St. Peter's Basilica and other Rome, Italy Things to Do Tips

St. Peter's Basilica

There has been a church in the Vatican for nearly 2000 years. The one that stands now, under the probable place of dead of Saint Peter (it was an ancient Roman Circus), it the contributed work of people like Bernini, Bramante, Raphael, Giacomo della Porta and, specially, Michelangelo. We ought Michelangelo the construction of the incredible dome (the tallest ever build) and the overwhelming Pieta, a sculpture of such an incredible beauty that makes hard to stop looking at the face of the Virgin.

Apart from that, St. Peter is a huge and luminous cathedral. The walk along the popes's tombs (including St. Peter's one) is awesome.

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Address: Piazza San Pietro
Directions: Ottaviano Metro Station

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Colosseum: Colosseum

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Written by agarcia

on Oct 8, 2002

The famous Colosseum

Colosseum has a powerful strength on people collective imagination, and it�s easy to discover the reason for that, once that you get close to it. It�s huge, monumental, and it holds a history of brutal fights that make it almost more impressive. Probably is just the morbid curiosity that keeps the Colosseum fame, but still, it�s the more characteristic (and well-known) legacy of the ancient Rome, so it totally deserves a visit.

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Phone: +39 96 77 00
Address: Piazza del Colosseo
Directions: Colosseo Metro Statin
Other Contact: Admission costs 6 �

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Trevi Fountain: Trevi Fountain

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Written by agarcia

on Oct 8, 2002

Remenber La dolce vita?

Now this is an interesting and beautiful place. It�s probably the most famous fountain in the world, mainly because of Anita Ekberg�s bath on Fellini�s film La Dolce Vita. The fact is that the fountain itself is quite beautiful, and there�s the well-known tradition that you have to throw a coin inside the fountain if you want to go back to Rome. I�m not very fond on this kind of traditions but you never now, do you? ;-)

Just remember to go there by night. The illumination is marvelous and you�ll not coincide with the tourist hordes.

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Address: Piazza de Trevi
Directions: From Via del Corso, taking Via delle Muratte you get the loveliest approach to the fountain

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Castel Sant'Angelo: Castel Sant' Angelo

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Written by agarcia

on Oct 8, 2002

Castel Sant' Angello at dusk

Used as a fortress by the Popes since the sixth century AD, it was connected with the Vatican by a passageway in 1277. It has unique views of the city, especially of Piazza San Pietro and Ponte San Angello. It�s best appreciated at nightfall from Ponte San Angello (for a front view) and Ponte Vittorio Emanuele.

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Phone: 06 681 91 11
Address: Lungotevere Catello
Directions: Near St. Peter's piazza, by the Tiber
Other Contact: Admission costs 6�

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Vatican Museum & City: Vatican Museums

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Written by agarcia

on Oct 8, 2002

Vatican Museums hall

The most important art collection of the city is held on the immense halls of the Vatican Museums. They are mostly famous because of the Sistine Chapel, pictorial masterpiece of the master Michelangelo. Apart from that, you�ll find there a huge collection of Greek, Egyptian, Roman and Christian art. Especially memorable are the Raphael paintings and the sensation that one feels looking to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

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Phone: 06 69 88 43 41
Directions: From piazza San Pietro, follow the wall of the Vatican north to the museums' entrance. Ottaviano Metro Station.
Other Contact: Admission costs 10�

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Piazza Navona: Piazza Navona

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Written by agarcia

on Oct 8, 2002

Piazza Navona

It�s huge and beautiful. A perfect place to taste an overpriced cappuccino while enjoying the view of Bernini�s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, a superb sculptural group which was, unfortunately, under restoration during my visit.
This piazza was laid out on the ruins of an ancient Roman stadium, as you could tell by the shape of the piazza itself.

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Roman Forum: Roman Forum

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Written by agarcia

on Oct 8, 2002

Roman Forum & Colosseum

I felt amazed and disturbed walking over the ruins of what was, during centuries, the very heart of the Roman Empire. Amazed because I found something familiar at every step, like the Roman Curia, that was the meeting point for the Senate or the Vestals Temple.

Sad because it�s not very well preserved (the place was used during centuries as a quarry) and this fact makes me thinks that, if a powerful civilization like the Roman could be reduced to that� what would happen to ours?

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Address: Close to Colosseum
Directions: Colosseum Metro station
Other Contact: Free entrance.

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Pantheon: Pantheon

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Written by agarcia

on Oct 8, 2002

Patheon Dome

There�s something unique about Piazza della Rotonda. When you arrive there, you find yourself in a tinny roman piazza, surrounded by typical roman buildings and with the inevitable roman fountain (a wonderful one, indeed).
But then, you realize that in the opposite side of the piazza there is a building that looks like a roman temple with impressive columns. And you get inside. And you discover many things inside. First, you learn that you are in a roman temple built in honor to all the Gods (Pantheon), and later consecrated as a church by the Christians. Then, that the Pantheon has a dome constructed by the ancient Romans, that it�s even bigger than St. Peter's. And later, that the great master of the Renaissance, Raphael is burried inside the Church/Temple.

Simply amazing.

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Address: Piazza della Rotonda

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Palatine Hill: Palatine

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Updated by agarcia

on Oct 9, 2002

Palatine Gardens

The Palatine hill was the mythical founding place of Rome. Indeed, archeological excavations have proved the existence of human settlements dating from the Iron Age. Roman Emperors constructed their palaces there, and the reason is clear once that you are up in the hill. From there, you dominate a good deal of the ancient Rome City, such as the Tiber, the Roman Forum and the Circo Massimo (nor to mention the Colosseum itself)

It�s especially remarkable the Palatine Museum, which shows a great collection of Roman sculptures found during the excavations of the areas and bas-reliefs, that once adorned the Palatine halls.

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Directions: Palatine could be reached once inside the Forum
Other Contact: Admission costs 6,19 �

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Baths-Terme: Terme di Caracala

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Updated by agarcia

on Oct 9, 2002

Terme di Caracala exterior