Tips 1 - 10 of 29 Rome Things to Do
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Roman Forum: Roman Forum
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First glimpsing the forum brought back a comment my 7 year old made when we visited Olympia in Greece...." I'm sick of seeing rocks, all we ever see is rocks!!!". However, once you step down on the Via Sacra, you realize that you are walking the same path as Augustus and Julius Ceasar, and into the origins of the western world. You can easily imagine the bustling epicenter of Roman society. If you don't have an appreciation of history, these 'rocks' may be disappointing... but then again, why are you in Rome. Make sure to have a map of the area, it is much more interesting if you know what you are looking at. The tours are not worth it, as you spend 15 minutes at a ruin that should take 3 minutes.
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Obviously, for most of the visitors to Rome, St Peter's is one of the must see stops. It is the largest church in Christiandom and has a 218 meter long nave. We did not do the tour, but just wandered around the inside, which is a virtual art museum itself. The interior has 45 altars decorated by some of the most celebrated artists in history. At one point in time, it actually had two bell towers, which were subsequently removed. Make sure that you are following the proper dress code, as they can be sticklers about that. Make sure you get into the correct line, as one line goes into the church and the other goes down to the crypts.
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The view of Bernini Square from the top of the Vatican is awe-inspiring. You can sit in the middle of the square and admire the sculptures on the colonnades for a long time. The square, or actually ellipse, is bounded by two colonnades, supported by 4 deep, 60 foot columns. There are markings in the square, where you can stand and it creates the optical illusion of one row of columns, as the back ones are perfectly hidden by the front ones. The square was designed by Bernini, under the direction of Alexander VII. The ellipse shape symbolizes St Peter embracing the world.
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If you have the energy and are not claustrophobic, a walk up the cupola is a must. During the busy season get there early, or you will be stuck in the stairwell forever. You can either walk the stairs or take the elevator to the base of the dome, which provides a great view down into the church. However, you still have another 300 odd steps to the top of the dome, up a very narrow and leaning stairwell. If you are claustrophobic, this is not the path for you. All it takes is for one person to stop to catch the breath and the whole line of people comes to a halt. Once you get to the top, the view is worth the climb.
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This is one of the main gathering places of Rome, making it the perfect place to enjoy a drink and people watch. It is in a central location, not far from the Pantheon, making it a good place to relax and take a break from the hectic sightseeing schedule. Although, don't miss the Fountain of Four Rivers in the piazza. The piazza is ringed with restaurants, and although fairly pricey, we got two very good meals there. It is the longest piazza in Rome and where the local artists set up shop to sell their wares. This place is also a hub of nightlife in the evening.
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The Trevi Fountain is simply stunning, especially with how it dominates the fairly small piazza it sits in. My wife and I must have thrown an entire change purse of coins in, guaranteeing our return to Rome. The current fountain was built in the 1700's. The scultpure in the middle is Neptune, bracketed by two tritons representing the rough and the calm sea. They also represent the young and the old. Get here early, as pictures are difficult in the small square with throngs of people that are also trying to get shots.
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The Pieta in St Peter's was the first of 4 created by Michaelagelo. This one was created when he was 22 and the only one he finished. It was finished around 1500 and is one of the most famous pieces of art in St Peter. Michaelangelo portrays a much younger Virgin Mary then many other interpretations of this scene. It was put behind glass after some idiot damaged it with a hammer.
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GET HERE EARLY!!! The lines that form outside this museum are as breathtaking as the exhibits inside. That said, no matter how long the wait, it's worth it. There are 8 museums and 5 galleries, along with the Sistine Chapel inside. The roof of the Sistine Chapel was painted by Michaelangelo. If you get to the museum early, go to the Sistine Chapel right away, as it fills up quickly and tends to be the place that people linger. You can always go back to other exhibits.
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The colisseum is amazing to see. It's hard to believe that something like this could be built in 80AD. As everyone who has seen the move 'Gladiator' knows, it was the location of the gladiator games and the feeding of early Christians to the lions. It housed 55,000 spectators to its blood sport, and looks like it didn't have a bad seat in the house. With the floor long gone, you can see below into the rooms that housed the animals and the combatants. Make sure that you get a view of the colisseum during the night, as it is impressively lit up.
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More Rome Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 29 - Photos: 27 | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | Transportation | Local Customs | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
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 Comments for rcsparty about Rome | | | | |
DAO Fri Jan 12, 2007 23:58 UTC
...can you be elected President of the USA and lose the majority vote. Good pub quiz question! See you next week! | starship Wed Nov 1, 2006 12:55 UTC
What internet site do you use for room reservations? I'd like to check it out and find out how good the deals are for Rome next summer. Thx, ss | icunme Sun Sep 17, 2006 20:38 UTC
Hi Rick - Terrific photos and great info here. Now you've inspired me to go to the top of the Vatican! Will return to see more. Ciao, Carol |
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