Rome Travel Guide

Rome, Italy — Attractions

Trastevere

Separated from central Rome by the Tiber River, Trastevere is a picturesque medieval neighborhood characterized by a quirky Bohemian atmosphere. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with overhanging flower boxes and washing lines, and home to numerous cafes, boutiques, pubs and restaurants. The area has long attracted artists, famous people and expats, and is a charming place to explore, having escaped the grand developments of central Rome.

Region/City Name: Rome
Transport: Bus H from the main train station, or tram 8 from Piazza Argentina. Regionale trains (not the express ones) stop at Trastevere railway station.

Capitoline Hill

Capitoline Hill was the original capitol of the ancient city and continues to serve as the seat of the city's government. The main feature of the area is Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio, a testimony to the superiority of Renaissance town planning. The piazza is bordered by three palaces: the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the twin structures of the Palazzo dei Senatori and Palazzo Nuovo which house the Musei Capitolini, containing the largest collection of classical statues in the world. Among the notable statues found here are the Dying Gaul and the Satyr, the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus and the Spinario. Paths cut along the side of the hill from the Campidoglio giving way to panoramic views of the ancient sites of the Forum and Colosseum.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome
Phone Number: +39 06 671 02071
Website: www.museicapitolini.org
Transport: Take metro line B to Colosseo stop. Bus numbers 44, 89, 92, 94 and 716 will also get you there.
Hours: Museums open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 8pm. Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 Dec.
Admission: EUR14 concessions available,

Roman Forum (Foro Romano)

The site of ancient Rome's commercial, political and religious center retires in the valley between the Capitoline and Palatine hills. The Forum's main thoroughfare, Via Sacra, slices through the old market square and former civic center. To make sense of the ruins and relics of the old Republic it is helpful to consult a map of the area. Some of the best preserved and most notable monuments include the impressive Arch of Septimus Severus -a construction designed to celebrate Roman victory over the Parthinians - and the former atrium of the House of the Vestal Virgins and Temple of Vesta. Also of note are the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, and the Arch of Titus, built to celebrate Titus' destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. To the right of the arch are stairs snaking up the Palatine hill through a series of terraces to the Farnese gardens. The scented avenue festooned with roses and orange trees gives way to a vista over the Forum.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Via dei Fori Imperiali
Phone Number: +39 06 3996 7700
Website: www.pierreci.it
Hours: Daily from 8.30am until dusk. Closed on New Year's Day, 1 May and Christmas Day.
Admission: Free

The Colosseum

This enduring symbol of ancient Rome tenaciously clings to its foundations as the site of former gladiatorial conquests. Its architecture boasts an impressive array of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns and an underground network of cells, corridors, ramps and elevators that were used to transport animals from their cages to the arena. The magnificence of the original structure has been eroded through the years of pillaging and earthquakes so that only a skeletal framework remains.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Piazza del Colosseo
Phone Number: +39 06 700 4261
Transport: B line metro to Colosseo station; bus 60, 75, 85, 87, 175, 810, 850; electric minibus 117; tram 3 or 8
Hours: Daily; 9am to 6.15pm in summer, 9am to 4.30pm in winter.
Admission: EUR13.50. Tourist tax: EUR1

Pantheon

The stately Pantheon is one of the world's most inspiring architectural designs. Fittingly built as a temple to the Gods by Hadrian in 120AD, its perfectly proportioned floating dome rests seductively on sturdy marble columns. The only light source flowing through the central oculus was used by the Romans to measure time (with the aid of a sundial) and the dates of equinoxes and solstices. The south transept houses the Carafa Chapel and the tomb of Fra Angelico rests under the left side of the altar.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Piazza della Rotonda
Phone Number: +39 06 6830 0230
Transport: Buses 46, 62, 64, 170 and 492 stop at Largo di Torre near the Pantheon or take the metro to Fontana del Tritone.
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 7.30pm; Sunday 9am to 6pm. Closed New Year's Day, 1 May and Christmas Day.
Admission: Free

The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna

The graceful steps built in 1725, elegantly curve their way from the Piazza di Spagna to the Church of Santa Trinit dei Monti, a pastel tinted neoclassical building. The shopper's paradise of Via Condotti leads back from the Spanish steps to Via del Corso, and during spring the steps are decorated with pink azaleas. At the foot of the steps lies Bernini's boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain and to the right is the unassuming Keats-Shelley Memorial House.

Region/City Name: Rome
Transport: Take Metro Linea A to the Spagna stop; bus 60 and 492 to Piazza Barberini or 117 to Piazza di Spagna

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

The tiny Piazza di Trevi has been immortalized through this fountain built for Pope Clement XII. The statues adorning this watery display represent Abundance, Agrippa, Salubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guided by two tritons. Tossing a coin into the fountain is supposed to guarantee a return trip to Rome.

Region/City Name: Rome
Transport: Take the bus to Piazza San Silvestro

St Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro)

The Basilica lies above the reputed site of St. Peter's tomb. It is an overwhelming interior containing notable sculptures including Michelangelo's Pieta, which is protected by bullet-proof glass since the damaging attack on it in 1972. In the central aisle stands Arnolfo da Cambio's bronze statue of St Peter, its foot worn down by the constant flow of pilgrims' kisses. Proudly resting above the papal altar is Bernini's Throne of St Peter. The Vatican Grottoes, containing papal tombs, can be reached by steps from the statue of St Longinus. The Necropolis is located one level below the grottoes. This is the legendary site of St Peter's tomb and advance permission has to be obtained to view it. A strict dress code is in place for the Basilica and no shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts are allowed (for men and women).

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Piazza San Pietro
Website: www.stpetersbasilica.org
Transport: Metro line A (the red line)to Ottaviano stop or bus to Piazza del Risorgimento
Hours: Daily; 7am and 7pm (April to September), 7am to 6pm (October to March)
Admission: Free. Dome: EUR4 (EUR5 with lift); Necropolis: EUR10

The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums

The Sistine Chapel's famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo looms above the frescoes on the side walls that were painted by an illustrious team of artists that included Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Roselli, Pinturicchio, Signorelli and della Gatta. The altar wall is covered by Michelangelo's Last Supper, revealing the figure of Christ hovering above center and flanked by Mary and other saintly figures. The Vatican Museums provide an inspiring visit to one of the world's greatest collections of art. The galleries stretch over four miles (6km) and include the magnificent Raphael rooms, the Etruscan Museum and the Pio-Clementino Museum, which boasts the world's largest collection of Classical statues.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Viale Vaticano
Website: www.vatican.va
Transport: Metro to Musei Vaticani or Ottaviano station; tram 19 or bus 32, 81 or 98 to Piazza del Risorgimento
Hours: Museums open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Admission: Museum EUR15, concessions available, free on the last Sunday of each month.

Time Elevator Rome

Time Elevator Rome is an interactive movie theater featuring panoramic screens, flight simulators and surround-sound. This modern technology offers kids the opportunity to be enthralled by a cinematic, 3-D journey back through 2750 years of Roman history.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Via dei SS. Apostoli 20
Phone Number: +39 066 9921 823
Website: www.timeelevator.it
Hours: Daily, 10.30am to 7.30pm

Basilica di San Giovanni

The Basilica of St John Lateran was built in the 4th century by Constantine the Great and was the first church built in Rome. It is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, and as such ranks above all other Roman Catholic churches, even St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope, and it is here that he celebrates Mass on certain religious holidays. The building has suffered much damage in the past and has been rebuilt several times, leaving only fragmented parts of the original church. The present building is characterized by its 18th-century façade and contains several important relics, a 13th-century cloister and an ancient baptistery. Inside are numerous statues, paintings, the High Altar that can only be used by the Pope, and a cedar table that is said to be the one used by Christ at the Last Supper. Across the street is one of the holiest sites in Christendom that is visited by pilgrims from around the world: the Palace of the Holy Steps, believed to be the 28 marble steps originally at Pontius Pilate's villa in Jerusalem that Christ climbed the day he was brought before Pilate. They have been in Rome since 1589.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano
Phone Number: +39 06 6988 6433
Transport: San Giovanni metro station is on Line A. Buses can be caught from Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum in downton Rome.
Hours: Daily 7am to 6.45pm
Admission: Free, cloisters EUR2. Tourist tax: EUR1.

Unusual Rome for Kids

Unusual Rome offers fun, tailor-made tours and activities for children, planned and presented according to age and interests. With options ranging from visiting the popular sites of Ancient Rome to modern museums and shows, as well as taking part in cultural and outdoor activities, kids in Rome certainly won't be bored!

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Via Paolo Emilio, 7
Phone Number: +39 348 329 6384
Website: www.unusualrome.com
Transport: Take the subway to San Pietro station.

Villa Doria Pamphili Park

Villa Doria Pamphili is a wonderful park to take children to while on vacation in Rome. The park's playground, skating rink and soccer fields will keep kids happy (and very active!) for hours, and the pony rides around Villa Doria Pamphili are also great fun.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: Via San Pancrazio
Transport: On the Janiculum Hill

Looney's

Looney's Indoor Entertainment Center is a great place for kids to hang out, featuring costumed characters and entertaining shows, as well as fun play areas. While the center offers recreation for children as old as 14, there are also play groups for toddlers and their mothers to enjoy together.

Region/City Name: Rome
Address: R. B. Bandinelli 130, Ciampino
Phone Number: +39 067 932 1977
Email Address: info@looneys.eu
Website: www.looneys.it

Puppet Shows

There are many theaters throughout Rome staging excellent puppet shows (in English) that will keep the kids amused. Well-known venues include the Pulcinella Puppet Theater, an open-air theater on Gianicolo Hill, and the Teatro delle Marionette degli Accettella, on Via Genocchi. The Teatro San Carlino is a puppet theater in Borghese Gardens, while Teatro Verde is located in Circonvallazione Gianicolense.