First vacation in Rome?

Well, crossing the narrow and “twisty” streets which were built around the chariots and horses, you’ll really enjoy the city and avoid the crowd. I remind you that in the golden period of the Roman Empire, (Trajan 117), with the largest geographical expansion, Rome had over 1 million citizens.

To find again an European city at this size we have to wait until the XIX century, and the city is… .Londinium.

Yes! You have a mausoleum where the tombs of some of the most important emperors of Rome are located.  guessed it. London was “invented” by the Romans.

If you have more time available, it might be good to think about a 3 or 5 city break days so you can visit the Colosseum’s Archaeological Park (including Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum),

Sistine Chapel with St. Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon,Navona Square, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps… .. to list only the most important attractions.

Rome is one of the capitals you can visit in three days. Do not imagine that, after such a holiday you will know all the secrets of the city, but surely you will return with memories and photos from the monuments I have described above .

Maybe  you’ll have time to visit also, Campo di Fiori with the statue of Giordano Bruno, Capitoline Museums, (important collection of Roman statues)

Appian Way (the first motorway in the world, built in the 4th century BC) with its Catacombs, Aurelian Walls… ..dating back to the  III BC. with a length of 19 km in the past … today we can only see , not more than 12 km … Still a thing…. eh ?!

Good people, I didn’t touched yet  the secret places of Rome otherwise called the hidden sights. Some of them being:

 Circus Maximus (Ben Hur, movie with Charlton Heston), tha could accomodate 250 thousand spectators during Trajan Emperor. Castle Sant’Angelo (the gigantic tomb of Emperor Hadrian), Quirinale Palace (for centuries the  pope’s residence), Villa Borghese, The Keyhole on the  Aventine Hill, Pyramid of Caius Cestius, Moses in the Basilica San Pietro in Vincoli (famous statue created by Michelangelo), The stunning view of Gianicolo Hill, The unique streets of Trastevere, The port of Ancient Ostia,

A capital with such a rich history is itself an “all’aperto” museum. You clearly understood what does mean! Rome is like a History book open to all. In many places you don’t even have to buy a ticket. Why ? Because art, architecture, beauty are on the streets, all over in the open squares.

• Ancient Rome

The visit of Rome must follow in a chronological order. Start your tour where the story of the city has began, the first stops to be in the ancient center, at the Colosseum, perhaps the most impressive building left behind by the Romans.

The Palatine hill – the legendary birthplace of Romulus and Remus, the twins being suckled by a she-wolf, later she has been the symbol of the city of Rome.

The Palatine was also the residence of the Roman emperors with the Palaces and Domus facing the amazing view on the Circus Maximus, the Roman stadium where horse races were organized.

The Roman Forum – the spiritual center of Roman civilization and the place where you will discover the basilicas, arches, roads, temples, in few words the roots  of the future Western civilization.

 Pantheon – an impressive building that was originally the temple of all the gods of ancient Rome, becoming later a Christian church.

Next to the Archaeological Park is the  

Bocca della Verità, an ancient marble disk, depicting a human face, which was used in the past as a “lie detector”, as the legend states.

Facing the Forum, in Piazza del Campidoglio (the square made by Michelangelo 1534-38 under the  Pope Paul III.) you can visit the Capitoline Museums, which houses mostly Greek and Roman sculptures .