Rome has always been on my bucket list, but I’ve never really had the chance to visit this historical city. So, I put it on our Italy trip as our final highlight. And it is absolutely worth it! As to Rome, it is the capital city of Italy and also of the Lazio region. As it is the capital city, it’s also the largest city of the country with 2,9 million resident (which is really big for Luxembourgish people).

As to the historical aspect of Rome, it is one of the oldest sites in Europe which was occupied continuously. The Roman mythology dates its birth back to 753 BC, but it had been inhabited for much longer. Before it became the capital city of Italy, it had been the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and also the Roman Empire. In 2014, it had been the 14th most visited city in the world and 3rd in the European Union. The historic center of Rome is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I want to present you my favorite sites in Rome and perhaps to give you some reasons to plan your next trip to Rome. Enjoy it!

Colosseum

Colosseum – nothing more to say! I think this should be a well-known term for everyone. It is THE town’s landmark. When I thought about Rome, I immediately have an image of the Colosseum in my head. Basically, the Colosseum is located east of the Roman Forum and is the largest amphitheater who was ever built.

The construction began in 72 AD and was finished in 80 AD, but it was modified several times. The Colosseum was used basically for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles and it had place for 50.000 to 80.000 spectators. Although it had been ruined partly  by earthquakes and stone robbers, the Colosseum is still the iconic symbol of the Imperial Rome and the main tourist attraction in Rome.

So it was quite obvious, that the Colosseum was the first thing we wanted to visit when we arrived in Rome. Approaching the Colosseum, I immediately saw the scaffold around some parts of it. I was really disappointed, because it wasn’t the only thing which was scaffolded during our trip in Italy. Later on, I learned that they started to restore the Colosseum in 2013 and the restoration is expected to be finished in 2016. So I had to deal with it.

It was clear that I bought our entrance tickets in advance, which saved us again a lot of time. I really learn to enjoy those “skip the line” tickets. Even if travelers shouldn’t plan so much in advance, I can only recommend those tickets, because it will save you a lot of time to discover other things.

So once you enter the Colosseum, you feel like you’ve been throw back in time. You immediately get the gladiator feeling and you start to imagine how this looked like in the old Roman Empire. Even though there are really a lot of people, it is a unique place to discover and to fell in love with. Basically, there are two levels, which you can visit. There are 80 entrances, so you cannot miss it to enter to the inside of the amphitheater.

The first floor is located on the old tribunes, where all the spectators were sitting. you can walk all around the Colosseum and see it from all the different aspects. Inside, in the corridors, there is an exhibition of all the things that they found in the ruins of the Colosseum. It is really amazing, because they found all kind of things like bones of different animals, stones etc.

When you are walking around, you will attend a view point, which will give you an amazing view on the Arch of Constantine. This is the biggest triumphal arch in Rome. It is located between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill.

The lower level is basically the place where the battles took place. Again, here you can walk around the Colosseum. At one place, they have removed the platform in the middle and you can have a loot at the cellar of the Colosseum. It is really impressive and breathtaking when you think about how the old population built this huge amphitheater with nothing more as their hands.

As you can see, I really fell in love with the Colosseum and so I have to recommend you to visit this unique historical site in Rome.

Roman Forum

Honestly, I didn’t’ know anything about the Roman Forum before I started to plan our trip to Rome. And even then, I didn’t consider to visit it, but I found a combined ticket for the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. And that’s the moment when I started to do my research about that old forum.

When you’re visiting the Colosseum, you just cannot miss the Roman Forum, because it is just next to it. It is located in the city center of Rome and so also a main tourist attraction. The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum, which is surrounded by some ruins of old important ancient government buildings. Originally, it was a marketplace and the center of the Roman public life.

Immediately when you enter the site, you see the Arch of Titus. It was built in 82 AD by the Emperor Domitian after the death of his brother Titus. It was meant to commemorate the victories of Titus including the Siege of Jerusalem. That’s why it shows the “Spoils of Jerusalem” in the inside of the Arch.

You can walk through the whole Roman Forum an everywhere are ruins of old historical buildings. There are a few surviving structures like the Temple of Caesar, the Arch of Septimus Severus etc. But mostly you see only a few remaining stones of that time. For example, you can see the remaining rest of an old church or the Temple of Castor.

The Roman Forum developed over many centuries. Originally, it was the place for the rich people. Not everyone could participate in that old roman lifestyle. In the Imperial period, the large public place had been reduced from 130 to 50 meters because of the large public buildings.

If you’re interested in history, it is an absolutely must do in Rome, but even if you’re not so historical, it is absolutely worth it to visit. It shows how people lived there a long time ago, which is really amazing and impressive how they built up that empire without modern technology, but just by using their hands and brain.

Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill was the third attraction, which was included in my combined ticket. It is one of the Seven Hills of Rome but one of the most ancient parts of the city. It is located just next to the Roman Forum, but 40 meters above it. On the one side, you can look down on the Forum Romano, and on the other side on the Circus Maximus, which was an ancient Rome chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome.

The Palatine Hill was extremely important for Rome, because it is there, where it has its origins. Recent excavations have shown that since approximately 1000 BC, people lived on that hill. During all the different Roman periods, it had always been the residence of many affluent Romans.

According to the Roman mythology, the Palatine Hill was the place where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf Lupa, which kept them alive. They both killed their great uncle and decided to build a new city on the banks of the Tiber river. They had an argument and Romulus killed its twin brother Remus. Rome got its name from Romulus.

Be sure to have a lot of time while visiting the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, because it will take you a whole day. I’m sure there is a lot more to discover, because at the end, we had to hurry up, because they were closing the Roman Forum. Up on the Palatine Hill, there are so many different things to see and discover. There are a lot of viewpoints, where you have amazing views on Rome. I was even surprised by some rabbits, which were hopping freely around.

Just as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, I can only recommend the Palatine Hill, not just because it’s in the combined ticket, but because of its historical meaning to our Western civilization. Here is the link to the combined ticket, which I bought in advance.

Pantheon

The Pantheon was built in 118 to 128 AD. Although it is one of the best preserved of the ancient Roman buildings, because it has always been in use. It is standing on the Piazza della Rotonda. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek and means something like “common to all the gods”.

Today, the Pantheon is used as a Catholic church and there are also masses, which are celebrated here. There are two kings of Italy who are buried in the Pantheon. On the one hand Vittorio Emanuele II and its Queen Margherita and on the other hand Umberto I. Emanuele II had been the first King of Italy until his death in 1878. He had the name Father of the Fatherland from the Italian people.

The inside of the Pantheon is really amazing. There is a hole in the top roof, which is called oculus. Basically, the oculus at the dome’s apex and the entry door are the only natural sources of light in the interior, because there are no windows. Through the whole day, the light from the oculus moves around because of the moving of the sun. This oculus serves also as a cooling and ventilation system, but during storms, a drainage system on the floor is dealing with the rain, which falls through the hole in the dome.

Except for all the historic aspects of the Pantheon, Yannick absolutely wanted to visit it because of the video game Assassin’s Creed, because there is a scene where he had to climb on- and into the Pantheon. So he was really happy to be on that place, but I guess, this is more a boy-thing.

When you have enough time, just take a seat in the Pantheon and observe everything. It will give a lot of impression on you. I think it is a pity that people nowadays are always in a rush, even on holiday.

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are a very famous tourist attraction in Rome. In Italian, they are called “Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti”, because they are located between the Piazza di Spagna on the one hand and the Piazza Trinità dei Monti on the other hand. Basically, they are composed of 135 steps and they were created in 1723 to 1725 to link the Bourbon Spanish Embassy with the Trinità dei Monti church.

For me, it was quite interesting to see those Spanish Steps, but I really don’t understand the hype around them. Perhaps I missed something, but they are like normal steps that you’ll find in every city. I mean, they are really famous, they were in a lot of films and even mentioned in songs, but nothing special for me.

When you are at the Piazza di Spagna, and you’ll walk straight true the street vis-à-vis the Spanish Steps, you’ll find a lot of shopping streets with really amazing shops. I really liked that, because there were a lot of shops that we don’t have in Luxembourg. So after visiting the Spanish Steps, you can do a little bit of shopping.

Although I wasn’t so impressed by the Spanish Steps, you should put them on your list in Rome and walk them up and down once in your lifetime.

Trevi Fountain

Another well-known and famous tourist attraction is the Fontana di Trevi, as the Italian would say. It got its name from the district in Rome where it is located. It is the largest baroque fountain in the city with  26,3 meters (86 ft) of height and 49 meters (161,3 ft) of width. This public fountain, which was built in 1762, is today one of the most famous fountains in the world.

As I mentioned already, a few things were in restoration during our Rome trip, and yes, the Trevi Fountain was also one of it. So basically, there was again a scaffold around it and even a glass wall. There was no water floating in the fountain, which made me very sad. But I had to deal with it. Later on, I read that the restorations begin in June 2014 and was completed in November 2015. So I have to return to Rome, to see the restored Trevi Fountain, because the installed more than 100 LED lights to improve its illumination when it’s dark outside.

I think everyone wants to visit the Trevi Fountain because of the coin throwing. When you standing in front of the fountain, you should turn your back to it and you should use your right hand to throw a coin over your left shoulder right into the fountain. The mythology says that it will bring you good luck. If you imagine that everyday, there are approximately 3.000 €, which are thrown in the Trevi Fountain, you can imagine how many people are waiting to finally can throw your coin in it. The money is then used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome’s needy.

Since there was no water in the fountain, or just something like an collecting pond, I didn’t throw any coin in it, but I set this aside for my next visit to Rome.

Vatican City

Everyone who is visiting Rome has also to spend one day at the Vatican City State. Even if it has only an area of 44 hectares and a population of 842 people, it is an independent State in Europe. More precisely, it’s an enclave within Rome. As it is surrounded by Italy, they have no other chance than to have Italian also as their official language. It is a very young state, because it only got independent from Italy in 1929 and it is also distinct from the Holy See. The head of this small state is the Pope, that’s also why it is famous for.

Basically, it’s economy consists of tourists. They sell postage stamps with the pope on it and get a lot of money from all the entrance fees from the tourist attractions. There are always crowds of people in the Vatican City, especially, when there is a Pope audience. But that I will mention in another post.

However, the Vatican City is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is the only World Heritage Site, which consisted of an entire state. So, you can’t miss the Vatican while you’re in Rome.

St. Peter’s Basilica

The full name of the St. Peter’s Basilica is “The Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican” and it is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture. One of its designers was of course Michelangelo. It’s really funny, because the St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world, and it is standing in one of the smallest countries in the world. It was built in 1626 and it is 136,5 meters (448,1 ft) high.

It is standing just in front of the St. Peter’s Square, which is the most famous place in the Vatican City State. In the middle of the square, there is standing a huge Egyptian obelisk, which was erected in 1586. When the Pope holds his audience, the whole St. Peter’s Square is full with people, you can’t imagine how many people are waiting and listening to the Pope.

I will write another post about the whole Vatican City, with all its attractions, so I will not reveal too much here. But I can ensure you, it is absolutely worth it to visit the St. Peter’s Basilica, especially when you’re Christian.

Castel Sant’Angelo

The Castel Sant’Angelo is also called Mausoleum of Hadrian, or in German “Engelsburg”. Besides the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, this is also one of the major tourist attractions in Rome. It is a towering cylindrical building, which was initially built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for his family and of course for himself. Over the years, it has a lot of functions, like the fortress and castle for the Popes or now as a museum.

The tomb of Hadrian has been a decorated cylinder with a garden and a golden quadriga and his ashes had been placed there in 138 AD. In 401, the building became a military fortress, which destroyed it partly. In the beginning of the 14th century, the popes converted it into a castle. The Pope Nicholas III had built a covered corridor called Passatto di Borgo, which connected the St. Peter’s Basilica and the Castel Sant’Angelo. Over the next years, every Pope added some other buildings or structures. However, the Castel was also used as a prison. Since its decommission in 1901, it is a museum, the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo.

I really enjoyed the visit of this very multifaceted old building. You immediately recognize the different periods of time, just because of the different stones. It is really interesting to walk through the different parts and rooms of the Castel Sant’Angelo. Nowadays, there is even a bar inside.

When you’re up on the highest floor of the castel, you’ll have an amazing view over the whole city of Rome and also on the St. Peter’s Basilica. Another part of the Castel Sant’Angelo, is the Ponte Sant’Angelo. It was also completed in 134 AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It was built to connect the city center with the ancient mausoleum over the Tiber river. As its name is Ponte Sant’Angelo, there are 10 angel statues on the bridge and everyone has its own meaning.

Be sure to let a little bit of time in your schedule to have time to visit this amazing and historical castel. I can only recommend it!

Piazza Navona

Last but not least, the Piazza Navona. I really fell in love with that place. It was built in the 1st century AD on the site of the Stadium of Domitian. For the ancient Romans, it was a place of entertainment, because they used it as a competition arena where they could watch different games.

At he middle of the place, there is an Egyptian obelisk together with the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or in English, the Fountain of the Four Rivers. But there are two other fountains on the Piazza, at the northern end, there is the Fountain of Neptune and at the southern end, there is the Moor Fountain. When you enter the Piazza Navona, you immediately see a huge building, which is the Palazzo Pamphili. Today, it is the Brazilian Embassy in Italy.

From the moment I entered this place, I knew I’d love it. Around the whole piazza, there are a lot of charming restaurants. At our last evening, we decided to try one of those restaurants and the food was amazing. We ate at the Restaurant Domiziano, which was really a nice restaurant. The food was good, the stuff was really really nice and the whole ambiance was Italian. Another thing that I liked about the place, were the artists, which were sitting there the whole day and paint something. As in Paris, I wanted a drawing of Yannick and me, and so we did this on our last evening.

When you’re searching for a nice place to eat or to just relax, have a look at this charming piazza.

Basically, that was all that I want to tell you about my impressions of Rome. I swear that I could still write for hours, because I was really amazed by this beautiful city. There is a lot more to discover, but as we only stayed there for 4 days, I couldn’t do all of the things that I initially planned to. Anyway, I hope that you liked my presentation of Rome. Let me know your impressions of it.