Romes Greatest Ampitheatre and other Rome, Italy Things to Do Tips

The Colosseum is at the top of most peoples lists to visit, when they come to Rome, and i was no different....... once i laid my eyes upon it i was stung by its powerful, towering presence.

It was originally commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72, and emperors would often use it to throw up great gladitorial combats and bloody animal fights for the thousands, in order to gain popularity.

The capacity of the Colossum was around 55,000, and the hoards would be seated in sections according to rank.

Once inside you can get an audio tour, but far better to wander around this awesome ampitheatre at your own pace, to truly understand what went on inside its walls, and to imagine what a packed Colosseum ready for a battle would have felt like.......

You'll also find dozens of men outside dressed in gladiators costumes, so if you have a little extra money to burn then you can have your Colosseum experience 'heightened' by having your picture taken with an 'ancient' warrior.

You may also be surprised, once inside, that the arena floor is no longer in place. What you can see now is a network of lifts and old cages for wild nimals.

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Phone: 06 39 96 77 00
Address: You cannot miss it........
Directions: MTR to Colosseo, or the #3 tram to Piazza Colosseo. There are plenty of buses that stop here. The museum is open 9am-7pm daily, but closes earlier in winter.

You may well already be going to the Piazza del Campidoglio, to see the Palazzos Nuovo or Senatorio, but make sure you allow time to take in the astounding composition of this beautiful piazza.

It is sensational to see the many statues dotted about, with the mind-boggling geometric paving.........and all of this along with the facades of the Palazzos Nuovo and Senatorio, were designed by Michaelangelo.

The Cordonata is a ramp with typical Roman false perspective (giving the impression the ramp widens at the top), and is presided over by the amazing statues of Castor and Pollux.

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Directions: This piazza is located right beside the Palazzo Nuovo, which is up a ramp (called the Cordonata) away from a main bus stop point. You can get buses 40, 64, 70 or 75 to this point.

The Piazza Navona and the surrounding area has been inhabited for around 2000years, and always seems to be brimming with life.

Flamboyant, fresh fountains and numerous pavement cafes characterise this classic meeting place, where there always seems to be something going on in the form of street entertainment.

I love the Navona for its style, its class, as well as for the Sant'Agnese in Agone building, which has the most delightfully decorated ceilings and interior.

The thing i'll remember it most for, in a strange way, is for the 5chocolates truffle cake which i regretfully bought from a well-known bakery in the piazza's centre.

Apparently, no-one has ever been able to eat more than three, and for those who have tried have only felt extremely sick for days........
I found one difficult enough!! The chocolate is SO SO thick!

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Address: Piazza Navona
Directions: 5mins walk fom the Pantheon, and right across the river from the Vatican city.

The Pantheon. Romes best preserved ancient building, and possibly designed by Emperor Hadrian in AD 118. It is the Roman "temple of all the gods", and later became an ancient burial place for italian monarchs.

The true beauty of the perfectly harmonious dome (due the equally-proportioned radius and height of the cylinder), can only be properly appreciated from inside, and from here you cannot help but stand and stare in amazement.

The massive pedimented portico pertrudes out into Piazza della Rotonda, which is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat, with the many adjacent bakeries, groceries and restaurants (anda McD's unfortunately!!).

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Address: Piazza della Rotonda
Directions: A short walk from Piazza Venezia and Rome's Ancient Centre.
Walking is the best way, as there are no roads, and definitely no MTR stops in this part of the city......

Completed in 1762; Romes largest, most famous, and most theatrical fountain (although it has some stiff competition), is definitely worth a visit.

Although often crowded to breaking point with locals and tourists alike, especially during peak season, it offers a relaxing point to stop and cool off, whilst you try to digest the immensity of the figures in and around the fountain.

The central figures are Neptune, flanked by two Tritons. Whilst the story for the initial spring was said to have been found by a young girl, Trivia, who initially showed the spring to Roman soldiers 14miles outside the city. The fountain was probably named after her.

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Address: North-east Rome
Directions: Many buses including #116 go to the Fountain.

From an architectural point of view, this building is well-worth a short stop-over, especially if you've just come from the Spanish Steps.

This is a magnificent design by Borromini, particularly considering the severe land constraints placed upon him by the close proximity of the Quattro Fontaine crossroads.

This church and convent, SO SMALL it could probably fit into one of the piers of St.Peters, is designed to make best use of light though the employment of strong, fluid curves.

The dome is also made to look higher than it actually is through the concealing of the windows, and clever use of illusionistic coffering.

Opening hours 10am-1pm daily. Afternoon openings 3-7pm mon-friday.

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Phone: 06 488 32 61
Address: Via del Quirinale
Directions: Take bus #116 or other routes that take in the Piazza Barberini, or simply get the MTR to Barberini.

I found it good to view the patchwork quilt, that is the Forum, from the Capitoline Hill before embarking on the journey around its many gardens and ruins.

This way i could pick out a route through the virtual carnage of tour groups and crumbling statues and columns, to see the things i actually wanted to see, and to miss the things i didn't.......

Well-worth a atleast a passing glance is the Temple of Castor and Pollux (AD5), the Temple of Romulus (only the doors remain of the original AD4 building, but its now part of the Santi Cosma e Damiano standing behind it), the Vestal Virgins (8BC), the Temple of Vesta and the Basilica Julia (54BC).

The Basilica of Constantine and Maxeritius (3 large barrel vaults) was my favourite as its ruins are all that remain of the Forums largest building.

Entrances are at the Largo Romoloe e Remo, Via del Foro Romano, and also at the Arch of Titus on Via Sacra.

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Phone: 06 39 96 77 00
Directions: Most buses go to the Forum, or you could get the MTR to Colosseo, and walk from there.
Tram 3 also takes you there.

Opening hours are strangely 9am to 1hour before sunset daily.