Not just Italy. Walk on Roman soil. Evening walks in Rome

Rome itineraries for 1, 2 and 3 days

Especially for those who are going to Rome for a relatively short period of time and want to get to know this beautiful city as closely as possible, we have prepared several routes for walking around it. And so, what can you see in Rome in one, two or three days?

Day 1 - Rome in one day

We think that it would never occur to anyone to purposefully visit Rome for just one day. As a rule, such situations arise only when Rome is used as a transit point and a long transfer is made. In this case, the question arises: how to spend this day with interest and benefit? Let's see all the possible options.

If you are not interested in the main sights of the city (Colosseum, Vatican, etc.) or you, for example, are visiting Rome not for the first time, then the most suitable solution would be not to go to the city at all, but to go straight from Fiumicino airport to .. .sea! The cities closest to Rome, located on the coast, are, of course, far from the most luxurious Italian resorts, but also quite pleasant places to relax. Read more about how and where to relax on the sea near Rome - in our special article.

Those who are eager to see the Colosseum and other ancient sights of the "eternal city" with their own eyes - welcome to Rome! Let's see what you can see here in just one day.

Route around Rome on the map

Colosseum and Roman Forum

Starting your journey around the city is necessary depending on where you are staying in Rome. If it is somewhere near the center, for example, the Termini station area, then you can safely go on foot. If you live far away, then go to the nearest metro station and ride to Colosseo station. This is where our route will start.

The first objects on our way: the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, and nearby - the Triumphal Arch of Constantine

If you have only one insignificant day in Rome, then there is absolutely no need to enter their territory - a waste of time. All the beauties can be perfectly viewed from observation platforms located along the territory of the Forum.

Read on our blog:

Vittoriano monument and Piazza Venezia

After taking plenty of pictures and admiring the ancient ruins of the Forum and the mighty Colosseum, we go to the Vittoriano monument, on Piazza Venezia.

Trevi Fountain

After seeing all the sights here, we go along Via Cesare Battisti (if you stand with your back to Vittoriano and look at the square, then turn right), and then turn onto Piazza santi Apostoli - we move towards the famous Trevi Fountain. On our way we will meet several more interesting objects. We need to walk about 600 meters and we will get to the Trevi Fountain - one of the most beautiful fountains in the world.

Do not forget to throw a coin into it - this is a must-have item on the list of top things to do in Rome for every traveler.

From Trevi we go to the Column Square and move towards the Pantheon, about 600 meters.

It's time for me to relax and refresh myself, isn't it? Not far from the Pantheon is the coffee house La Casa Del Caffè Tazza D "oro (marked on the map) - here, according to most, the best coffee in the city.

Pantheon and Piazza Navona

After resting here, we move to the Pantheon. Be sure to go inside (admission is free).

From the Pantheon, just a few steps to Piazza Navona - one of the most beautiful and picturesque in Rome.

After Navona, if you still have the strength, we go to the coast of the Tiber. From here you have a great view of another significant sight of Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo (Hadrian's Mausoleum). But for now, we are going past it - we will leave it for the second day (those who have only one day in Rome - you can cross the bridge and reach the castle if you have strength left). We move in a straight line to the Plaza de España and the Spanish Steps. You need to walk a little less than a kilometer.

Plaza of Spain

Piazza di Spagna is the final destination of the Rome walk on the first day. The total length of the route is 4.5 km. If you go slowly and pay due attention to all the sights, then you will find yourself in the Plaza de España in the evening. Here is the metro station Spagna, with the help of which we will get home.

On the first day, you can also take advantage of interesting excursions around Rome with Russian-speaking guides. They will not only guide you along a similar route, but also tell you a lot of interesting information about the culture and history of this great city. You can choose not only group walking tours, but also individual ones, on your guide's personal transport! Read more about excursions at the end of the article.

Video Top 10 attractions in Rome

Rome 2 day

If someone thinks that all the most interesting things in Rome were examined on the first day, then he is greatly mistaken. Ahead of us is a tour of one of the most popular attractions in Italy, as well as a walk through the most colorful area of ​​​​its capital.

Probably everyone knows that the Vatican is a separate independent state, which is the smallest in the world. It can be called small not only in relation to the concept of "state", but also in relation to the size of the city itself. In addition, half of its entire territory is inaccessible to ordinary tourists. But even that insignificant part that remains is incredibly interesting and popular - it is not for nothing that the Vatican attracts millions of tourists.

Route Rome - Trastevere on the map

Before crossing the border of the Vatican, it is worth looking into the territory of another very interesting object located nearby - the Mausoleum of Hadrian, or the Castel Sant'Angelo. It can be seen from almost anywhere on the Tiber embankment, but you can’t even imagine what a wonderful view of Rome itself opens from here.

Then we go directly to the Vatican. A few minutes later we come to St. Peter's Square, and right in front of us rises the colossal magnificent St. Peter's Cathedral. Actually, what you see in front of you is the Vatican, or rather, that part of it that is available to us mere mortals :)

What else do we see here, besides the cathedral, the obelisk and two semicircular colonnades? Right! A long queue trying to get inside. And we need to defend it. Necessarily! Having accomplished this feat, we buy a ticket (5 euros) and climb the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica, from where an unforgettable view of Rome opens. Remember the list of things to do in Rome? :) More about visiting the Vatican and climbing the dome -.

From the dome we descend directly into the cathedral - its decoration will also amaze you with its beauty. Next, we recommend that you visit the Vatican Museum. Even if you are not an art lover, believe me, this place is worth a visit. At least for the Sistine Chapel. Tickets can be pre-purchased online (€16), thus avoiding the long queue.

Regardless of whether you decide to visit the Vatican Museum or not, our journey is not over yet. We leave the Vatican and go to the territory of the Trastevere district - a popular historical district of Rome, in which the real Italian atmosphere, culture and traditions are still preserved. It is here that the best pizzerias of the city are located (we marked them on the map).

There are no popular attractions here, but we didn’t come to Rome just for them, did we? Actually your itinerary in Trastevere can be adjusted as you wish. We will give just a couple of tips: be sure to go through its center - Santa Maria in Transtwere Square, and also take a walk along the Tiber. Having reached the island of Tiberina, you can cross the bridge and find yourself in fact in the center of Rome, where metro stations are located very close by.

We recommend that you go through Trastevere and turn on the Ponte Testaccio bridge. Then walk a little more and go to another attraction of Rome - the Pyramid of Cestius. And right here is the Piramide metro station, which will be the end point of our walk around Rome.

Rome for 3 days

What to do in Rome for 3 days? It is quite difficult to choose a detailed route around the city, since the remaining sights are located pointwise around the city, away from the historical center, that is, you need to take it and go specially. For example, Villa Borghese is an urban landscape park where you can retreat and be in silence, as well as take a break from the scorching heat (if you visit Rome in the summer). Another popular attraction is the Baths of Caracalla - huge ruins of ancient baths, the construction of which began in the 2nd century BC.

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Some rules for finding cheap flights can be found in this article.

Cheap housing

Every traveler, of course, wants to optimize their costs and find a good hotel (or apartment) in terms of price / quality ratio. Thus, the more options you are offered, the more likely you are to find the best one. Therefore, your search can be greatly facilitated by the Hotellook service, which searches for the best accommodation booking systems.

You do not need to compare prices on different services yourself - Hotellook will do it for you!

Insurance

To obtain a Schengen visa, as you know, the list of required documents includes an insurance policy for those traveling abroad.

When traveling to other countries where a visa is not required, obtaining an insurance policy for the safety of you and your family members will also not be superfluous, especially if you are traveling with children.

Excursions

The best way to get to know a new city is through guided tours by locals. To do this, many travelers use services such as Sputnik8.

While preparing for your trip to Rome, you have probably already seen a lot of travel tips and advice. Surely they have heard about and are ready to fulfill the "obligatory" tourist program in the Eternal City. But if this is not enough for you, if you want not only to see the famous “postcard” places, but to feel this city, feel its atmosphere, and maybe even fall in love with it, then we offer some interesting ideas of what to do in the Eternal City. We will not limit ourselves to just visiting famous places, we will not advise throwing coins into the fountain and doing other “tourist” things. Only what you can remember with inspiration and enthusiastically tell your friends. So, what is worth doing in Rome in order to see this city from new sides and at least for a while feel like a “Roman” (or Roman)? We share interesting ideas for your Roman holidays.

Walk around Rome at sunrise

Few tourists manage to see Rome free from tourist crowds. Walk along the ancient streets, see the sleepy ruins of the ancient city, admire the deserted .... Seems incredible? Do not be too lazy to wake up at least once at dawn and discover a Rome that most tourists are not familiar with: quiet, deserted, cozy. Walk through the old, not yet fully awakened streets, take a break from the tourist bustle for a while .... This will help you feel why Rome is called the Eternal City, why it has inspired people for centuries.

Spend a relaxed evening strolling through the Roman squares

Rome is an amazingly multifaceted city. Therefore, we recommend not only wandering around the deserted city at dawn, admiring its sleepy beauty and comprehending the secrets of the Eternal City, but also doing something exactly the opposite. Namely - to plunge headlong into the noisy and bustling life of Roman squares, which never “sleep”. But a special revival is observed here in the evenings, when local residents and tourists fill it, turning ancient architectural ensembles into party places. People fill the steps in front of the temples, stick around the fountains, vigorously discussing the latest news, laughing and enjoying life .... Join now!

Wander the old streets of Monti and Trastevere

These picturesque areas will allow you to feel the real Roman atmosphere. As a rule, iconic Roman sites do not need recommendations - they invariably attract crowds of tourists anyway. Almost every tourist leaving Rome has a collection of photos of the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican and other places that everyone knows about. But we don't want to be "like everyone else"?! We want to feel the real Rome and see it not only "postcard" and touristic, but also alive, everyday, unique .... That is why we will look into the charming authentic districts of Monti and Trastevere and walk with inspiration along their old streets.

Monti is located very close to the Colosseum, but here it is much calmer and, perhaps, even more interesting. In this area of ​​Rome, you can see picturesque houses covered with ivy, and ancient churches, and tiny lanes that remember many stories and legends. And also by chance to stumble upon small shops of young designers, where you will find unique gizmos, sometimes even made in a single copy.

Walking around the city with an audio guide is even more interesting! We pass through some streets and squares of the Monti district on the tour "".

Trastevere also has a unique Roman flavor. Here you will be enchanted by houses full of flowers, swirled and carried away by curved medieval streets, cozy squares and ancient basilicas. And if you climb to the top of the Janiculum hill, you will be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views of Rome.

Enjoy ice cream at one of the legendary gelaterias

Delicate Roman gelato (gelato - ice cream) is so famous that it, perhaps, can even be included in the list of Roman attractions. You can try ice cream in Rome almost everywhere, and almost everywhere it will be delicious. But to approach this matter with feeling and sense, look into one of the famous Roman gelateria. They will amaze you with the widest selection of excellent ice cream. Among the most famous gelaterias are Giolitti at Via Uffici del Vicario 40 and Sant'Eustacchio at piazza Sant'Eustacchio 82.

Dine in Trastevere

Roman cuisine can take a special place in your collection of impressions of this city. But it is worth getting to know her in authentic places. Around the iconic Roman sights - the Colosseum, the Vatican and others - there are a lot of dubious establishments that are distinguished not only by inflated "tourist" prices, but also by not very good cuisine. In addition, there you are unlikely to see the Romans themselves. And watching the locals and communicating with them is an interesting experience that will help make the trip bright and rich.

Advice. The presence of Italians themselves in a restaurant or trattoria is also a good indicator of the quality of the cuisine. Italians are great gourmets, spoiled by fine cuisine. They just won't go where the food is bad. So go where the locals go.

We have already mentioned one of the most authentic and colorful areas of Rome - Trastevere. This area on the western bank of the Tiber is famous not only for its cozy old streets and houses, but also for the abundance of excellent trattorias and restaurants. Here you can have a very tasty and relatively inexpensive dinner in an open cafe, enjoying not only food, but also a unique atmosphere.

Read about the features and specialties of Roman cuisine, and what is worth trying in Rome.

Relax in one of the Roman parks

Roman parks and gardens are unique, like everything Roman! Many of them are old villas, where you can not only relax in nature, but also join the art. For example, the famous Villa Borghese- a huge landscape park on the Pincio hill, whose history dates back to the 17th century, when Cardinal Scipione Borghese set up a park on the site of vineyards. For centuries it was the family villa of the Borghese family, and at the beginning of the 20th century the park became the property of the city.

If you decide to take a closer look at the ancient ruins on the Palatine Hill (for example, with our audio tour ""), you can very pleasantly relax in Farnese Gardens. This picturesque park was set up here by Cardinal Farnese (the future Pope Paul III) back in the 16th century, and later the park turned into a luxurious villa with fountains and beautiful pavilions.

Small cozy parks can be found in the very center of Rome. If you are nearby, take a look at Villa Celimontana, V Orange Garden (Savello Park) on the Aventine Hill or in small parks on the Quirinal Hill (Villa Carlo Alberto and the Garden of Sant'Andrea). Lovers of beautiful plants will love the Roman botanical garden.

Ours will help you find a good park nearby. Select a filter under the category "Breathe fresh air".

Admire panoramic views of Rome from its hilltops

As you know, Rome stands on the legendary seven hills. In fact, there are even more hills. That is why there are many opportunities to enjoy panoramic views in the Eternal City. Magnificent views from aventine hill– from the observation deck located in the cozy and romantic Savello Park (better known as the Orange Garden). Another opportunity to view the city from a height and take excellent panoramic photos will be presented to you at Villa Borghese, on the top pincho hill There is also a great viewing platform there. Climbing the famous Spanish Steps, by the way, you will find yourself on the same Pincho hill. From the top of the stairs, though not so large-scale, but still impressive views of the Plaza de España and the old houses surrounding it will open.

Breathtaking panoramas of ancient Roman ruins (and not only) open from different viewing platforms on Palatine Hill. Walking along it and remembering the history of the great empire, do not forget to look around the surroundings, as the ancient Roman rulers did from the top of this hill.

capitol hill also inextricably linked with the ancient history of Rome. On it you can admire not only the ensemble of the Capitoline Square, designed by the great Michelangelo, and the medieval Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, but also beautiful views of Rome. It is at Capitol Hill that our tour with the audio guide "" ends.

Advice for those traveling withiPhone and sTravelry . Filter by the Views category in your Rome Guide and you will see a selection of the best viewpoints in Rome.

Visit the farmers market

And maybe even have a picnic from the products bought there! This is an interesting (and tasty!) experience that will give you a lot of new impressions. Every morning in the old square of Campo dei Fiori ( Campo dei Fiori, which means "Flower Field"), there is a farmers' market where you can buy delicious and fresh Italian products. True, many tourists have already heard about this, which affects prices. But the fact that this is one of the oldest markets in Rome will give a special flavor to these purchases!

Also, an excellent farmers' market is located at Circo Massimo - this is the Campagna Amica market ( Mercato di Campagna Amica del Circo Massimo). You can find it at Via San Teodoro, 74. Unlike the market on Campo dei Fiori, it works only on weekends, but only locals visit the market near Circo Massimo. So that's even more interesting! Plus, all products are free to try before you buy.

Secret. Adjacent to the Campagna Amica market is one of the best pastry shops in Rome: Cristalli di Zucchero. True, there are no seats in it, but these inconveniences are compensated by excellent goodies.

Escape the hustle and bustle in an old Roman basilica

In ancient Roman basilicas, you can hide not only from the tourist noise (but also from the heat and rain) and take a break from the "race" to the sights, thinking about the eternal. Here you can also see genuine masterpieces of art. By the way, a huge part of the works stored today in museums were originally created specifically for temples. Therefore, in the basilica, paintings and sculptures by outstanding masters (Caravaggio, Michelangelo and many others) are located exactly in the places for which they were intended and conceived by their authors.

You can find a selection of the most interesting churches in Rome in, as well as in the free one, which you can install on your iPhone. Select the filter by the category "Think about the Eternal" - and you can easily find interesting temples with brief descriptions, photos and location on the map.

Walk along the Appian Way, breathing in the spirit of a thousand years of history

If you are already a little satisfied with the sights of the center of Rome, allow yourself to move away from the well-trodden tourist routes and breathe not only fresh air, but also ancient history. If time permits, you can plan to walk or cycle along the Appian Way. This is one of the oldest Roman roads along which there are many ancient and medieval buildings, including the famous Roman catacombs. And on the road itself, the antique coating is partially preserved. Inspection of ancient monuments will not be very stressful, since along a large part of the road there is a good park area, which is pleasant to walk and ride a bike.

If we were transported many centuries ago, we would not be able to walk around the Roman land. The Great Roman Empire, the period of development of one of the leading civilizations of antiquity, owned colossal territories in Europe and the Mediterranean. According to some calculations, in the second century the empire was inhabited by about a third of the total population of the Earth. Now this task does not seem so difficult: today's Rome, also known as the "eternal city", to which "all roads lead", is not so big. With this entry, I begin a series of reports "Not Just Italy", in which I will share my observations and impressions from a trip to Rome, the Vatican and Naples. I'll start my photo story with a classic first walk around the city.

By classic walk, I mean visiting the usual tourist and near-tourist places. In my opinion, being in a big city for the first time and not seeing the most famous sights is stupid. Those travelers who say that they are not at all interested in such places are definitely disingenuous. All of them also include the Brandenburg Gate, Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum in their programs. The second and subsequent trips are different.

We checked into the hotel, which was within walking distance from the train station, late in the evening. The next morning we went to explore the ancient city.

Briefly speaking about the impressions, the picture is as follows: the first impression is "Wow! A beautiful city!", the second impression is "Wow! How many different details and individual features!", the third impression is "Wow! Very hot, but still very interesting !". Conclusion: the city is amazing, charismatic, able to attract and hold attention to its details and history.

As you know, Rome is the first city in which a system of continuous water supply appeared.

At the end of the second century, the city had more than half a thousand fountains and a dozen aqueducts, through which water flowed into the city.

Now here at almost every step there are water towers with drinking water.

The water is quite tasty, which cannot be said, for example, about German tap water (my subjective opinion). In the heat, such speakers are simply irreplaceable.

In a self-respecting street cafe or restaurant there are fans with air humidification.

At every turn there is an abbreviation "SPQR", which means "Senatus Populus Que Romanus" ("The Senate and Citizens of Rome"). It is also used on the city coat of arms.

Motor scooters are perhaps the most favorite urban mode of transport of the Romans.

We approached the Republic Square (Italian: Piazza della Repubblica).

Here is also the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Italian: Santa Maria degli Angeli), built according to the project of Michelangelo (presumably).

For the first time in my life I saw electric candles in a church (!). To ignite such an ingenious invention, you need to insert a coin and press a button.

In 1700, Pope Clemens XI (Clemens XI) assembled a commission to check the Gregorian calendar. A 45-meter meridian was laid in this basilica, with the help of which mathematical and astronomical calculations were carried out.

On one of the main streets (Via Nazionale) we go in the direction of Venetian Square (Italian: Piazza Venezia).

We met a good Roman.

Here, on the slope of one of the seven Roman hills, namely the "Capitoline", there is a monument in honor of the first king of Italy (Italian: Monumento nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II).

It offers decent views of the city and the Colosseum.

Flavian Amphitheater or just the Colosseum:

Eye-catching street performer:

Coliseum.

Here is the Palatine Hill, from which the history of the city began. According to legend, it was on it that the brothers Romulus and Remus, the founders of the Eternal City, were fed by a she-wolf.

In the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin (Italian: Santa Maria in Cosmedin) there is an antique marble slab depicting the mask of Triton "The Mouth of Truth" (Italian: Bocca della Verità). Medieval "lie detector".

The Tiber River and the Castel Sant Angelo (Italian: Castel Sant Angelo).

At various times, the mausoleum of the emperor, a fortress, a castle, a prison, and finally a museum. It is located near the Vatican, about which there will be a separate entry.

Another striking attraction is the Pantheon or "temple of all gods" (Italian: Pantheon).

The Spanish Steps (Italian: Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) and the Barcaccia Fountain (Italian: Fontana della Barcaccia).

At the end, several city views from Napoleon I Square.

The Vatican Cathedral of St. Peter (Italian: Basilica di San Pietro) in the background.

This was the opening post. That's all for today.

Many thanks to my hospitable sponsor in Rome - Russian online hotel booking service

In Rome, we had a long transfer between flights, and we, of course,. At one o'clock we were at Termini. We had about six hours at our disposal.

First of all, we decided to look at the baths of Diocletian.

These baths are located very close to the station. Emperor Diocletian built them for his people in 305 AD. In terms of area, they surpassed all previous buildings of this type. So, no less grandiose baths of Caracalla occupied 11 hectares, and the baths of Diocletian - 13 hectares and could accommodate up to 3200 people.

In addition to the actual washing departments, decorated with all the luxury then available, they included libraries, collections of statues and paintings, winter gardens, halls for physical education and sports. The rooms were heated, that is, at any time of the year, any citizen of Rome, including the last poor man, could comfortably spend time there and, not only wash himself, but also raise, so to speak, his cultural level.

Needless to say, the Romans loved to take a steam bath. The building is grandiose even by today's standards. Suffice it to say that now it houses the National Roman Museum with a collection of works of Roman and Greek art, two churches and a planetarium.

The dome of the planetarium, arranged in the baths of Diocletian

And many rooms are not used and are represented by cyclopean ruins.

We approached the museum and at the entrance to the territory were subjected to a thorough check (the difficult situation with terrorism affects).

in front of the entrance to the museum

They didn’t buy a ticket to the museum, because in addition to the Baths of Diocletian, the ticket includes a visit to several more objects: the Balbi Crypt, the Altemps Palace and the Massimo Palace. We decided that it would be more logical to go and buy a ticket when we have more time and we can visit everything that is included in the ticket.

Thus, we limited ourselves to an external inspection of the grandiose ruins - truly impressive!

Crossing a busy street, we found ourselves at Fountain Naiad on Republic Square.

The fountain was designed by Mario Rutelli and opened in 1901. Four nymphs surround the sea god Glaucus. The nymph of the Lake sits on a swan, the nymph of the River sits on a river monster, the nymph of the Ocean sits on a sea monster, and the nymph of Underground waters sits on a dragon. The god Glaucus, who according to legend was originally a man and who fights with a dolphin, is a symbol of man's victory over the elements. According to tourist legend, if you walk around the fountain and make a wish, it will come true. This is what we did. Wait-sir.

When the fountain was opened, the naked statues seemed too erotic, and at first it was surrounded by a fence. Now, in the light of current ideas about morality, it is not entirely clear what caused this.

After inspecting the fountain and admiring the semicircular buildings surrounding the square, designed by Gaetano Koch and decorated with magnificent sculpture,

we decided to go back and visit Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri arranged in one of the premises of the former therm. I thought you could only enter this church with a ticket. But no, the church is active, admission is free.

Entrance to the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

A visit to the church designed by Michelangelo himself was a revelation for me. Imagine, Michelangelo built a church in one of the premises of Diocletian's baths, not much inferior in size to St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. What size were these baths inside initially ?! The length of the church is 90 m (Isakiy has a size of 100 by 100 m), the height of the vaults is 29 m.

The church was completed in 1556, after the death of Michelangelo, and rebuilt several times after 1700. On a tablet inside the church, it is written that Pope Pius 4th ordered Michelangelo to rebuild the best preserved part of the term into a church because the emperor Diocletian was a persecutor of Christians.

Michelangelo had great respect for ancient culture and approached the issue delicately, trying as best he could to preserve the ancient Roman heritage and show its greatness. So this, one of the most unusual churches, appeared. It contains a lot of genuine masterpieces of painting and sculpture, not only Italian, but also French, in particular, the sculpture of St. Bruno by Houdon. And there is always great music playing. The impression is unforgettable.

More. At the beginning of the 18th century, Pope Clement the 11th ordered the scientist Francesco Bianchini to lay a meridian on the floor of the church. There were three goals: 1st - to check the accuracy of the Gregorian calendar, 2nd - to get a tool to determine the date of Easter, and 3rd - the ambitious pope wanted to wipe Bologna's nose, where a similar meridian already existed.

Due to the fact that the ancient baths were oriented strictly from south to north (in order to better use the solar heat), the sun's ray from the round window in the dome at 12:15 is directed strictly along the meridian. The meridian ordered for the new year 1700 was ready in 1702.

meridian in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

There is also a Foucault pendulum showing the daily rotation of the Earth.

Who remembers, there was such a pendulum in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. But there, according to the idea of ​​the Bolsheviks, he proved that there is no God. And in the Roman church, he proves how great God is, who arranged everything so complicatedly and completely. As you can see, opposite conclusions can be drawn from the same phenomenon.

The Chinese, who erected a monument to Galileo Galilei, were also noted in the pretty courtyard of the church. It is immediately clear, in my opinion, that Galileo's face was not sculpted by a European.

Galileo Galilei, sculptured by a Chinese sculptor

church courtyard

We leisurely walked around Rome, admiring the architectural masterpieces, which are innumerable in the Great City.

Fountain in San Bernardo Square

Church of San Bernardo, arranged in one of the corner rotundas of the Baths of Diocletian

Anglican Church of San Paolo Dentro La Mura

We went to the Anglican Church of San Paolo Dentro La Mura. The church is quite recent, late 19th century, but beautiful both outside and inside and quite worthy to be in Rome. Some of its mosaics were made by the Pre-Raphaelite Edward Burne-Jones.

Hungry, we started looking for a place to eat. We went to the diner, where the locals were sitting - this always speaks in favor of the institution. When we ordered, due to mutual misunderstanding (both we and the employees of the establishment do not speak English perfectly) we took 2 pieces of meat instead of one piece of meat for each. “Paris (in our case, Rome) is worth mass (we have lunch)”, so we ordered 2 more bottles of wine, 0.25 liters each. They were afraid of a big score, it turned out only 13 e for two. It turns out that in Rome you can eat cheaply (according to European standards, of course) and hearty.

Soon we were near the Police Tower.

militia tower

I would translate its name as "Cop", this is more in line with its purpose. And that's why. It was not created in ancient times and therefore could not be the place from where, according to modern tourist legend, Nero watched the fire in Rome. It was built in the Middle Ages, when gangs of local feudal lords were operating on the ruins of the former imperial metropolis. It was built by the Aretino family at the end of the 12th century in order to control their area and watch the competitors entrenched in the castle of St. Angel.

Then it repeatedly passed from hand to hand until it lost its military significance and became just one of the sights of the city. Now its height is about 50 m, but before the earthquake of 1348 it was much higher.

Church of St. Catherine of Siena

In front of the tower is the beautiful church of St. Catherine of Siena, one of the patron saints of Italy. As can be understood from the tablet, this church is related to the armed forces of Italy, which is probably why 2 soldiers were on duty on its steps.

Leaving the church, we found ourselves in front of the entrance to the Imperial Forums, to which we went for 11.5 euros.

"Forum" in translation means the market. But this grandiose building rather corresponds to the modern concept of "shopping and entertainment center".

this is what forums looked like in ancient times

"Imperial forums" include the forums of: Caesar (46 BC), Augustus (2 BC), Vespasian (75), Nerva (98), Trajan (113) and the temple Peace. Despite the fact that almost nothing remains of the marble and other finishes, the forum still makes an indelible impression. I thought that modern humanity before the ancient Romans still grow and grow.

The forum (or rather, what is left of it) has several levels. We either climbed to the very top, then went down, moved from level to level, from the interior to the outside, along galleries, balustrades, stairs.

The overall impression was spoiled by modern abstract sculptures placed here and there, they all the time climbed into the frame. Like, "and we can do just as well." I don’t know how anyone, but they hurt my eyes against the background of Roman creations. They are dissonant with the perfect and strict ancient forms.

modern sculpture

This is by no means a simple cobblestone, but the creation of a Japanese sculptor

And it was warm outside, street musicians played Piazzola, very suitable for this not warm November evening. Downstairs, where for free, crowds of walkers wandered (and on the forum, where for money, there was almost no one).

Flocks of birds soared in the sky, cats ran on the ground among the ruins. And all this against the backdrop of Trajan's Column, churches and other architectural marvels. By the way, the Altar of the Fatherland, which is usually scolded and compared with a typewriter, looked sublime and majestic from this angle (and even against the sunset sky). How glorious those moments were!

Altar of the Fatherland

It was evening, and it was time to return to the railway station to go to the airport. We could not help passing once again past the Colosseum, where it was very crowded that evening.

From the Colosseum we climbed the Oppio hill, passed through Trajan's park and soon came to the church of Santa Prassede.

This church is, as it were, in the shadow of its neighbor - the magnificent Santa Maria Maggiore, but it amazes no less. In the depths of this modest church, wonderful, slightly naive mosaics from the early 9th century are hidden. Also here is stored such a Christian shrine as the "scourging pillar", to which Christ was tied when he was whipped.

Of course, after Santa Prassede we went to Santa Maria Maggiore.

And soon we were already at the station and were looking for where the trains leave for the airport.

It seems that we stayed in Rome quite a bit, but Rome is many-sided there and is so full of masterpieces that even a short walk allows you to see a lot and leaves a stunning impression. How many wonderful creations are concentrated in Rome! How great and beautiful is the Eternal City!

Airfare Calendar

Useful websites to prepare for your trip

A trip to Rome, as they say, to the "Eternal City", is not just a trip.

This is a surge of emotions from the surrounding beauty of architecture and museums rich in exhibits, from the smells and sounds inherent only in this city, from shopping, restaurants and gelateria.

Rome is a link between the distant past and today's present.

Increasingly, tourists refuse the services of agencies. When planning your trip and routes on your own in Rome or any other city, you can focus on those places that are of interest to the traveler himself. Fortunately, there are plenty of such places in Rome.

Arrival

Arriving or arriving in Rome, checking into a hotel, at the reception you need to ask or take a map of Rome for tourists. Usually a stack of such cards is already waiting at the reception desk.

Top hotels in Rome

Almost always, the worker himself on the map of the city of Rome marks the location of the hotel, the nearest restaurants with good reviews.

The names of squares, streets and the main sights of Rome and its environs have already been mapped.
The tourist only needs to decide for himself what is in priority. Museums? Cathedrals? Shops or restaurants?

Getting Around the City

When planning your own route, take into account that it is extremely difficult to travel by car in Rome. This is hampered by the many pedestrian-only zones of historic Rome, prohibited from driving.
In the kiosks "tabakeria" (newspapers) or immediately at the airport, you can buy a single ticket for all types of Roman transport for 1.50 euros, which is valid for 100 minutes or for 6 euros, valid until 24.00 hours from the date of purchase.

A single ticket is very convenient to use for public transport

If we compare independent walks in Rome and “running” at a distance with a guide and a group, often in the heat of summer, on cobblestone pavements, then we still have to give preference to a calm contemplation of the city.

Even if you walk slowly around Rome, according to your own route, here and there, something interesting appears: an unusual building, a church gate, an interesting showcase, which you also want to take a closer look.

city ​​bass

For those who explore the new city on their own, in Rome (as in most tourist big cities) there is a city bus. This is a comfortable double-decker bus, with an individual audio guide for each passenger (there is a Russian language).

City bus is convenient for sightseeing

For those who wish, especially for those who cannot move on their feet for a long time, this is a very convenient type of city tour, albeit superficial.

There are several such routes in Rome. Signs with the company logo are installed at city bus stops.

Choosing the one you like best, you can buy a ticket directly from the driver on the bus from 28 euros / day or 31 euros for 2 days. Having bought a ticket, you can get off at any stop, take a walk in any area of ​​Rome, then take the next bus of this company again.
Starting point at the railway station Termini, from 9.00 to 18.00. Website: http://www.roma.city-sightseeing.it/percorsi.html

Being in Rome, the knowledge of the English language by the staff both in hotels and in most restaurants is revealed. In museums and even on the streets of Rome, one can almost always speak the internationally accepted language.
If you need Italian, you can download a handy application on your phone that helps you translate into all the languages ​​of the world. For example Speak and Translate, iTranslate Voice on iPhone, Google Translate.

Using mobile applications, you will speak Italian!

Time

For independent tours of Rome, to view only the main ones, you need at least 3-5 days. Then there will be time to freely breathe in the evening air at the Trevi Fountain without a crazy crowd and to sit quietly in a restaurant near the Pantheon or in some central Roman square.

What to do before the trip

Even before arriving in Rome, get acquainted with the main interesting places of the Italian capital.

Upon arrival, have some information about where and what you want to see first of all, so as not to get lost in the many beauties: squares, museums and cathedrals of Rome.

Where to stay

If you want to visit the main attractions of Rome on your own, it is better to stay in the Pantheon area (Italian: Panteon), for example:

In the area of ​​the Plaza of Spain (Italian: Piazza Spania):

• Surrounded by the best shops in Rome, on Via Vittoria 24, 10 minutes walk to the Spanish Steps - The Spanish Suite Piazza di Spagna. Price from 7600 rubles / day;
• Hotel Concordia 3*, on Via di Capo le Case 14. A 5-minute walk from the Trevi Fountain, a beautiful terrace on the roof of the hotel, from where you can see the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Price from 5100 rubles / day.

In the area of ​​Piazza Navona (Italian: Piazza Navona):

In the area of ​​​​the Di Trevi Fountain, it is better to stay in hotels:

• Trevi B&B Roma, on Via Del Lavatore 83. Near metro Barberini, fountain two minutes walk. Transfer available from Rome airport. Price from 7000 rubles / day;
• Trevi Elite Rome on Via Delle Muratte 87. Hi-tech interiors, served Italian breakfast (coffee and croissant). Price from 6400 rubles / day.

In these areas, the most luxurious hotels and restaurants in Rome, the prices are correspondingly high.

Those wishing to thoroughly explore the Vatican Museums need to settle in the districts of Rome - Prati or Borgo. Here hotels are much cheaper and prices in restaurants are lower than in the most touristic Roman areas.
Possible options:

• Rome Together Guest House located very close to the museums, on Via Leone Iv, 38. Strict, laconic interiors, breakfast is included in the price from 3800 rubles per day;
• Pratinn Vatican on Via Andrea Doria 3. Free WiFi, terrace, continental breakfast for the price of 2900 rubles/day.

For shoppers, the best location is Via del Corso, the most shopping street in Rome.

A lot of other streets with a variety of shopping galleries, shops and stores depart from it.

Another "shopping" street in Rome is Via Nazionale, which stretches from Piazza Venezia to Piazza della Repubblica.
Hotels in shopping areas of Rome:

If you plan to travel from Rome to neighboring cities, or travel plans go further, you can stay near Termini Station.

• La Casa Di Amy on Via Principe Amedeo 85, free Wi-Fi, Roma Termini train station just 200m from the hotel. Price from 4100 rubles / day;
• Selene Style Hotel 3*, on Via Del Viminale 10. Near both Termini and Via Nazionale, free Wi-Fi. The cost of the room is from 4500 rubles.

What to watch

Anyone who wants to see something in Rome on their own can be advised to start with a walk through the main attractions that are within walking distance. Almost the entire historical center is a continuous pedestrian zone.

The city of Rome is a city for walking, so you need to choose the right shoes.

Where to walk

How best to build a walking route:

Attractions that can be visited for free end there. Of course, not counting the many small and large squares and churches scattered around Rome.

From Fontana di Trevi, you can go the other way: not to the Pantheon, but in the direction of Piazza del Popolo (People's Square), which is located at the end of Via del Corso (the longest shopping street in Rome).

You can build an interesting route as follows:

Coliseum

Like all of the listed attractions, the Colosseum is located within walking distance, next to Piazza Venezia on Piazza del Colosseo. You can get here by metro, Colosseo stop or bus number 10, 2, 75, 85, 87, 112, 673.

The Colosseum is within walking distance

First, it’s better to go to the entrance to the Roman Forum (on the way from Piazza Venezia without reaching the Colosseum) and at the box office buy a ticket right away for an excursion to and.

In this case, you do not have to stand in a huge queue directly in front of the entrance to the Colosseum.

A tour of the Forum is interesting for connoisseurs of the history of Rome, you can just take a walk in order to skip the line to the Coliseum (be sure to visit inside the mastodon!). Ticket price 12 euros, opening hours: from 08:30 to 17-18 seasonally.

Vatican

For a tour of the Vatican and the Vatican Museums, you need a separate early morning. It is better to arrive by 7 o'clock in the morning, then you can enter the treasured gate without any queue. You can get to the Cavalleggeri / San Pietro stop by buses No. 34, 46, 98, 190F, 881, 916, 916F, 982, N15, N20.

You will learn all the details about the Vatican from the video:

Already at 8 o'clock, crowds of tourists besiege the entire square, a kilometer-long queue is formed from a noisy, polyphonic crowd.
Being in Rome and not going to St. Peter's Basilica is a huge omission. The colossal size, luxury and amazing architecture are amazing!

Climb the steepest 320 steps into the dome, look at the Vatican Square from a height, feel a real delight!

Entrance to the dome 6 - 8 euros. Website of St. Peter's Basilica: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/index_it.htm

Vatican Museums

It is better to buy tickets to the famous museums of Rome in advance online (10 - 60 days in advance) at https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=it. The ticket price is 16 euros (museums and the Sistine Chapel), you can also immediately pay for the audio guide (7 euros). Children 8 and 5 euros respectively.
You can come on an excursion to museums by bus number 492, 23 to the Bastioni Di Michelangelo stop. Another option is the Candia Mocenigo stop of bus number 490 and number 1.

After long excursions to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, you can find one of the wonderful local restaurants nearby. In the Vatican area, they are especially good, because the inhabitants of Rome themselves have lunch and dinner here.

Perfect example - trattoria Pastasciutta, easy to find, coming out of Vatican Square and go left to Via delle Grazie 5. Directly in front of the visitor, they make pasta with a chosen sauce, the price is from 5.50 euros.

Trastevere

The right-bank region of the Tiber, adjacent to the Vatican - Trastevere, is perhaps the most colorful.

Narrow streets, flowers and linen on the windows, coffee, pizza, the best restaurants in Rome…

You can get acquainted with Trastevere by watching the video:

Several beautiful and small churches: Church of San Benedetto in Pishinula, Santa Maria in Trastevere (mosaic XII-XIII c), Church of St. Agatha.

In the evening, Trastevere becomes one big club with music, restaurants, street musicians and artists.

You can get to this area of ​​Rome by tram number 8, from Piazza Venezia. Or get off at the Induno stop by bus number 44, 44F, 75, N19.

After a tour of Trastevere, walking along the bridge over the Tiber to an unusual landmark of Rome is mouth of truth(Bocca della Verita). According to legend, in the old days, putting a hand in the half-open mouth of a mask, one could judge a person whether he was a liar or not. Even now, tourists who come to Rome are doing this with pleasure.

Art lovers will find an outlet in the Borghese Gallery - the pearl of Rome, which houses a collection of sculptures, paintings by the most famous painters of Italy. Villa Borghese is surrounded by an amazing park with centuries-old piñas and a zoo nearby.

Villa Borghese is located in an amazing park

You can walk along Via Veneto (famous street from the legendary film "La Dolce Vita").
It can be reached by bus 910 (Mancini) from the main station of Rome - Termini (5 stops), or by bus 360 (6 stops). Get off at the Pinciana Borghese Museum. From Tuesday to Sunday, from 8.30 to 19.30, the ticket price is 20 euros. http://www.galleriaborghese.it/

Conclusion

Of course, a small fraction of all the sights that Rome keeps are described here.

To feel the spirit of the "Eternal City", starting with independent walks, you need to fall in love with Rome in absentia.

Many people carry their love through the years, remembering Rome as the most beautiful and original city.