There are not many cities on par with Rome - the Eternal city. As the old saying goes "all roads lead to Rome", on each of these roads, no matter whichever way you turn you either see a ancient monuments, lavish fountains and huge crowd of tourists. While seeing the city its pretty easy to imagine what it must have been during the age of the Ceasars and Roman gladiators. Travelling around in Rome is pretty practical, a day ticket of 4 euros in the Metro is also valid in the City buses and one can cover all over the city using this ticket.
One can start from one end of the city and traverse across to the other end. There are innumerable monuments and places to see around Rome that it is almost difficult to see it all in one or 2 days. In my case I started from the North East section of the City (since my Hotel was close in there). Easily reachable by the Metro Stations of Barberini and Spagna on Line A, this area of Rome has among popular attractions Piazza di Spagna and Spanish Steps, Fontana di Trevi, Santa Maria della Vittoria etc. The Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps have been a major touristic center of Rome since the early 19th century. Shaped like a bow and lined up by muted shuttered facades, this Piazza is crowded all day and (in summer) most of the night. The Trevi Fountain is the famous and larget fountain of Rome. Its central statue is the Neptune along with two Tritons on either side. It was originally built to serve as an aqua duct for the ancient Rome. It attracts huge number of tourists during day and night, who flock here to throw a coin into the water and make a wish. Huge gallons of water flowing create a sound which gives the whole place a surreal atmosphere. Santa Maria Maggiore is pretty close to the Termini Stazione and has a great blend of architectural styles ranging from early Christian and Baroque era. The Piazza della Republica is also a great attraction, especially in the night which serves an excellent shot for night photography.
The Vatican City, world capital of Catholicism, for sure is the reason why most of the tourists come to Rome. To enter the Vatican one has to wake up early and join thousands in the queue lined up to enter the Museum and the Cathedral. In my opinion its better to see the Bassilica first, if you arrive there around 0700 you can easily enter the St. Peter´s Basilica without any queue. While entering the St. Peter´s you are awestruck by the large number of detailed statues which overlook the square. The early morning sunrays also give an amazing shot of the Papal Altar and the Baldacchino for the avid photographers like me. Most of the great architects of the Baroque and Rennaisance era were involved in the design of the Basilica of St. Peter´s. The famous dome of Christendom was designed by Michelangelo. Once you have finished seeing the Cathedral, you have to join the long queue to enter the Museum and the Sistine Chapel. While standing in the queue you will have infinite time to have your breakfast and practice sleepwalking. The Vatican Museum has one of the oldest art collections apart from the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms. The art galleries are divided into sections of Egyptian & Assyrian art, Greek & Roman art, Etruscan, medivial art and 15th - 19th century art. Raphael Rooms were actually Pope Julius II private apartments who had chosen Raphael to decorate the walls and cielings with his artwork. The Sistine Chapel displays the Fresco work done by Michelangelo. The paintings and graphics depict majorly Old and New Testaments like for example the Original Sin, the Creation of the Sun and Moon etc. As one strolls through the chambers s/he will seldom close his/her mouth as each one is as jaw-dropping as the earlier one. Arguably it is the most enthralling visits of Rome. The Castel Sant Angelo is another major attraction across the Vatican, and offers a good view of the Vatican for photographers from Ponte Sant Angelo. I took this night shot from there. To reach the Vatican one can take the Metro A till the Ottaviano stop.
After crossing the river Tevere, you come across the Piazza Navona. The major attraction of the square is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. This magnificient fountain was done by Bernini and shows the statues of four great rivers (Nile, Plate, Danube and Ganges). The Piazza is a major social center of the city and has plenty of restaurants lined up all around punctuated by Baroque fountains. This fountain also appears prominently in the plot of the novel Angels & Deamons written by Dan Brown. A couple of blocks away is the Piazza della Rotonda along with the Pantheon. The Pantheon is the Roman "temple of all gods", is the most extraordinary and best preserved monument of the ancient Rome. Other major attractions in the vicinity are the Piazza della Minerva and Sant´Ignazio di Loyola.
The ancient center of the city has plenty of attractions. The Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele is an imposing white marble building beside the Roman Forum. It attracts a large number of tourists and has a museum with a free entry. This photogenic monument looks awesome in the night. It was built in honor of Victor Emanuele II the first king of unified Italy. Just behind this monument is the Roman Forum and its ruins of the ancient era.One can stroll through these ruins for free, which have been preserved amazingly over all these ages. Further ahead of the Roman Forum is the Colosseum, one of the most imposing monuments of ancient Rome.
The Colosseum was as amphitheater built on the orders of Emporer Vespasian. Several gladiators had fought beasts and other wild animals in the arena of this gigantic building. Walking inside the corridors is fascinating if you imagine what it must have been in the bygone era in all its glory, complete with thousands of Romans and one Julius Ceasar. Now you find many of the dressed up gladiators eagerly waiting for tourists to take snaps and make some money. Nearby are the ruins of the Palatine, which was once the residence of emperors and aristocrats. The ruins range from a simple house in which Augustus is assumed to have lived, to the Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana. From certain high altitudes of the Palatine one can take panoramic shots of the Roman skyline. Close to the Colosseum is the Metro stazione to connect you quickly with other major attractions of the city.
Eating is pretty decent in the several restaurants of the city, but if you want to save some quick bucks, you could do shopping in the several markets around the city, prominent among them are the ones aroung Campo di Fiori.
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