Destination - Rome

"While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand.  When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall.  And when Rome falls - the World." 

 Lord Bryon

Rome, Italy

When I was a child I knew I wanted to travel and see the world.  I knew there had to be more out there then this little town I lived in.  I hungered for the city, and whenever I could I would talk my parents into trips to the city near us, Portland.  But I read about other places in the world, and I told everyone when I grew up I was going to see those other places.  Top on my list was always Italy.  And for me, when I thought of Italy, I thought of Rome.  It seemed like one of the most exotic wonderful cities in the world. 

The Coliseum

I finally made it to Italy when I was in my 40’s.  It took me awhile, but we were finally able to put away some money and start traveling.  It was a wonderful trip, one I will never forget.  We did get to other places in Italy besides just Rome, and for anyone planning to go to Italy, I certainly recommend exploring other areas.  But we started our trip in Rome, and many people who do travel to Italy spend at least a few days in this city.  And there are so many things to do and see in Rome, it is certainly worth the time to explore it.  Make sure you schedule several days in Rome, you can’t see it in just one day.  Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day and shouldn’t be visited in a day either.   I would like to talk about some of my favorite things to see, and I will also talk about side trips one can take from Rome.

Inside the Coliseum
 

Coliseum  - It is the most extraordinary of all Rome’s monuments.  When I saw it the first time I knew I was really in Italy.  To me, it is Italy.  It is not just its size, or its amazing completeness after all the years, or the history of the place.   There is just something about seeing it, in person. This is where gladiators met in mortal combat and fought off hungry lions, two thousand years ago. 



 

The Vatican, St. Peter’s Basillica and the Sistine Chapel – The Vatican is the smallest sovereign state in the world.   Its 108 1/2 acres make it one-third the size of Monaco.  It has its own currency, postal service, passport, newspapers, radio station and railroad system.  Its population of less than 1000 consists almost entirely of Church personnel, Vatican administrators and representatives of international organizations. 

Outside St. Peter's Basillica

St. Peter’s Basillica, officially known in Italian as Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within Vatican City.  It was constructed in 1506.  I have been in some of the great churches in the world, and I have to say that this church out dazzles them all.  The exterior and the interior of the church are spectacular.  It is a must see.  You can climb to the top of St. Peter's, it is not for the weak of heart.  When we were there it was a very hot day.  We made the climb, but we were very hot and tired when we got to the top.  You can see all of Rome from up there, and I do think it was worth the climb.

**The Dress Code is strictly enforced at St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican. No shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts. This applies to both men and women. Even if you get through security, you will be turned away by the attendants at the door. 

 

Probably the most famous painting
 of the Sistine Chapel ceiling

Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.   If you are going to go to the Vatican you should definitely see the museums and especially the Sistine Chapel.  You will need to purchase tickets to go inside, and there can be long lines.  There are tours available, or you can do it on your own, depending on how much time you want to spend.  The highlight is the wonderful Sistine Chapel ceiling.  The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art.   You are not allowed to take pictures of any kind inside the Sistine Chapel.



Trevi Fountain

Fontana di Trevi - The Trevi Fountain is Rome’s largest and most famous fountain.  The flamboyant baroque ensemble was designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and depicts Neptune’s chariot being led by Tritons with sea horses – one wild, one docile – representing the moods of the sea. The water comes from the aqua virgo, a 1st-century-BC underground aqueduct, and the name Trevi refers to the tre vie (three roads) that converge at the fountain. The famous custom is to throw a coin into the fountain, thus ensuring your return to the Eternal City. According to the same tradition if you throw in a second coin you’ll fall in love with an Italian, while a third will have you marrying him or her. And in case you were wondering, the €3000 or so that is thrown away on an average day is collected and donated to charity.



The Spanish Steps, where everyone goes to meet

Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps – This area has been a magnet for foreigners since the 18^th century.  The piazza was named after the Spanish Embassy.  At the foot of the steps, the fountain of a sinking boat, the Barcaccia, is believed to be by Pietro Bernini.  I loved climbing to the top of the steps and seeing Rome from the top, and the steps are certainly a place to people-watch, as everyone gathers there.  A little disappointing to me was the McDonalds right next door, and the trash people leave all over the steps.
 

The inside of the Pantheon

Pantheon – I was probably most impressed with this building.  It has to be ancient Rome’s most astonishing building. The Pantheon is widely praised for its feats of architecture and concept of space.  This Roman temple has been standing for over 2000 years, and it is a unique, unparalleled experience to enter its great doors and have your vision directed upwards, just as it would have been for the ancient Romans.  The dome was made of a single pouring of concrete over a wooden frame.  It is a perfect hemisphere and rests on the cylinder formed by the 20 ft. thick walls of brick-faced concrete.  The only source of natural light in the Pantheon, is a round opening in the center of the dome. It is 27 feet in diameter and open to the sky (the floor is gently sloped to allow for runoff of rainwater).   Once you start to look around you, you are taken in by the opulence. Monumental tombs are set into the walls of the Pantheon.  In the Pantheon are buried the kings of Italy as well as that of the artist Raphael.

Piazza Navona and the Four Rivers Fountain
at night

Piazza Navona – This piazza is near the Pantheon.  Our first night in Rome was spent in the Piazza Navona.  I remember walking around the piazza, watching people and looking at chalk drawings on the cement ground, as well as lots of art for sell.  In the center of the pizazza is Bernini’s most spectacular fountain, la Fontana dei Fiumi (Four Rivers Fountain), which is considered to be the most complex of all the fountains in Rome. It was created by Bernini in the early 1650s and was so expensive that the bread tax was raised in order to cover its high cost. It represents four rivers - the Danube, the Ganges, the Nile, and the Rio de la Plata, each identifiable by the flora and fauna.   There are 2 other fountains in the square as well.  This is a great place to come in the evening and wander the atmospheric narrow lanes and discover places to eat, or to people-watch. 

 

Roman Forum

Roman Forum – This was for centuries the center of Roman public life around which ancient Rome developed.  Here statues and monuments commemorated the city’s great men.  It has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history.  Today the Forum is a sprawling ruin of architectural fragments and intermittent archeological excavations attracting thousands of sightseers.  Many of the oldest and most important structures of the ancient city are located on or near the Forum.   The main sights of the Forum are the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Saturn, Temple of Vesta, and the church of San Luca e Martina.  These are all linked by the Sacra Via (the main road through the Forum).  I remember walking through this place and feeling like I was really walking in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, Brutus and other characters that I had read about from history. 

More of the Roman Forum

**We bought a great book from a vendor in the Forum, and if you are visiting and find this book, I suggest you purchase it.  The book was titled "Rome – Then and Now".  It had pictures of all the buildings that are in partial ruins now, and it shows how the building would have looked then.  The then part is plastic overlays which you can put over the ruins picture and it brings it to life.



 

Statue on Capitoline Hill

 Capitoline Hill – This is the shortest of the seven hills that constitute the ancient city of Rome, but it is the most sacred because of the Jupiter Temple and the temple of the Capitoline Triad, Jupiter and Juno and their daughter Minerva.   As you climb up the sloping steps to the top of the hill you will probably encounter a few Roman soldiers, dressed as they would have quite a few centruies ago.  At the top are many statues including Castor and Pollux and their horses.  The Piazza del Campidoglio is located on top of the Capitol Hill in Rome, where Roman Divinities were once praised and nowadays it is the headquarters of the Italian Government.  Also worth visiting are the three Capitoline Museums. 

My memory of Capitoline Hill is of brides.  The day we were there 3 buses pulled up and the buses were full of women in brides dresses.  There must have been a hundred brides.  I never found out what they were doing there, but they all got out and were walking around the area.  You never know what you will see sometimes.



Villa Borghese park

Gardens of the Villa Borghese – When all the sightseeing gets too much, or the history of the place overwhelms you, find serenity in the gardens of the Villa Borghese, the city's most central public park. It's popular with joggers, dog-walkers and pleasure seekers.   It is a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, do some people-watching and just relax and enjoy the lovely park.  We spent several hours in the park our last day in Italy.  It was a nice way to end out trip. 

Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant’ Angelo - The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel), is a towering cylindrical building on the right bank of the Tiber in Rome. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.

 

Appian Way

Appian Way - The Via Appia Antica or ancient Rome's "Queen of Roads," is the reason we say all roads lead to Rome. Engineered in the 5th century B.C., it was the widest and largest road of its time. In its heyday this avenue spanned some 330 miles, running from Rome to the port of Brindisi, on the Adriatic coast, where boats left for Egypt, Greece, and North Africa.  The road today is remarkably well preserved, flanked on both sides by fields punctuated with ruins and other vestiges of Roman history, its large flat paving stones polished by millennia of use and weathering.  There is a walking tour that national geographic suggests that you can do on this road, for more information go to: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/rome-walking-tour-3/
 

Lion Fountain in
Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is a large urban square in Rome. The name literally means "People's Square.  Piazza del Popolo is one of Rome's grand piazzas with a vast and elegant Neoclassical design. A great obelisk stands in the center surrounded by lion fountains. Two ornate fountain groups are opposite each other; one end of the piazza has the beautiful "twin" Baroque fountains of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. On the other end is one of the gates of Rome, the Porto del Popolo, and the lovely church of Santa Maria del Popolo.  The square is a lively meeting place and a great place for people-watching.

Vittoriano

Vittoriano -  This monument was built as a tribute to the first king of a united Italy Victor Emmanuel II.  The monument, also known as 'Il Vittoriano' consists of a large flight of stairs leading to the Altar of the Nation, dominated by a colossal equestrian statue of the King. At the foot of the statue is the tomb of the unknown soldier, guarded by two sentries of honor. The monument is rounded off with a long corridor featuring 50ft high columns.  The building is one you will definitly see, it is very large, and although it is not popular with the locals and is a more modern building, I thought it was quite attractive.  I took several pictures of it when I was there, but we didn't go in, which now I realize we should have. They say the  monument is well worth the visit, if only for the great views from the top. The top of the Il Vittoriano is also connected to the Campidoglio Square, saving you the climb of Capitoline Hill.
                   

 

Me having my daily gelato

Gelato - Gelato is not a destination, but it should certainly be on your list of things to do.  When we were in Italy, we made a point of stopping sometime everyday for a gelato cone.  Gelato is Italy’s ice cream, but it is better than anything you will ever find here in the states.  Our favorite was the lemon gelato, but we did try almost all of the flavors at some point, after all, we were in Italy for 3 weeks, so we did have some time to try them.  I recommend stopping for the gelato, whenever you can.



There are many other things to see while in Rome.  There are many museums, and if you have time you should definitly check some of them out.  And everywhere you look there are ancient ruins, besides the famous ones I've mentioned.  I remember we were walking along near some modern buildings and saw an area that was preserved under the modern building with a glass window looking into the ruins that were underneath. Everywhere they excavate they find ruins.  But whatever you do, make sure you take the time to relax, have some good Italian food, a bottle of wine, and do some people-watching.   
 

View from the top of Vittoriano

Your stay in Rome is all about your state of mind. Making every hour count means letting the timeless grandeur and beauty of the place seep into your blood. So, keep your eyes open for the little things that aren't on any list, the nooks and nuances of this ancient city.  The best way to see the city is to walk. In Rome, where you can usually count on good weather and unreliable transportation, you're best off doing as much as possible by foot. On the street is also where you'll unearth those unexpected finds. The warm aroma of a bakery. The handmade leather of a local craftsman. The tucked-away piazza that seems stuck in the 16th century, with grandma hanging the clothes out the window and six-year-olds chasing each other across the cobblestones. Even if it doesn't ever really change, Rome always has the power to surprise.

Ruins of Pompeii - a nice day trip from Rome

And after you have spent a few days in Rome, then it is time to go out and explore the rest of Italy.  If you are doing Rome at the start of a tour or cruise, then you are heading off on that, but it you are on your own then you can rent a car and drive, or take the train.  If you decide to take the train, then you should look into purchasing your Eurail pass before you go, either from your travel agent or online.  You'll save money by purchasing it in the states before your trip.  

Italy has some wonderful areas to visit.  We took an excursion up to Venice, Siena, Florence and the Tuscany area, which was quite nice, and then we came back to Rome and headed south to the Amalfi Coast area.  We made Sorrento our home base there because it was close to Pompeii and Capri.  We spent the last 5 days of our three weeks in that area, which was quite nice.  



Me at the Trevi Fountain
tossing my coin so I can return

If you are in Rome and only have a day to explore outside of Rome, then I would recommend taking the train down to Pompeii, which was quite interesting and worth exploring.  The ruins of Pompeii are just at the base of Mount Vesuvius, which erupted and buried the town.  It is very well preserved and will take a full day from Rome to go down and explore.  Or if you don't want to go quite so far, then an excursion to Tivoli Gardens might interest you.  They are a short drive outside of Rome and are beautiful. 

I did throw my coin into the Trevi Fountain when I was in Rome in 1992, and we do plan on making a trip back to Italy.  My husband and I originally visited Italy to celebrate our 25th anniversary, because it had been my dream to go there.  So now we have decided that in 2017 we will go back and celebrate our 50th anniversary in Italy.  Hopefully we will both still be in good enough health to do that.  If you want to read about our original trip, go to the column on the side and click on Anniversary Trip to Italy.  I kept a journal on the trip, and I typed it up to put into my trips column.  And if you are going to Italy soon, and reading this to get ideas of what to do, I hope I have been of some help.  Enjoy your trip, there is nothing quite like Italy, and Rome is the heart of Italy.