The Trevi Fountain and other Rome, Italy Things to Do Tips

Fontana di Treve, or Trevi Fountain as we American's call it, is thought to get its name from the three streets (tre vie) that come together at this rather small piazza. Although the present fountain wasn't finished until 1732-1751, it was started some hundred years earlier. It's source is still the Aqua Vergine aqueduct, although for the past 40 or so years it has been chemically treated and partially recirculated by a system of electric pumps. The fountain was cleaned and restored for the first time from 1989-91, but needed it again by 1999. The Large archway representing the palace of Neptune. Neptune is in the statue in the chariot drawn by sea horses. Other white marble statues also adorn the beautiful fountain.
We took the metro to the Spagna station, checked out the Spanish Steps, then walked the couple blocks to the Trevi Fountain. There are plenty of signs around the central part of the city to steer you in the right direction.

The fountain is a beautiful spot to stop and rest for awhile---or to sit and enjoy a gelati from a nearby stand. There's even a drinking fountain there for refilling your water bottle. But it's not recommended that you drink from the Trevi fountain because of all the chemicals in it. And, yes, we threw a couple coins in the fountain to make sure that we'll be coming back.

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Address: Via del Tritone
Directions: a short walk from the Spanish Steps (Spagna metro station)---follow the signs.

The Pantheon was rebuilt in A. D. 117-125 by Emperor Hadrian to replace an earlier temple built in 27 B.C. The Romans were the first to use concrete in building and the Pantheon is a great example of their work. They molded the concrete on the ground to get the domed top, then it was hoisted into place on top of a rotunda. The Pantheon was originally dedicated as a temple to all gods, hence the name. Of all the buildings of ancient Rome, the Pantheon is the best preserved. Its masonry dome is the largest ever built and one of the greatest achievements of the Roman engineering.
Although the outside looks quite old, the interior has been restored and is quite beautiful. Even the light beaming in through the oculus (the hole in the domed roof) is interesting. In case it rains, there are 4 holes in the floor under the oculus so that the water can drain out. There were chairs set up in front of the alter where masses are still held.

The Pantheon is a short walk from the Trevi Fountain. Just look for the well marked signs, or follow the crowds. Like the Trevi Fountain, and so many other Roman ruins, entry into it is free and there is plenty of space so that the crowd wasn't distracting.

It does seem odd to have these ancient ruins surrounded by so many modern buildings.

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Address: Piazza della Rotunda
Directions: a short walk from the Trevi Fountain. Follow the well marked signs.

This is the original Roman Forum (there eventually were several) and had been a marketplace, financial center, seat of government, home to the legislature, site of the courts, shopping mall, city park and general gathering place. The word forum generally referred to the open space in any Roman town where business, judicial, civic, or religious activities were conducted. The Roman Forum was the largest forum in Rome and is the most famous.
Even before Caesar's time, the forum was continuously being built. But by the end of the 400's AD, several attacks on Rome finally caused the end of the Roman empire. The temples, basilicas, and other monuments in the Forum were abandoned and looted. For hundreds of years, this continued until the site became known as Campo Vaccino (the Cow Field). In the nineteenth century,it became known as the Roman Forum again.

Today, the best preserved monuments are the 2 triumphal arches. The rest of the ruins are mostly temples or basilicas. What a fabulous place it must have been. What an eerie feeling walking around a place where people had spent so much time thousands of years ago!

We accidentally came upon the forum from Capitoline Hill, where we got a great overview of the forum. The other entrance is across from the Coloseum. It is free and there are drinking fountains throughout the area. We went to see it lit up at night, but it is closed off then. You might be able to see it by night from Capitoline Hill, but we were by the Coloseum and to tired to make the rather long walk.

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Address: Via dei Fori Imperiali
Directions: Across from the Colosseum

The Flavian Amphitheatre was built in 72 A.D. by the Roman emperor Vespasian and it was finished by his son TItus in 80 A.D. THe Flavian amphitheatre took the name Colosseum from the huge statue of Nero that stood at the entrance of it. The Colosseum was damaged by many earthquakes and was transformed into a fortress for awhile. In 1312 Henry VII gave it to the Senate and the Roman people. The Colosseum was quarried for it's stone for awhile until Pope Benedict XIV turned the building into a sacred place in memory of all the blood shed there.
This is the place that really brought an eerie feeling over me. It reminded me of my Busch Stadium in St. Louis, yet so many lives were lost here. It's hard for me to imagine such entertainment in a sport that kills people.

THere is a fee to enter the Colosseum, but it shouldn't be missed.

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Address: Via dei Fori Imperiali
Directions: There is a subway stop right by the Coloseum

As with all the old Roman buildings, there was an old St. Peter's (completed around AC 349) before the current one was built over it. It was built on top of clay soil that didn't drain well, so the hilltop was quite soggy. Because of this, the old basilica developed structural damage over a few hundred years and had to be rebuilt (starting in about 1506 and taking over 100 years to finish).
The present St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most important and beautiful churches in Rome. It is over 25,616 square meters in area and has 44 altars, 11 domes, 778 columns, 395 statues and 135 mosaic pictures. For the architecture buffs, its dome was designed by Bramante and Michelangelo. The columnade was built by Bernini and the obelisk in the centre of the square was erected by Sixtus V.

St. Peter's is actually in Vatican City---A separate enclave within Rome which is governed both spiritually and politically by the Pope. It is surrounded by a wall built to protect the Tomb of St. Peter and also encloses the Papal Palace and beautiful gardens.

St. Peter's is Catholicism's most sacred shrine. Being catholic, we made our pilgrimage there and marveled at the beautiful structure. There is a small fee to go up in the dome, but well worth it for the magnificent views---both inside the dome and of the city around the basilica. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, even if you pay the extra to ride up to the dome in the elevator. To get to the outside viewing area is an additional 300 or so steps. The inside of the basilica is also a not to be missed experience. There is sculpted marble of all colors everywhere you turn. Expect to spend quite awhile here in order to see it all, the place is huge. Within the columnade is even a post office. We mailed a couple post cards from here to get the Vatican post mark. This is truely the most beautiful "church" I've ever been in! Whether you are Catholic or not, you should appreciate the workmanship throughout St. Peter's.

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Address: Piazza San Pietro
Directions: Buses and subways will come close to this area.