Rome, Italy- Places you must visit

February 2024

keep in mind Rome is undergoing repairs so please do your research of the places you plan to visit to ensure they are accessible and not bringing repaired.

The Colosseum 📍

Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Lets act as if this is not the main reason you visited Rome in the first place.

If you are ever in Rome or in Italy, plan to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World . The Colosseum is an amphitheater built in Rome during the Roman Empire. Back in the day it was mostly utilized for gladiator combats. The Colosseum is important today because it teaches us history about the aroman empire.

Once you are inside the Colosseum you can appreciate the impressive architecture and engineering skills of the Romans. It also gives us a peek into their culture and entertainment.

If you are interested in learning their history or appreciate good architecture, I recommend you don’t skip it.

I have visited twice. One with a tour guide the second without. If it’s your first time visiting the Colosseum , I recommend you book a tour to get familiarized with the history. Now keep in mind depending the tour you book ,they are on a timeline. That means not a lot of time to appreciate the architecture, or photos (depending how big your group is). I booked a tour for our group. We got the opportunity to visit the Colosseum with a fast entry pass ,and also see the Palatine hill and Roman forum which were both included on the tour. Now, If you already know the history and want to just look at the architectural history, read every display, take tons of picture without feeling rushed, or just spend hours inside, then pay the entry fee and walk at your own rhythm.

I got the opportunity to do both and enjoyed every single moment of it.

For information on how to purchase the entrance ticket visit the website:

www.colosseumdirima-tickets.com

Trevi Fountain 📍

Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

I have visited the trevi fountain twice ( mid February 2023 and late April 2024) I can now say both times it was not as crowded as I expected (low season) It is breathtaking to stand in front of the fountain and look at every detail that was put into the creation of the sculpture. If ever in Rome try to dedicate about 1-2 hours around the Trevi a fountain area, to get the opportunity to see the fountain, throw a coin and try some good gelato.

Recommendation

Visit during early morning or evenings when the sun is going down to avoid crowds.

Be vigilant of what’s going on in the city, one of the days we passed by, we witnessed the sitting area closer to the Trevi Fountain closed with metal barriers and Italian “Polizia” during a few days due to a protest.

Villa Borgense Gardens 📍

00197 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital,

The Borgense Garden’s is a beautiful one of a kind garden that you can visit to spend a day outside of crowds and see the sunset. There is no entry fee.

This is the third larger public park in Rome .

There is a variety of things to do in the park. They have a bike rental area, a restaurant onsite, theaters, a museum and a numerous amount of sculptures that are worth the visit.

This experience was relaxing, we got to decompress from the crowds and got to enjoy the sunset. This is a great option for families or a couples day trip. Pack a backpack or a picnic basket,some snacks and a blanket. Engage in a delightful conversation and enjoy the beautiful view of the sunset. Try to dedicate about 2-3 hours to see the park, although you will want to spend more time in this breathtaking location.

We rented a bicycle for 20€ an hour to cycle thru the park.

Pantheon 📍

Located in the Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

The Pantheon was built in Rome during Emperor Hadrian’s reign in 126 AD. It was dedicated to all the gods. The Pantheon is the world’s largest unsupported concrete dome in the world. It’s been a Catholic church since the 7th century, which is why it’s so well-preserved currently. Mass is still being held inside. If you ever get the opportunity to go to one.

The outsides of the Patheon is a great spot for pictures. The architectural structure is beautiful. If you have time then I recommend you take the tour inside.

For information on how to purchase the entrance ticket visit the website:

direzionemuseiroma.cultura.gov.it

Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Church 📍

Piazza S. Ignazio, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

The Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Church is a Roman Catholic titular church dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, located in Rome, Italy. The church was built 1600’s, and it’s considered one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Rome! The attention to detail is unreal! The Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Church is super famous for its amazing trompe-l’oeil ceiling frescoes by Andrea Pozzo. They create the illusion of a towering dome, even though the ceiling is actually flat!

There’s a mirror inside the Sant’Ignazio di Loyola Church! It’s strategically placed to give you the full effect of Andrea Pozzo’s amazing trompe-l’oeil ceiling frescoes. You can see the illusion of the dome perfectly!

For more information on the Sant’Ignazio Church visit the website:

https://santignazio.gesuiti.it/en/

Vatican City 📍

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by both area and population! It’s the home of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

The main attractions in Vatican City are St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel), and the Vatican Gardens! They’re all super impressive and full of history!

Take about 4 hours to truly enjoy the experience while visiting the Vatican museum.

Dress Code to visit the Vatican Museum:

Shoulders should be covered at all times during the visit. No crop tops allowed. Stomach/belly and cleavage area should also be covered.
Knees should not be exposed. Skirts, shorts or Dresses should be at knee-length. Anything shorter is not allowed.
Any offensive tattoo or religious symbol should not be visible.
No hats or caps inside the museum.
Ripped jeans and see-through clothing is discouraged. If wearing a T-shirt is must not have any offensive language or imagery.

For more information on purchasing entrance tickets to the Vatican Museum visit the website:

https://www.thevaticantickets.com/

Piazza del Quirinale 📍

Piazza del Quirinale is a prominent square located in Rome, Italy, situated at the highest of the seven hills, the Quirinal Hill. It’s known for its stunning views of the city and the imposing Palazzo del Quirinale, the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. Near this Piazza is the Trevi Fountain.

Piazza Navona 📍

Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Piazza Navona is one of the most magnificent squares in Rome mainly due to the incredible fountains located there and the spectacular Braschi Palace, which is currently the site of the Museum of Rome. The area is surrounded by restaurants and terraces. You will find street artists seeking there art, or selling rechargeable batteries,sunglasses or umbrellas depending on the weather. At times you can also enjoy street performers, magicians or even dancers.