Rome Sightseeing

5 Classic Highlights In Rome, Italy

Barring the remarkable cafeterias, pizza parlors, clothing and shoe stores, gelato shops, pasta hangouts and museums and churches at each corner, at the guts of Rome, the "unceasing City," is its long history. Parable tells that Rome was set up 753 BCE by Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of the Roman god of war, Mars. These highlights in Rome tell a story that still resounds in the rocks, paintings and extraordinarily walls of these sights. Let us take a journey back thru the history of Rome - and do not forget a pair of snug shoes - the cobblestone streets can be painful!

1) Trevi Fountain ( Fontana di Trevi )
The Trevi Fountain stands as one of the grandest fountains in Rome. In 19 BC, it was one of the aqueducts that supplied ancient Rome with water. It was named the Aqua Virgo, after the virgin who discovered it, and it was utilized by Rome for over 400 years until the aqueducts were destroyed by the Goths. The current fountain that stands was finished in 1762 and features Neptune, the Roman god of water and sea ( similar to Poseidon in Greek mythology ). Neptune's sons, Tritons, are seen below him, taming the seahorses that are pulling his chariot while he controls the roaring waters. It's been said that once you throw a coin into the fountain, you are ensured another visit to Rome.
Travel secret? In the piazza surrounding the Trevi Fountain is also where you'll find some fo the best gelato in Rome.

2) The Spanish Steps ( Scalinata della Trinit dei Monti )
called the widest staircase in Europe, the Spanish Steps are composed of 138 steps that were built in 1723-1725. They were built to connect the Piazza di Spagna at its base to the Piazza Trinita dei Monti at its top, which featured a just built church ( Trinita dei Monti ) sponsored by the scotch kings of France. If you look closely, you'll notice the French fleur-de-lys sculpted in and round the steps. At the base of the steps in the Piazza di Spagna, you'll find the Barcaccia Fountain ( Fontana della Barcaccia ) that was built in 1627-29 - and today is employed by many visitors to fill their water bottles for their water break on the Spanish Steps. Attempting to find Ferienwohnungen Rom close to the Spanish Steps?

3) The Pantheon
As you walk thru the dark columns of the portico outside the Pantheon, you question if you are about to enter a crypt. But after you step inside, the quantity of natural light that floods this temple attributed to all Roman gods brings you to a place of submission to the ancient minds that created this place. A circular opening in the very center of the roof called the "Great Eye" provides light and ventilation while a drainage system in the floor overthrows of any rain that comes thru it. The concrete used to build the temple is still a poser as modern concrete would not be in a position to hold the weight of the Pantheon.
The building was originally built by the military general Agrippa in 27 BC but was reconstructed by Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD. It is thought of as the best saved building of its age and form in the world. In 609, the Pantheon was converted into a Christian church - which saved it from annihilation during the medieval period. Afterward, it changed into a tomb for Rome's greats including the painter, Raphael and two kings of Italy, including Vittorio Emanuele II. Choirs and tiny groups regularly trip to try their hand at the Pantheon's acoustics, a phenomenon for musicians and architects. Catch a mass or service here and you can leave in more astonishment of its puzzling yet impeccable design.

4) The Vatican : St. Peter's Square & Basilica, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel
Whether you are a follower or just a visitor, a tour thru the Vatican is a sensory overload but merits much of its due. It can be described in two words : grandeur and glory. Be prepared to wait in long lines and ladies must dress modestly ( no legs or arms showing ). If you can, visit on a Sun. and catch the Pope thru a tiny window. While Vatican town is the smallest country in the world with a population of around eight hundred, it's also probably one of the most mysterious, secret-laden and traditionally critical places in the world. It is where the seat and head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, is found. In ancient Rome, this site was considered a holy location and place of worship. After the great fire in Rome in 64 CE, many Christians were martyred here including the apostle Peter who was crucified upside down. Monuments and a church was made at this site in 326 and later turned into St. Peter's Square and Basilica - built also as a tomb for St. Peter. The pontifical Swiss Guard was set up in the 1500's as the bodyguards of the Pope. They continue to wear their standard uniforms which are usually a fun sight for first-time visitors to the Vatican. There is so much to see in Vatican city and it can be overpowering. Here are the highlights.
Begin at St. Peter's Square and get a feeling for the massive construction of this palace in itself. But prepare yourself for what awaits you within as you walk noiselessly thru the burial grounds below : the tombs of past Popes and Saint Peter himself. You're not alone if you feel chills down your backbone. As you enter St. Peter's Basilica, be in a position to crane your head upwards and in every direction at the loads of sculptures, paintings and statues including the original Pieta by Michelangelo. Spend an afternoon in the Vatican Museum to have a look at the many thousands of art work, statues and dedicated pieces to the Church - and be prepared as you enter the Sistine Chapel for another sense-shocking experience : a painted ceiling by Michelangelo. Remember, no footage and since it is a chapel, you will continue to be shushed by guards.

5) The Colosseum & Roman Forum
Last although not least, a visit to Rome is unfinished without setting your sights on the grand Colosseum. To avoid lines, visit the Roman Forum first and purchase your passes there which give you access to the Forum as well as the Colosseum later on in the afternoon - you'll be glad that you did once you go by the hundreds of folks in line at the Colosseum. A walk thru the great Roman Forum, once the very heart of Imperial Rome, is no walk in the park. Traditional monuments and stones stand where after they hummed with gardens, worshipers in churches, marketplaces, fountains and walks on cobblestone streets. Tip : take a tour or bring a guide book to steer you thru the ruins, what they once were and their significance - otherwise you will just be having a look at old rocks!

The Colosseum was originally named the Flavian amphitheatre and was the biggest of its kind built in ancient Rome in 70-80 AD, on the eastern side of the Roman Forum. Made to seat fifty thousand people, this site wishes no introduction, having been prominently featured in the flick The Gladiator. Citizens of Rome from all classes would come and watch gladiator battles. When you visit, take a while to soak in its grandeur - but do not forget to appreciate the complicated design under the arena that housed the gladiators and wild animals. Book Apartments Rom close to the Colosseum and revel in the town!
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