Your Travel Guide To The Eternal City Of Rome: Do As Romans Do

Rome, the capital of Italy is popularly known as ‘The Eternal City’ due to its ancient architecture, cultural aesthetics, attractive environment, and delicious cuisine, amongst others.

This travel guide will help you plana rocking trip in Rome.

Attractive Hubs of the Eternal City:

1. Explore the Colosseum, a symbol of Imperial Rome

The largest amphitheatre of its time, Colosseum could hold 50,000 to 80,000 spectators and hosted wide variety of events like gladiatorial contests, re-enactments of famous battles, executions and mythological dramas. Despite being battered through time by earthquakes, thieves and stone robbers, this iconic symbol of Rome is still a part of the New7Wonders of the World.

2. Make a wish at Trevi Fountain

The ‘Fontana di Trevi’ located on the Piazza di Trevi was built in the 18th century. Itscentre piece depicts the Titan Oceanus atop a chariot being pulled by sea horses.Here, visitors often take part in the customary tradition of using the right hand to toss a coin over the left shoulder in the Trevi Fountain. According to local legends, the number of coins you throw determines the outcome. The money collected from the fountain is used to subsidise the local markets for people in need.

3. Marvel at the remarkable architecture of the Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the most well preserved ancient Roman structure. A former Roman temple, in 609 AD it was gifted to the pope who then converted it into a Christian church. Despite being built over two thousand years ago, the Pantheon’s dome remains the world largest unreinforced concrete dome and its unique design has inspired architects throughout history. Once you enter the building, you behold the vast rounded room under the dome. The oculus of the dome was never covered and along with the entry door, they serve as the only source of natural light for the interior. Its interior now contains tombs of famous kings and ancient artists.

4. Observe the vast collection of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

With its 54 galleries, including the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums is one of the largest museums in the world. The marvellous architecture of the museums is in itself a sight to behold and houses nearly 70,000 pieces of artwork, out of which 20,000 are currently on display. The museums inside this complex cater to a wide variety of tastes which includes contemporary art, Egyptian artefacts, archaic carriages and Greek & Roman antiquities. Notably, the last gallery of the museums is the Sistine Chapel. The main object of admiration here is the ceiling that was painted by Michelangelo, with the ‘The Creation of Adam’ being the most revered artwork of them all.

5. Inspect archaeological remains atForum Romanum

At the Forum Romanum, you will findarchaeological sites of ancient Roman shrines, market halls and remains of the Temple of Saturn. In ancient times, the forum was a hub of Roman affairs, it served as a venue for markets, elections, public speeches, criminal trials, gladiatorial matches and ceremonial sacrifices, which is indicated by the remnants of ancient government buildings found at every step inside the plaza. These archaeological sites provide a deep insight into Roman civilization, some of which are still being excavated.

6. Check out the unique displays at the National Gallery of Modern Art

The gallery has displays of neoclassical and modernist pieces of art, including paintings and sculptures by acclaimed Italian and foreign artists. The ground floor is dedicated to the artworks of the 19th century which displays pieces by Cezanne, Canova and Monet. The upper floor focuses on the artworks of 20th-century movements like abstract, futurist and cubist. The gallery’s main attraction is the exhibit named ‘Time is Out of Joint’. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it explores the fluidity and elasticity of time through the artworks of renowned artists like Van Gogh, Lucio Fontana and Amedeo Modigliani.

7. Behold the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, a source of Italian pride

The Vittoriano is a remarkable building that is located next to the Pizza Venezia monument. This colossal white building serves as a symbol of unity and harmony among Italians. The monument commemorates the unification of Italy and was built in the honour of the first king of unified Italy, Vittorio Emmanuele II. The remarkable building is made of white marble brought from the region of Brescia. The building premises houses attraction like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame, the bronze statue of Vittorio Emmanuele II and the Statue of Unity by Carlo Fontana. Take a tour of this beautiful monument with your Rome tour guides.

8. Get spooked in the Catacombs of Rome

Built outside Rome, the Catacombs are the oldest burial tunnels in the world that run for miles. The catacombs were created during the second century due to a deficit of land and overcrowding. There are over 40 catacombs on the outskirts of the main city and the remains found here have shed an important light on Roman culture and their daily lives. Walking through the tunnels you will find monumental tombs of saints and martyrs and graves of countless civilians.

9. Climb theSpanish Steps

The 135 Spanish Steps were constructed in 1725 with the aim of bridging the gap between the squares of Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Trinita Dei Monti. Each of the 135 steps feature a broad stone ledge and is particularly framed by stone walls. At the top of these steps is a large crucifix obelisk and many inscriptions carved into the stone while at the bottom of the steps, the Piazza di Spagna, has several shops and cafes, a great place for people watching.

10. Stroll theAppian Way

Nothing makes the sunny Roman weather more enjoyable than a stroll down the Appian Way. The Appian Way (or in Italian, Appia Antica) was Europe’s first superhighway and is one of the oldest roads in history that still remain in existence. In the past, it served as Rome’s military and economic artery and is connected to other significant such as the Capua near Naples, Brindisi and Puglia on the Adriatic Coast.

Image details: (Appian Way) https://flic.kr/p/bbrkJc ;

11. Segway through the Villa Borghese Gardens

The Villa Borghese is a blossoming garden that offers a welcome respite from the abundance of historical architecture of Rome. Being the third largest park in Rome, the coverage of the gardens entails over 200 acres of land and has unique displays of art spread throughout.Interestingly, the garden is constructed with numerous sections including the Casino Borghese that is reserved for sculptures by Bernini, the Villa Giulia that encompasses the Etruscan Museum as well as the remnants of other villas. At this blissful arena, you will also find paths leading to the arrangement of plant life and trees, landscaped areas of the garden with colourful flower arrangements, fountains and beautiful bodies of water. If covering this vast expanse on foot gets exhausting, you can always take part in Segway tours with private guides of Rome that take you through the garden with ease.

12. Consume the house wines

Romans believed that wines should be drunk every day. With this sole motive in mind, they made major improvements in the art viticulture and winemaking. Hence, if you come to Rome and want to get a taste of the Roman culture, let yourself loose on the  locally brewed wines.Generally held in local wine shops, wine tastingsare a common feature in Rome, accompanied by light snacks like olives and cheese.

13. Look for tasty treats

Apart from culture and history, the city has a charming aura. While you flit between the various sights and sounds of Rome, find the nearest gelateria (ice cream shop) to order tastiest cone of ice cream you will ever eat. You can order local favourites like flavours made from seasonal fruit such as limone (lemon) or fragola (strawberry), or nocciola (hazelnut) and pistachio.