How Did We Get To Rome?
Our stop before Rome was Pisa. The hotel in Pisa was walking distance from the train station, so we decided that would be the easiest way to travel. We purchased our tickets in Australia online before we left but could easily have been bought that morning at the station. We preferred to pre-purchase to ensure we could get on board. The first train left very early, and was not very busy, so we relaxed and enjoyed the views of Italy as they passed by.
The train makes a few stops before reaching Rome, and it became crowded, with many of the later passengers standing for the journey. When we arrived in Rome, we caught a taxi to our hotel because it was too far to walk. The taxi rank is right outside the main entrance making it easy to find.
Where did we stay?
Nearly all the attractions in Rome are close together (even the Vatican City was only a 40-minute walk), so we stayed centrally and walked everywhere. The hotel we chose was Hotel Mancino 12. The concierge stored our bags and as it was early, offered a complimentary breakfast from the buffet. Very nice!
When we returned later in the day, our room was ready, and we were very happy with it. At night it was quiet, so we slept well. The only concern with the room was water pressure in the shower, which is not really that important, just meant showers took a little longer.
Breakfast at the buffet was plentiful and we appreciated the all-day coffee available in the foyer. We made use of this on numerous occasions.
Getting Around
Apart from two-day trips out of Rome we walked everywhere because everything was so close to our hotel. These walks were planned so that we would see things on the way to and from the furthest attraction. In Rome it seemed like there was an ancient ruin around every corner, if not a church or museum you hadn’t seen.
Finding a place to eat was not a problem. If anything, there was too much choice. We took the advice of previous travellers, and found restaurants off the main streets, as they were not so crowded, had better prices and the food was excellent.
Crossing roads can be a little daunting when you first arrive. There are numerous pedestrian crossings, but the cars never seem to stop for them. If you just stand at the side of the road, the cars will keep going. Simply make sure there is room for the car to stop, walk out and it will stop.
What did we do?
We tried to see as much as possible in the time we had. Many sites are on public display and easy to find, although they can become very crowded with tourists as we discovered. For the Roman Forum and Colosseum, we organised a guided tour, so that an expert could explain the importance of the sites. This proved to be a great choice as the guides proved to be very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars
Fontana del Tritone in Piazza Barberini
Forum / Palatine Hill
We met our guide for the Forum at the Colosseum Metro station. She was a young archaeologist and her enthusiasm for the topic was amazing. We spent several hours walking around the area learning about its ruins and what they were all used for. It was also interesting to discover that many old Roman buildings were re-purposed later for other uses. Many old temples exist today only because they were turned into churches.
The area covered by the Forum is huge and we walked briskly to cover as much as we could. From the entrance (we were first in for the morning!), we saw the Forum, Septimius Severus Arch and the Temple of Vesta. Near this is Basilica di Santa Francesca Romana originally a Roman temple dedicated to Valerius Romulus.
The tour took us up to Palatino Hill, with its great views over Rome and then on to the Palatine Stadium. Between each of these major points of interest were numerous other quick stops to see and have explained. With an expert guide, the ruins were brought back to life and we could easily have spent the whole day there.
Unfortunately, it had to come to an end, which it did near the Arch of Constantine next to the Colosseum.
Remember to visit after dark as well. because the views from outside are great and many of the monuments are lit, giving a beautiful look to the ruins.
Colosseum
The guided tour of the Colosseum was a continuation of the tour of the Forum. The group was larger at around 20 people, but the guide was equally well-informed. The Colosseum was very busy when our tour started, and the public access areas were packed. This tour however, took us to three places that you must go with a guide to visit.
Our fist stop was the arena floor which allows you to walk out to where the gladiators fought and look up into the stands. You also get a great view down to the lower level of the Colosseum where the animals and gladiators were kept.
The second stop was the lower levels where the workings of the Colosseum were explained, such as how people and animals accessed the arena. There is also a replica of the lift used to move from the lower levels to the arena floor.
The final guided section was the upper levels. This is the highest you can you and you are rewarded with a fantastic view of the interior of the Colosseum.
We were then free to walk around the rest of the monument at our leisure, but the highlight was certainly the guided tour.
To get a different perspective, we visited at night. The whole outside structure is lit up and looks magnificent. On our way there, we stopped for a look at the Forum at night as well.
Trevi Fountain
As all the reviews say, it’s crowded. We had to wait ages to get to the front. You can get photos from the sides a little easier, but views are not as good. To avoid this, we came back a second time at 5:30AM. They were still a lot of people there but nowhere near as many.
Remember you are not allowed to sit on the edge of the fountain. There are guards around that will tell you off and blow a whistle to make you move. Despite this, it is amazing how many people sat down.
This is one of the places infested with people trying to sell you things you don’t need. They degrade the whole look and atmosphere of Rome. We avoided them where possible, but they can get a bit pushy and in your face. This was especially the case with flower sellers. They present you with a flower, as if it’s a gift. When you accept it, they demand payment.
Pantheon
Now a church dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs, the Pantheon was originally a Roman temple. It’s excellent state of preservation is due to its re-purposing as a church and its continual usage since Roman times.
It looks spectacular from outside with its columns and inside is even better. The domed ceiling is magnificent. The first king of a united Italy Victor Emmanuel II is buried there as is his successor Umberto I.
Catacombs of Rome
One of only two bus trips we organised, because of the distance to travel, we found this experience extremely underwhelming. The tour took us to the Domitilla catacombs, which were originally a Roman stone quarry. Early Christians used them and there are some frescoes and early Christian symbols. The alcoves where bodies were buried can be seen but no bodies are left. After visiting the Paris catacombs, this was very disappointing because most of the time was spent walking down empty tunnels. The guide made it worse by dumbing everything down and talking to us as if we hadn’t left high school.
Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars
This was part of the catacombs tour, but really, we could (and should) have done it ourselves. It is easily reachable as it is in the centre of Rome.
The Crypt consists of a series of rooms off a corridor. You walk down the corridor and stare at the creepy bone decorated rooms and move on. No photos are allowed. The monks are not allowed to repair the “displays”, so it is in a general state of disrepair.
Worth the 15 minutes to say you have been there, but nothing more.
Fontana del Tritone in Piazza Barberini
One of many fountains located throughout Rome. This one is dedicated to Triton. A very nice fountain and worth looking at if you are passing through the Piazza Barberini, where it is located.
Piazza Navona
The Piazza Navona contains three fountains. The most famous is the Fountain of the Four Rivers which is, topped by the Obelisk of Domitian. The other two smaller fountains are the Fountain of Neptune and the Fontana del Moro. All three are great to relax around.
Sant’Agnese in Agone
Just off the Piazza Barberini is the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone. We spent some time in here admiring the artwork, sculptures and architecture of the building. There is also a shrine for Saint Agnes, containing her skull. Saint Agnes was an early Christian Saint Agnes who was martyred in the ancient Stadium of Domitian.
Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps are another favorite spot for tourists to visit. When we were there it was very crowded and full of people trying to sell us flowers, selfie sticks and other must have items. The steps themselves are quite beautiful but trying to get a picture is difficult. We climbed to the top and looked down, which gave a great view and a different perspective of the steps.
At the top is the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti which contains some amazing artwork and it worth a visit. Women are requested to cover their heads and shoulders before entering the church.
The Column of Marcus Aurelius
The Column of Marcus Aurelius is in front of the Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of the Italian Prime Minister. At nearly 30 metres high, it’s hard to miss. This column is modelled on the more famous Trajan’s Column. A statue of St Paul has replaced the statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Altar of the Fatherland
The Altar of the Fatherland (Altare della Patria) is a huge monument in the centre of Rome dedicated to Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy. This huge building is located near Capitoline Hill and is visible from much of the city.
There is a statue of Victor Emmanuel on a horse at the front as well as two statues of the goddess Victory riding in horse-drawn chariots.
Also housed here are the remains of the unknown soldier. From the upper section of the building there are great views over the city. There is a lift to the roof for what must be a spectacular view, but it was closed for repairs while we were there.
A great place to visit, learn about the Italian Unification and pay respects to the fallen soldiers.
Capitoline Museums
The Capitoline Museums are a must see when visiting Rome. They hold the best collection of Roman artefacts in the world that anyone remotely interested in history would want to see. The collection is huge, so unless you plan to spend several days there, it is a good idea to pick specific items you want to see.
If you do decide to look at everything, you might soon get tired of all the sculpture heads that fill numerous rooms, and the amazing number of statues. We went through these rooms, but to make sure we remained interested, the visits were brief. We sought out the She Wolf with Romulus and Remus, Venus, The Dying Gaul and Cupid and Psyche.
Some other items that should not be missed are the Colossus of Constantine and the bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
No bags are allowed inside, but self-serve lockers are provided so you can safely store your bags.
Walking in Rome
One of the great things about walking in Rome was the discovery of unexpected places and small side streets. Almost every turn brought us to something new and unexpected. We found the Marcus Aurelius Column this way, because it just happened to be on the route we had chosen.
Crossing roads can be a little daunting when you first arrive. There are numerous pedestrian crossings, but the cars never seem to stop for them. If you just stand at the side of the road, the cars will keep going, however simply make sure there is room for the car to stop, walk out and it will stop.
What Did We Think?
We loved Rome, from the hotel to the history and the monuments. The only issue we had were the swarms of people trying to sell things to tourists. This made us feel uneasy a few times, but generally, the number of other people made us feel safe. We went out each night for a meal (the food in Rome is excellent) and never felt unsafe. We did however have all our things in backpacks that were lockable and pick-pocket proof.