Rome Things to Do Tips by agarcia

Terme di Caracala Baths of Caracalla -Terme di Caracalla Review

These public baths, constructed by Antonious Caracalla in 217 AD are the best preserved of the city. You could get an impression of how big they use to be (they could hold up to 1600 people) by standing in front of the 10 meters high walls of the building.

Directions: From Circo Massimo Metro station, follow the Via della Terme di Caracalla.

Other Contact: Admission costs 4,13 €

Palatine Palatine Hill Review

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.

Directions: Palatine could be reached once inside the Forum

Other Contact: Admission costs 6,19 €

Piazza Campo de' Fiori Campo dei Fiori Review

It’s a great pleasure to arrive to Campo de’ Fiori during the day, when the fragrance of the florist’s shops and the intense activity of the fruit market inflame your senses. But it is also a pleasure by night, when the piazza terraces get full of people having fun.

It makes hard to imagine how this place was, 400 years ago, an execution place during the Inquisition. Giordano Bruno, whose statue stands in the piazza, was burned there.

Address: Piazza di Campo de' Fiori

Directions: Southern Piazza Navona

Piazza di Spagna Piazza di Spagna - Spanish Steps Review

Let’s examine carefully one of the most famous symbols of Rome. There are two interesting approaches to the Spanish Steps. The first one is following the glamorous Via Condotti, which, at its end, rewards you with a view of the Piazza full of people sitting in there.

The other one, quite more interesting, is from Via Sistina, where you can get a memorable vista (especially by night) of the Steps from above.

Address: Piazza di Spagna

Directions: Spagna Metro Station

Pantheon Pantheon Review

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.

Address: Piazza della Rotonda

Roman Forum Roman Forum Review

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?

Address: Close to Colosseum

Directions: Colosseum Metro station

Other Contact: Free entrance.

Piazza Navona Piazza Navona Review

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.

Vatican Museums Vatican Museums - Sistine Chapel Review

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.

Directions: From piazza San Pietro, follow the wall of the Vatican north to the museums' entrance. Ottaviano Metro Station.

Other Contact: Admission costs 10€

Phone: 06 69 88 43 41

Trevi Fountain Trevi Fountain Review

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.

Address: Piazza de Trevi

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

Castel Sant' Angelo Castel Sant'Angelo Review

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.

Address: Lungotevere Catello

Directions: Near St. Peter's piazza, by the Tiber

Other Contact: Admission costs 6€

Phone: 06 681 91 11