You can not leave Rome without seeing the Steps and other Rome, Italy Things to Do Tips

Like the Colisseum and St. Peter's a trip to Rome is incomplete without seeing the Spanish Steps.

Early in the morning the steps are relatively empty which makes for a good photo op. Even better when it is raining slightly. Later in the day the steps are filled with Romans and tourists alike. Beware of the Rose vendors though. They are more like pests. Also the guys with polaroid cameras.

Beautiful at any time of the day, except L'Oreal is really spoiling it as they do some repairs on Trinita dei Monti.

Kill two birds with one stone, see the Spanish steps and piazza di spagna, then stroll right into Prada on Via Condotti

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Address: Piazza di Spagna. Metro stop - Spagna
Directions: On linea A of the Metro turn left as you exit the metro.

You can easily spend your entire vacation in the Vatican Museum due to their expansive collection.

Try to get a ticket reservation and go early in the morning to avoid long lines. Believe me, the extra money you spend on the reservation is worth avoiding 3 hours standing in line.

Mondays are not the days to go to the Vatican Museum. All other museums are closed and it gives everyone the same brilliant idea of going to the Vatican museum.

If you only see 2 things in the Vatican Museum it should be the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms. You will be blown away by the enormity of the chapel and will have an appreciation for the labor and passion Michelangelo put into his art. The Last Judgment panel is also very stunning. Look for Michelangelo's self-portrait in the skin of St. Bartholomew.

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Address: Vatican City
Directions: Closest metro stop is Cipro. The entrance to the Museum is along the walls of Vatican City
Website: http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html

Visit the bocca della verita on the other side of the Tiber River near the temple of Hercules on the Aventine Hill. This ancient sewer grate has a face with eyes nose and a mouth.

Legend says the boca knows whether you are telling the truth and will bite of the hand of whoever is lying. Many a cheating spouse has been brought to the Boca to confess his/her infidelity.

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Address: Near the Courtyard of Santa Maria di Cosmedin
Directions: at the base of the Aventine Hill

Toss a coin in the Trevi fountain for a guaranteed return to Rome. Don't toss too many....you will want to save them for your next trip. Beautiful at day or night, this Roman landmark is essential to Fellini's film, La Dolce Vita.

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Directions: Fontana di Trevi

Papal Audiences are held weekly when the Pope is in town. Tickets are required but you can get them on Monday or Tuesday from the Office at St. Peter's.

The Pope also greets and blesses visitors from his apartment window on Sundays at noon. This ceremony is called the Angelus. No tickets are required. Just stand in the square

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Address: St. Peter's Square, Via della Conciliazione

The Pantheon is now a Catholic church. It was seized by the Romans and made to praise all gods for strength in the legion and empire. The portico was built by Marcus Agrippa. The bronze that once decorated the portico is now displayed in St. Peter's Basilica as the Papal Badalacchino.

Famous albeit buried residents of the Pantheon are the artist Raphael and Vittorio Emanuele II, who unified Italy.

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Directions: Use the metro Spagna stop

One of the more beautiful bridges of Rome this bridge crosses the Tiber to the Castel Sant'Angelo. It is flanked by angels carved by Bernini, each depicting an element of Christ's crucifixion.

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The Castel Sant'Angelo got its proper use when Rome was sacked.

Its position along the Tiber gave it the advantage of seeing if invaders came up through the river and its height by land.

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St. Peter's Square and Collonade were designed by Bernini. The columns ecclipse each other so when guests and heads of state were brought through them would not be able to see the basilica until they arrived at it. Call it an example of early special effects.

The obelisk used to stand in the area by the porta Santa Anna but was moved to its permanent location as a message of Christianity's intent of staying in Rome.

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