Two Sisters On The Road

Are you planning your next trip but you don’t know where to go? Don’t worry, Italy is always an infallible destination. The capital Rome, is considered the eternal city and if you have never been to this beautiful city, it’s time to jump on a plane and visit it. Rome is very big and it is impossible to see everything in only three days, rather it would take weeks to visit all the monuments and delve into the history of this fantastic city.

How to reach Rome?

If you are arriving from the United States, Rome has two important airports: Fiumicino and Ciampino. Fiumicino is an ideal choice for travelers looking for a greater variety of flights and amenities and it is well connected, while Ciampino is perfect for those looking for convenience and low-cost flights. When you land in Fiumicino, you can get a bus, or call a taxi or you can be picked up by a private transfer that brings you directly to the hotel in which you are staying. From Rome Fiumicino, it takes 45 minutes to get to the center of Rome depending on the traffic, and of course, depending on the time of the year you are visiting. Rome is always crowded with tourists and visitors, but during the summer months it is surely more expensive and more chaotic, and you will find yourself immersed in the city traffic.

What to see in Rome?

• Fontana di Trevi

The first stop is definitely the Trevi Fountain, one of the most beautiful and enchanting fountains in Europe. 

This fountain is also renowned for being the place of countless marriage proposals! There is a legend that surrounds it that says that a maiden, in order to save her virginity, had to reveal the location of this source to the Romans. In its basin, there are numerous statues representing an allegory of the sea, with Neptune, god of the sea, on his chariot in the center.

If you go to see the Trevi Fountain, you can’t help but throw in a coin. Indeed, tradition says that you should flip 2 coins: one to make a wish and the other to ensure you return to Rome. Behind the fountain, there is also a large Baroque-style palace that contributes to enriching the charm of the place.

Keep in mind that the Trevi Fountain is always a very crowded place so you will find a lot of tourists taking pictures. Indeed, it is a difficult task to take photos without the presence of people in the middle of your lens. Strangely enough this photo was taken with no people in front.

• Il Colosseo

The most emblematic and enchanting monument in Rome is undoubtedly the Colosseum. It can also be called Amphitheatrum, and it is the largest Roman amphitheatre in the world (capable of holding an estimated number of spectators, between 50,000 and 87,000), and it is located in the centre of the city of Rome. It is as well the most impressive monument of ancient Rome that has come down to us. You will undoubtedly be fascinated by the beauty of this monument. It was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1980, together with the entire historic center of Rome, the Extraterritorial Zones of the Holy See in Italy and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. In 2007 it was considered as the only European monument included among the New Seven Wonders of the World following a competition organized by the New Open World Corporation.

A lot of blood was spilled in this arena, where the famous gladiators and animals fought and Roman games were carried out, always followed by horrible deaths. During the peak season you will find lines of tourists who are waiting to enter to visit the Colosseum. You can book your ticket to visit the inside, we didn’t have enough time so we ended up just viewing the majestic monument from the outside remaining entranced by the splendor and the perfection of its Roman Architecture.

• Il Foro Romano

The ticket purchased at the Colosseum includes a visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It is the most important part of the ancient history of Rome, which represented the political, legal, religious, and economic centre of the city of Rome, as well as the nerve centre of the entire Roman civilisation. The forum was the center of the city and it is possible to see the ruins of ancient markets, administrative, and religious buildings.

• Colle Palatino

Palatine Hill, one of the 7 hills of Rome, according to mythology is the place where the city was founded by Romulus and Remus. In Roman Mythology, Romulus and Remus were twin brothers whose legend narrates the events that led to the founding of the city of Rome and the Roman Kingdom by Romulus. The image of a wolf feeding the twins in their infancy has been a symbol of the city of Rome since at least the 3rd century BC. They are the twins who were found and suckled by a she-wolf inside a cave. At the top of Palatine Hill, once you have access to this cave you can see the ruins of the residences of historical figures such as Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome. The site is now a large open-air museum and can be visited during the day.

• Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia is one of the main squares in Rome. Here visitors can admire the Monument, a very big marble building in honor of the first king of Italy: Vittorio Emanuele II, also known as the “Altar of the Fatherland” or “Vittoriano”. Next to the square there is also the famous Trajan’s column, with bas-reliefs that retrace the military conquests of the Emperor Trajan. Trajan’s Column at Trajan’s Forum, stands isolated, it is the largest of the Imperial Forums in Rome, and it stands in front of the church of Santa Maria di Loreto. The column has reached us in an excellent state of preservation, it was erected by Emperor Trajan to celebrate the victory over the Dacians, the actual Romania, and was inaugurated in 113 AD.

• Il Pantheon

The Pantheon is the best-preserved ancient building in Rome and another major tourist attraction that can’t be missed on this list! Originally, it was dedicated to all the deities of mythology, it was at first a pagan temple but only in the 7th century, it turned into a Christian church.

When you walk inside, you can admire the immense dome and the oculus, which provides a rather unique illumination. The Pantheon, in addition to containing the tomb of Raphael Sanzio, one of the most famous Italian painters and architects of the Renaissance, it is also the burial place of the first king of Italy. It is a unique example of architecture that has come down to the present day practically intact. 

• Piazza Navona

Among the places to visit in Rome there is certainly Piazza Navona, located in the heart of the historic center, not far from the Pantheon. It is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in Rome. There, you are able to admire 3 fountains: The Fountain of the Four Rivers, The Fountain of Neptune, and The Fountain of the Moor.

• Piazza di Spagna

Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous squares in Rome. It owes its name to the Spanish Palace, seat of the embassy of the Iberian State to the Holy See since 1622. Seen from above, it looks like the shape of a “butterfly wing”, formed by two triangles with its vertex in common. In the center of the square there is the well-known Barcaccia fountain, which dates back to the early Baroque period, built by Pietro Bernini and his son, Gian Lorenzo.

• Giardini di Villa Borghese

It is the largest and certainly the most beautiful public park in all of Rome. If you want to escape from the chaotic city you should definitely visit these beautiful gardens. It is a place of peace, tranquility, and serenity where you can take nice walks surrounded by lots of greenery and immerge yourself into a peaceful and natural landscape. To get there, you can go to Porta Pinciana or Piazzale Flaminio, which are the two entrances to the park. Once you are inside the gardens, you can walk through its wide alleys in the shade and on the shore of a lake surrounded by temples, statues, and many fountains and breathe unpolluted air. The park also has a beautiful botanical garden.

• La Galleria Borghese

In the Villa Borghese Gardens you will also find one of the most visited museums in Rome named the Galleria Borghese. During your visit you will be able to admire numerous paintings and sculptures of famous Italian artists as Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Antonio Canova, Caravaggio, Raphael, Perugino, Antonello da Messina, Pieter Paul Rubens, and Bellini. It can be considered unique in the world in terms of the number and importance of Bernini’s sculptures and Caravaggio’s canvases. It was owned by a wealthy family that was very influential in the Roman aristocracy. In order to admire what is considered one of the richest collections of Italian art, it is absolutely necessary to book tickets beforehand.

• Piazza del Popolo

In Rome, another relevant place to visit is Piazza del Popolo, which is located near Villa Borghese. It is one of the largest squares. It is an important point of interest, with its fountains, three churches, and an obelisk. The best views of the square are obtained from the Pincio Gardens, going up the stairs on the eastern part, from there you will be amazed by a great view.

Enjoy Rome and have fun!!