We love to meet locals and explore their city with them. Everyone loves a city for all different reasons. Some come to eat, others to pray, and others to explore. We did not stay in Rome. We were staying in Ostia, a coastline town which is about 20 minutes via the metro. I wanted to share 10 of the things we enjoyed during this trip to Rome. Of course, don’t let these ideas limit your experience. But this is a good starting point to start planning your journey if you like to plan.
As we travel, the first thing we do is explore the city on foot. There is no better way to get to know a culture, its people, and its traditions than walking its streets. So of course when we got to Rome, we put on our tennis and started to walk. We never plan or research the cities we visit. Instead, we prefer to discover gems. Rome is brimming with history, Roman culture, gorgeous buildings around every corner, and enough restaurants for even the pickiest eaters with outstanding Italian cuisine.
You will find a Gelato Cafe at almost every corner in Rome, actually anywhere in Italy. People in Italy, no matter where you travel in the country, love their Gelato. Some even eat it as a meal. There are so many flavors to pick from that you can have a different one every day. Gelato is a frozen dessert of Italian origin. It is made with a base of 3.25% butterfat whole milk and sugar. Yummy!!
We loved exploring this park. Make sure you pick up a gelato to enjoy during your walk. The Borghese Gallery in Rome is a large park and landscaped garden where several monuments, temples, and the Galleria Borghese. Initially, the park was the summer residence of the Borghese princely family. The Galleria Borghese is one of the most beautiful museums in Rome.
Generally, at the top of the Spanish Steps, you will find a cluster of artists painting visitor’s portraits, but sadly because of the pandemic they were not as many of them during our trip. The Spanish Steps are a set of steps dating from 1723, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinita Dei Monti at the top dominated by Trinita Dei Monti Church. The steps are at the eastern end of the old city center. There is a maze of very narrow streets crammed full of designer shops from the base waiting to be explored.
When one thinks about Rome, the Colesseum amphitheater comes into most people’s minds; even if you have been there before, you must stop again. The Colosseum is one of the landmarks in the Italian capital. It was built between 70 and 80 AD and served its original purpose until the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, it then became a stone quarry for the Roman people for an extended time, and pieces of the monument have collapsed over time. It explains why entire walls of the Colosseum are missing.
The Appian way in Rome was the most important trading route in ancient Rome. The street led the city to the seaport Brindisi where oriental products were brought into Italy and Rome. Via Appia reached this seaport in 191 BC and was at that time a modern street. It was continuously paved with big stones, had two lanes and sidewalks. Milestones were laid at regular intervals to indicate the travel time. So loved the day we decided to take this walk.
The Trevi Fountain is the most famous fountain in Rome and on the top list of sights for most visitors. It was built at the spot where freshwater used to be transported via an aqueduct to Rome in ancient times. As for the setting, the Romans decided to construct a house front in an arch of triumph and a statue of the sea god Neptune. Legend has it; it brings luck to throw a coin into the fountain. Two coins will have you fall in love with an Italian man or woman. Three coins will get you married to your sweetheart. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, there are no statistics about the success rate, but to use a proverb: the proof of the pudding is in the eating! Note there is a specific way to throw the coin: The coin must be thrown over the right shoulder with your back facing the fountain in order to achieve the desired effect. Every week all the money in the Trevi Fountain is fished out and donated to the Caritas.
Construction began in 114 AD, and the Pantheon is one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Rome. The most impressive part is the large-sized vault which seems to hover effortlessly over the visitors’ heads. In 1700 it was the most extensive vault with a diameter of 43,4 m. The ancient Romans put all of their art in architecture into the creation of the Pantheon. It still makes a solid impression today. From the outside, you will mostly notice the grey stone, which reveals the age of the Pantheon. But this is quickly forgotten once you enter the Pantheon.
As the Italians call it, St. Peter’s Basilica or San Pietro is the burial church of the apostle Simon Peter, the center of the Vatican and thus, the focal point of the Catholic Church. It provides enough space for 60,000 people to attend the audiences granted by the Pope. The bronze canopy designed by Bernini covers the high altar, and only the Pope is allowed to hold an audience under the baldachin. The dome is one of the largest free-standing domes made of bricks and is open to visitors. It only takes 537 steps to lead up to the top of the dome from which you have a great view of the Vatican and Rome.
Rome surrounds Vatican City; it is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It’s home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. In the city, you will find the Vatican Museums home of the famed “Laocoön and His Sons” and Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling. Visiting is well worth the visit, no matter what your religion is.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first, second, or zillionth time to Rome; there are so many of the best things to do in Rome around each and every corner.
We have some advice while traveling: learn the basics such as good morning, thank you, where is? In the language spoken in the country you are visiting. We developed a place where you can learn vocabulary and know how to pronounce it correctly. I hope you enjoy our site, LingoHut, “never for money always for love.”