Mausoleum, or Castel Sant'Angelo. It can be seen from almost any point on the Tiber embankment, but you can’t even imagine what a wonderful view opens from here to Rome itself.

Next we go directly to the Vatican. A few minutes later we emerge into St. Peter's Square, and right in front of us rises the colossal, magnificent St. Peter's Basilica. Actually, what you see in front of you is the Vatican, or rather that part of it that is accessible to us mere mortals :)

What else do we see here, besides the cathedral, the obelisk and two semicircular colonnades? Right! A long line trying to get inside. And we need to defend it. Necessarily! Having accomplished this feat, we buy a ticket (5 euros) and climb to the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica, from where an unforgettable view of Rome opens. Do you remember the list of things that you definitely need to do in Rome? :) Read more about visiting the Vatican and climbing the dome -.

From the dome we descend directly into the cathedral - its decoration will also amaze you with its beauty. Next, we recommend that you visit the Vatican Museum. Even if you are not an art lover, believe me, this place is worth a visit. At least for the sake of the Sistine Chapel. Tickets can be pre-purchased online (16 euros), thus avoiding the long queue.

Regardless of whether you decide to visit the Vatican Museum or not, our journey is not over yet. We leave the Vatican and go to the territory of the Trastevere district - a popular historical district of Rome, which still preserves the real Italian atmosphere, culture and traditions. This is where the best pizzerias in the city are located (we marked them on the map).

There are no popular attractions here, but we didn’t come to Rome only for them, did we? Actually, your route along Trastevere can be adjusted as you wish. We'll give you just a couple of tips: be sure to go through its center - Piazza Santa Maria in Transvere, and also take a walk along the Tiber. Having reached the island of Tiberina, you can cross the bridge and find yourself in fact in the center of Rome, where metro stations are located very close.

We recommend that you go through all of Trastevere and turn at the Ponte Testaccio bridge. Then walk a little more and come to another landmark of Rome - the Pyramid of Cestius. And right here is the Piramide metro station, which will be the end point of our walk around Rome.

Rome for 3 days

What to do in Rome on day 3? Finding a detailed route around the city is quite difficult, since the remaining attractions are located in spots around the city, away from the historical center, which means you need to take a special trip. For example, Villa Borghese is an urban landscape park where you can retire and be in silence, as well as take a break from the scorching heat (if you are visiting Rome in the summer). Another popular attraction is the Baths of Caracalla - huge ruins of ancient baths, the construction of which began in the 2nd century BC.

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Some rules for finding cheap air tickets can be found in this article.

Cheap housing

Every traveler, of course, wants to optimize their costs and find a good hotel (or apartment) in terms of price/quality ratio. Thus, the more options you are offered, the more likely you are to find the best one. Therefore, your search can be greatly facilitated by the Hotellook service, which searches for the best accommodation booking systems.

You don't need to compare prices on different services yourself - Hotellook will do it for you!

Insurance

To obtain a Schengen visa, as is known, the list of required documents includes an insurance policy for those traveling abroad.

When traveling to other countries where a visa is not required, taking out an insurance policy for the safety of you and your family members will also not be amiss, especially if you are traveling with children.

Excursions

The best way to get to know a new city is through guided tours from local residents. To do this, many travelers use services such as Sputnik8.

Rome is the largest city in Italy, the political, economic and cultural center of the entire European Community, which has existed for more than 29 centuries. This is a tourist paradise with a great variety of attractions, located so densely that the entire city seems like a huge open-air museum.

Climate in Rome

Transport in Rome

Rome has a well-functioning, extensive public transport system. You can get around the city by bus, tram or taxi. The bus, as a rule, does not stop at all stops, so you need to catch it so that it does not pass by. Tickets can be purchased at newsstands and cigarette kiosks for 1 euro. This ticket, called metrebus, is valid for 75 minutes and covers not only the bus, but also the metro. Such a ticket is printed in small yellow boxes - if you do not do this, the controller may require you to pay a large fine.

The metro is the most convenient and fastest way to travel, operating from 5:30 to 23:30. However, due to the abundance of cultural monuments that are still being discovered in Rome, there are no metro stations in the historical center of the city. There are only two metro lines in the city, A and B, and trains run along them at fairly large intervals - 10-20 minutes.

Expert advice! Be careful on public transport, especially on the metro and buses leading towards the Vatican: these are routes 64 and 640, as well as metro trains on line A. Pickpockets are active here, as special signs in the city warn about. Do not carry documents or large sums of money in your pockets. If you are driving, leave the car in guarded parking lots, having first removed everything valuable from the interior. Ladies are better off giving up a handbag in favor of a backpack - hooligans on motorcycles snatch them out of their hands right on the go.

The main attractions in Rome: what to see first?

In Rome, every street, every corner is imbued with its own amazing atmosphere; at every step there are a huge number of attractions, including the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, many churches and fountains.

Expert advice! For those who are visiting the city for the first time, or who have a limited amount of time for sightseeing, it will be useful to book an introductory walk around Rome, or a tourist bus route, prices for which start from 15 euros.

Colosseum

Where is the Colosseum? Address: Colosseo metro station, Viadei Fori Imperiali

The Colosseum is a symbol of Rome, its calling card. His image can be seen on a variety of postcards, souvenirs, figurines and calendars. In the past, the Colosseum served as an arena for spectacles - fights of strong bloodthirsty gladiators with each other and with wild animals took place here, on these stands, capable of accommodating 50 thousand spectators.

This is an incredible figure for those times, but the size and grandeur of the structure still impresses tourists today. You can't say you've been to Rome without visiting this legendary ancient arena.

Ticket to the Colosseum can be bought for 12 euros - it is valid for 24 hours, and in addition to everything else, it includes, on top of everything else, entrance to the Palatine Hill, where, according to legend, a she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus. Entrance to the territory is also included in the ticket price. Imperial Forums. If you are not going to spend money on a ticket, then you can look at the Forums and the Palatine Hill from the heights of Fori Imperiali Street - this delightful panorama will give no less than unforgettable emotions.

Address: Piazza Venezia

This square was named Venetian Square in honor of the grandiose luxurious palace of Venice, which Cardinal Paul II built on this site in the 15th century. The main attraction of the piazza is the majestic monument to Vittorio Emanuele, the first king of the United Italy. The Renaissance Museum is also located here, and the best panoramic platform in the city.

Here, a lover of horseback riding can rent a horse-drawn carriage with a driver for a promenade around the capital. Here, on large marble benches, you can taste the delicious ice cream cones sold nearby, and admire the huge statue of the king and the marble sculptures of the gods of antiquity at the foot of the Vittoriano.

True, sometimes there are too many tourists here, constantly clicking their cameras.

In December it is especially beautiful here - on Christmas Eve, a tall Christmas tree is erected here, decorated with garlands, balls and ribbons. Cars and horses clattering their hooves drive around this tree.

In addition, Piazza Venezia is the beginning of the city's main shopping alley, Via del Corso, along which there are numerous expensive and budget shops and boutiques.

Getting to Piazza Venezia You can walk from the Colosseum and Colosseo metro station along Via Fori Imperiali, along the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Imperial Forums and ancient bronze sculptures of Roman rulers.

Spanishstaircase in Rome

Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti

The Spanish Steps in Rome are rightly called the most beautiful in Europe. All this is thanks to its grandiose size and magnificent baroque architectural style. It is worth visiting this attraction in the spring, when the azalea blooms and the stairs become especially beautiful.

The Spanish Steps start right in the middle of Piazza di Spagna and, rushing upward, reach Pincio Hill. It consists of 138 concave steps made of travertine. Their width constantly changes throughout the entire structure.

The staircase was designed by the architects de Sanctis and Specchi in 1726, and its complete reconstruction was completed in 1977.

This is a favorite place for Romans and tourists for walks and meetings. The townspeople love to sit here, reading the newspaper, talking, having lunch. The sound of rushing water is soothing after a noisy city life.

You can get to the Spanish Steps by metro, getting off at Spagna station. At the very top of the stairs, be sure to check out the Church of the Holy Trinity (Santa Trinità dei Monti). An unusually elegant sculpture by Daniele da Volterra, called “The Descent from the Cross,” is kept here.

Conclusion

This is just a small list of what you can see in Rome. But it’s worth starting from these places, especially if you’re passing through Rome for a few days.

When preparing for your trip to Rome, you have probably already seen a lot of travel tips and recommendations. Surely you have heard about and are ready to complete the “obligatory” tourist program in the Eternal City. But if this is not enough for you, if you want not just to see famous “postcard” places, but to feel this city, feel its atmosphere, and maybe even fall in love with it, then we offer some interesting ideas of what to do in the Eternal City. We will not limit ourselves to just visiting famous places; we will not advise throwing coins into the fountain and doing other “tourist” things. Only what you can remember with inspiration and enthusiastically tell your friends about. So, what should you do in Rome to see this city from new sides and at least for a little while feel like a “Roman” (or Roman woman)? We share interesting ideas for your Roman holidays.

Stroll around Rome at sunrise

Few tourists get to experience Rome free of tourist crowds. Walk along the ancient streets, see the sleepy ruins of the ancient city, admire the deserted... Seems incredible? Don’t be lazy at least once to wake up at dawn and discover a Rome that most tourists are not familiar with: quiet, deserted, cozy. Walk through the ancient, not yet fully awakened streets, take a short break from the tourist bustle... This will help you feel why Rome is called the Eternal City, why it has inspired people for centuries.

Spend a relaxing evening strolling through Rome's piazzas

Rome is an amazingly multifaceted city. Therefore, we recommend not only wandering around the deserted city at dawn, admiring its sleepy beauty and comprehending the secrets of the Eternal City, but also doing something exactly the opposite. Namely, to plunge headlong into the noisy and bustling life of Roman squares that never “sleep”. But the place is especially lively in the evenings, when locals and tourists fill it, turning ancient architectural ensembles into party places. People fill the steps in front of churches, cling to fountains, vigorously discussing the latest news, laughing and enjoying life... Join us!

Wander through the ancient streets of the Monti and Trastevere districts

These colorful areas will allow you to feel the real Roman atmosphere. Iconic Roman attractions, as a rule, do not need recommendations - they invariably attract crowds of tourists. Almost every tourist leaving Rome has a collection of photographs of the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican and other places that everyone knows about. But we don’t want to be “like everyone else”?! We want to feel the real Rome and see it not only as a “postcard” and touristic, but also alive, everyday, unique…. So let’s take a look at the charming authentic areas of Monti and Trastevere and take an inspired stroll through their ancient streets.

Monti is located very close to the Colosseum, but it is much quieter and perhaps even more interesting. In this area of ​​Rome you can see picturesque houses covered with ivy, ancient churches, and tiny alleys that remember many stories and legends. And also accidentally stumble upon small shops of young designers, where you will find unique items, sometimes even made in a single copy.

Walking around the city with an audio guide is even more interesting! We walk through some of the streets and squares of the Monti district on the excursion "".

Trastevere also has a unique Roman flavor. Here you will be enchanted by the houses surrounded by flowers, you will be enchanted by the curved medieval streets, cozy squares and ancient basilicas. And if you climb to the top of the Janiculum Hill, you will be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views of Rome.

Enjoy ice cream in one of the legendary gelaterias

Delicate Roman gelato (gelato - ice cream) is so famous that, perhaps, it can even be included in the list of Roman attractions. You can try ice cream almost everywhere in Rome, and almost everywhere it will be delicious. But to approach this matter with feeling and sense, take a look at one of the famous Roman gelaterias. They will amaze you with the widest selection of excellent ice cream. Among the most famous gelaterias are Giolitti on Via Uffici del Vicario 40 and Sant’Eustacchio on piazza Sant’Eustacchio 82.

Dine in Trastevere

Roman cuisine can take a special place in the collection of your impressions of this city. But it’s worth getting to know it in authentic places. Around the iconic Roman sights - the Colosseum, the Vatican and others - there are many dubious establishments, which are distinguished not only by inflated “tourist” prices, but also by not very good cuisine. In addition, you are unlikely to see the Romans themselves there. And watching the locals and communicating with them is a most interesting experience that will help make your trip bright and eventful.

Advice. The presence of Italians themselves in a restaurant or trattoria is also a good indicator of the quality of the cuisine. Italians are great gourmets, spoiled by excellent cuisine. They simply will not go where the food is poor. So go where the locals go.

We have already mentioned one of the most authentic and colorful areas of Rome - Trastevere. This area on the western bank of the Tiber is famous not only for its cozy old streets and houses, but also for its abundance of excellent trattorias and restaurants. Here you can have a very tasty and relatively inexpensive dinner in an open-air cafe, enjoying not only the food, but also the unique atmosphere.

Read about the features and specialties of Roman cuisine, and what you should try in Rome.

Relax in one of Rome's parks

Roman parks and gardens are unique, like everything Roman! Many of them are ancient villas, where you can not only relax in nature, but also get involved in art. For example, the famous Villa Borghese- a huge landscape park on the Pincio hill, the history of which begins in the 17th century, when Cardinal Scipione Borghese laid out a park on the site of the vineyards. For centuries it was the family villa of the Borghese family, and at the beginning of the 20th century the park became owned by the city.

If you decide to take a closer look at the ancient ruins on the Palatine Hill (for example, with our audio tour “”), you can very pleasantly relax in Farnese Gardens. This picturesque park was laid out here by Cardinal Farnese (the future Pope Paul III) back in the 16th century, and later the park turned into a luxurious villa with fountains and beautiful pavilions.

Small cozy parks can be found in the very center of Rome. If you're nearby, check it out Villa Celimontana, V Orange Garden (Savello Park) on the Aventine Hill or to the small parks on the Quirinal Hill (Villa Carlo Alberto and the Garden of Sant’Andrea). Lovers of beautiful plants will love the Roman Botanical Garden.

Our website will help you find a good park nearby. Select a filter for the “Breathe Fresh Air” category.

Admire panoramic views of Rome from the tops of its hills

As you know, Rome stands on the legendary seven hills. In reality there are even more hills. Therefore, there are many opportunities to enjoy panoramic views in the Eternal City. Magnificent views from Aventine Hill– from the observation deck located in the cozy and romantic Savello Park (better known as the Orange Garden). Another opportunity to view the city from above and take excellent panoramic photos will be at Villa Borghese, at the top Pincio Hill– there is also an excellent observation deck there. Climbing the famous Spanish Steps, by the way, you will find yourself on the same Pincho hill. From the top of the stairs you will see, albeit not as large-scale, but still impressive views of Piazza di Spagna and the ancient houses surrounding it.

Breathtaking panoramas of ancient Roman ruins (and not only) open from various observation platforms on Palatine Hill. While walking along it and remembering the history of the great empire, do not forget to examine the surroundings, as the ancient Roman rulers did from the top of this hill.

Capitol Hill is also inextricably linked with the ancient history of Rome. On it you can admire not only the ensemble of the Capitoline Square, designed by the great Michelangelo, and the medieval Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, but also beautiful views of Rome. It is at Capitol Hill that our tour with the audio guide “” ends.

Advice for those traveling withiPhone and sTravelry . Filter by "Admire the Views" category in your Rome guide to see a selection of the best viewpoints in Rome.

Visit a farmers market

And perhaps have a picnic using the products purchased there! This is an interesting (and tasty!) experience that will give you a lot of new impressions. Every morning in the ancient square of Campo dei Fiori ( Campo dei Fiori, which means “Flower Field”), there is a farmers market where you can buy delicious and fresh Italian products. True, many tourists have already heard about this, which affects prices. But the fact that this is one of the oldest markets in Rome will give a special flavor to these purchases!

There is also an excellent farmers market near Circo Massimo - this is the Campania Amica market ( Mercato di Campagna Amica del Circo Massimo). You can find it at Via San Teodoro, 74. Unlike the market at Campo dei Fiori, it is open only on weekends, but the market at Circo Massimo is visited only by locals. So it's even more interesting! Plus, you can try all products for free before purchasing.

Secret. Next door to the Campania Amica market is one of the best pastry shops in Rome: Cristalli di Zucchero. True, there are no seats, but these inconveniences are compensated by excellent delicacies.

Hide from the hustle and bustle in an ancient Roman basilica

In ancient Roman basilicas you can hide not only from the tourist noise (as well as from the heat and rain) and take a little break from the “race” to see the sights, thinking about the eternal. Here you can also see genuine masterpieces of art. By the way, a huge part of the works stored in museums today were originally created specifically for churches. Therefore, in the basilica, paintings and sculptures of outstanding masters (Caravaggio, Michelangelo and many others) are located exactly in the places for which they were intended and intended by their authors.

You can find a selection of the most interesting churches in Rome in, as well as in the free one, which can be installed on your iPhone. Select a filter by the category “Think about the eternal” - and you can easily find interesting temples with brief descriptions, photos and locations on the map.

Take a walk along the Appian Way, breathing in the spirit of thousands of years of history

If you have already had your fill of the sights of the center of Rome, allow yourself to move away from the beaten tourist routes and breathe not only fresh air, but also ancient history. If time permits, you can plan a walking or cycling trip along the Appian Way. This is one of the oldest Roman roads, along which there are many ancient and medieval buildings, including the famous Roman catacombs. And on the road itself, the antique covering has partially been preserved. Inspecting ancient monuments will not be very stressful, since along most of the road there is a good park area, which is pleasant to walk and ride a bike.