This is my "Top Ten" list of favorite sights in Rome. Yes, you may disagree with the order or selections, but sightseeing is a personal treat limited to ones own tastes, interests and preferences.

The entire city of Rome is a sightseeing extravaganza. You don't have to go to a museum or historical landmark to see history, just walk the streets! If you visit every sight listed below it will only cost about Lire 52.000 per person (about$26US).

 

 

Although there are many spectacular sights in Europe, this is one will receive a double gasp upon entering. Saint Peters Basilica is the largest church in Christendom, but you don't have to be a devout Roman Catholic or expert historian to appreciate the Baroque and pompous interior. The divine spatial volume of the basilica is perfectly proportioned and is large enough to house Bernini's bronze "baldacchino" (canopy) rising 6 stories above the altar. Pope Julius II began construction of Saint Peters in 1506 and never saw the completion more than 100 years later.

Tip! Restaurants in the area of the Vatican are pricey tourist traps which do not offer very good food. Eat a good breakfast, have a snack near the Vatican and head back to old Rome for lunch or dinner.

Note - No matter what the temperature, shorts, sleeveless tops, mini skirts and other revealing clothing is not permitted. You will be turned away if inappropriately dressed.

Admission - Admission to the Basilica is Free.

For Lire 6.000 (less than US$3.00) take the elevator to the roof of the church where you climb narrow interior steps to the base of the dome for the most spectacular views of Rome.

Vatican Websight - http://www.vatican.va

 

The Piazza Navona is the 17th century showpiece and one of the greatest piazzas in Italy. The piazza is oblong shaped, traffic free and centered with Bernini's famous Fountain of the Four Rivers. The splashing fountain is squared off by four statues, representing the four corners of the globe, centered by an Egyptian obelisk. Legend says the the Bernini statue "Nile" nearest the church of Sant' Agnese in Agone is hiding its head because it can't bear to look on the inferior facade of the church which was built by Borromini. Borromini, a contemporary was sometimes a rival of Bernini.

The Piazza Navona is the perfect location for the evening "passeggiata" (promenade), a light lunch or apéritif in one of the many cafes. The most famous cafe in the Piazza is the Caffé Tre Scallini on the west side. This café invented the "Tartufo", a luscious chocolate ice cream with chocolate chunks and cherries which is frozen, pounded flat and topped with "panna" (whipped cream). If you choose to sit at the tables on the piazza, the cost of the tartufo will be double the take away price (but you have squatters rights to the table for as long as you wish).

TIP! Nearby to the Piazza Navona is also my favorite restaurant the "Antica Taverna" offering a good home cooked Roman meal in a cozy personable atmosphere. There are also a number of restaurant on the Piazza Fico which to the west of Piazza Navona via the street which exits the piazza near the church of Sant' Agnese. The Piazza Navona is also convenient to the antique district (Via Coronari), Pantheon and Campo dei Fiore.

 

The ostentatious Trevi Fountain is located in such a small cramped Piazza that it is hard to stand back and take a photograph. No photograph can capture the essence of this monumental fountain. It's a spectacular blend of Hollywood vs. Rome with its mythical tritons, gods, goddesses, horses and excessive amounts of cool splashing water. Go ahead, throw a coin in the fountain, make a wish, and someday you will return to the eternal city.

 

A visit to Rome would not be complete without seeing the Colosseum. Built in A.D. 80, it is the emblem and most famous monument in Rome. Titus dedicated the Colosseum with 100 days of games where over 9000 animal such as leopards, lions and bears were killed.

The Colosseum is a nice walk from Piazza Venezia and the Vitoriano Monument. It can also be reached using the Metropolitana Line A from the Spanish Steps (station SPAGNA) in the direction of the TERMINI and ANAGNINA, switch trains at the TERMINI station for the Metropolitana Line B in the direction of LAURENTINA and COLOSSEO.

Tip! On the Via della Fori Imperiali as you walk to the Colosseum, therey are numerous street vendors selling all sorts of junqueranging from tee shirts to small statues of Roman landmarks.

Admission - Ground floor: Free admittance - Top floors: Lire 8.000 (less than US$4.00)

A good architectural site : http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Roman_Colosseum.html

Metro Map : http://www.welcomerome.it/busmetro/mappa_metro.html

 

The Sistine Chapel is said to be the greatest painting ever produced. Pope Julius commissioned Michelangelo to single-handedly fresco the 10,000 square foot ceiling. It took four years to complete the masterpiece. In 1990, a ten year restoration was complete which revealed the paintings in their original brilliant colors. Looking up at the painting is like looking into the stories of the heavens. If your neck hurts after the viewing, think of how Michelangelo must have felt after lying on his back on scaffolding for four years. Bring a small pair of binoculars to get up close and detailed views.

Tip! Arrive at the entrance of the Vatican Museum very early to avoid standing in endless lines. To access the Sistine Chapel you will walk through what seems like miles of countless galleries in the Vatican Museum. To save time, bypass all the galleries and head directly for the chapel. You can back track and visit the galleries later.

The Vatican Museum has a number of self guided tours which range from 90 minutes to 5 hours. All tours will eventually lead to the chapel.

Admission : Lire 16.000 (less than US$8.00)

 

Fans of the movie "Roman Holiday", with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, will recognize the Spanish Steps from the scene in the movie where Gregory casually but purposely runs into Audrey at the Spanish Steps. You will also recognize the steps from the film "The Talented Mr. Ripley" in the scene with arranged meetings at a the famous Caffé Greco across from the steps.

At the "Scalinata di Spagna" you will find the world sitting and soaking up the sun while chatting, eating McDonalds, singing, sleeping and photographing. The stairs are trimmed with beautiful azaleas which bloom with brilliant color on the spring. The energetic climb to the top of the steps rewards you with panoramic views of Rome.

Tip! There are many interesting places to shop and eat along the Via Condotti, the street directly opposite the Spanish Steps. Beware! This is the high rent and luxury price district sporting such boutiques as Versace, Gucci, Missoni and Armani. The most famous café in this area is the Antico Café Greco, a 200 year old hangout of the literati and artists. The Caffé Greco is a Roman institution where you can sit and have a coffee, glass of wine or Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) and watch the world go by.

Tip! If you are a bit hungry, try the L'Antica Enoteca located at Via della Croce, 76A. Sit at the bar and select a glass of wine from their extensive wine list with a salad or antipasti plate. See my review of the enoteca by clicking on the link above. L'Antica Enoteca is located on the Via della Croce which also has many affordable and pricey restaurants, cafés and shops.

 

The Pantheon sits on a site of a former Canteen built in 27 B.C. by Augustus's general Agrippa. This Pantheon was built in AD 120 by the emperor Hadrian. Considering it is nearly as old as the Colosseum, the Pantheon is one of Rome oldest and best preserved monuments. Americans will notice the striking resemblance to the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. which was modeled after the Pantheon.

The Pantheon is in a cramped space in the Piazza della Rotunda which is within a short walk from the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona. The small Piazza makes the Pantheon seems small from the outside, but on the inside you will find in immense and timeless interior. Until 1960 the dome was the largest ever built. The dome is uncapped, letting in a circular beam of sunlight as if sent directly from the heavens. Within the Pantheon are tombs of Italian royalty and artists, most notably Raphael who dies at the age of 37. The original bronze doors in the portico have survived over 1800 years, unlike the bronze roof, fittings and gold ornamentation which were carted off by emperors and popes long ago.

Outside the pantheon in the Piazza della Rotunda is a beautiful Baroque Fountain with an ancient Egyptian Obelisk from the time of Ramses II signifying the power and conquest of Rome.

Admission - free

Tip! The are many great cafes and restaurants to get a snack around the Pantheon. If you long for the taste of French fries, McDonalds is right in the Piazza. For an Italian treat head to Tazza d'Oro on Via deglia Orfani off the corner by McDonalds. I am sure that the shops specialty Granita di Caffé con Panna was the inspiration for Starbucks Frappacino. Granita di Caffé con Panna is a delightful combination of whipped cream, espresso and ice blended together to form a perfect refreshing treat as well as an afternoon "pick me up". Tazza d'Oro - Via deglia Orfani, 86

Tip! If Granita di Caffé con Panna at Tazza d'Oro isn't your choice, then head directly for Giolitti for the best gelato in Rome, if not the world. In business over 100 years, it would seem that Grandma Bernardina was still in the kitchen creating their 60 unique flavors. Try one of the unique flavors such as tiramisu, ricotta cheese, rice (riso), rum and nuts (gianduia) or cassata siciliana (Sicilian cake with with candied fruit). Giolitti has so many flavors that one trip would be a crime. To add to the calories, they top you gelato with a big dollop of fresh whipped cream. To order, first go to the cashier and pay for single (singolo), double (doppio) or triple (triplo) scoop. This is the fun part, take your receipt to the counter, pick your selection and join the hoards of people at the counter waving their receipts in the air waiting for their gelati treat. Forget about your manners here, push your way to the front and motion to the server like everyone else. Tell the server whether you want it in a cup (cuppa) or cone (cono). Giolitti stays open real late so donŐt worry about visiting after dinner. Giolitti - Via Uffici del Vicario, 40 (www.giolitti.it)

 

The Vittoriano sits at the beginning of the Via del Corso like an oversized Italian wedding cake. The Vittoriano is a late 19th century monument to the Italy's first King, Vittorio Emanuele II. The monument houses the tomb of the unknown soldier with the eternal flame. The Vittoriano is not open to the public but if you climb the steps you will get one of the best views of Rome.

 

The Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill) is one of the seven hills of Rome and served as the political and religious center of ancient Rome. This is said to be the birthplace of western civilization. In the Palazzo dei Conservatori you will find some great statues such as the bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius from AD 164 which was originally in the Piazza but was moved to the Palazzo to protect it from pollution. In the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori is the colossal fragments of the head, foot, leg and hand of Constantine the Great. The head was originally meant for the emperor's basilica in the Roman Forum where it would have been part of a thirty foot high seated statue.

Admission - Lire 10.000 (less than US$5.00) for both the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo.

Tip! A short walk south from the Campidoglio is the Piazza Bocca della Verita and the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Visitors come to the porch of the church to visit the "Bocca della Verita" - or otherwise known as "The Mouth of Truth". In ancient time, anyone accused of lying was forced to put his hand in the mouth and if he didn't tell the truth the mouth would bite off the hand of the liar. Go ahead, put your hand in the mouth of truth and see if you get bitten! In modern time, it has only been know to bite off four hands (only kidding!). It's a great photo opportunity and if you have seen the film "Roman Holiday" you'll remember Gregory Peck sticking his hand into the mouth and faking the he had been bitten, scaring the daylights out of Audrey Hepburn.

 

The Roman Forum is considered to be one of the top three sights of Rome. So why is it number 10 on my list? Maybe because I didn't pay attention to this part history while I was in school. The Forum is a sight of ruins consisting of marble columns, arches and fragments. Walk around and imagine that this was once filled with temples, palaces and monuments, a destination of people from throughout the world. Take my advise, before you visit, brush up on your history!

Admission - Lire 12.000 (less than US$6.00)

 

 

SINCE FEBRUARY 2001