You could spend your life in the Italian capital and never see it all, but thanks to our Rome travel guide you can at least check out the highlights! Rome offers an abundance of cultural, culinary and historical delights. Admirers of its ancient history are drawn to the magnificent Colosseum and Pantheon - two of the best-preserved structures surviving from the ancient world. Foodies rejoice in Rome's rich culinary repertoire. The capital is the cradle of delicacies as sumptuous as spaghetti alla carbonara, supplì, bachelà and thin and crispy pizza. Then there is the city within the city, the smallest state in the world, and a place of pilgrimage for travelers and the faithful: the Vatican City and its incomparable treasures.
The Vatican
For our first day, we wanted to discover the smallest state in the world: the Vatican. St. Peter's Square was our entry point, a magnificent and immensely large square.
Saint Peter's basilica
Once past “the dam”, you have the choice of visiting the Basilica directly or climbing to the top of the monument. If the latter choice is paying, the advantage is twofold: a magnificent view of Saint Peter's Square and the elimination of your breakfast thanks to the hundreds of steps to climb to reach the top!
After reaching the mainland, we visited the interior of the Basilica. The decor is impressive: the floor with fine mosaics, the walls decorated with religious scenes, and especially the ceiling painted with gold leaf... Everything is wonderful, grandiose and luxurious, incomparable to the most beautiful cathedrals that we can see in France. !
Since it is above all a place of worship, the entrance to the basilica is free. If you want to access the papal crypts and learn more about this majestic cathedral, we strongly advise you to opt for the guided tour of the Basilica.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
After our visit to St. Peter's Basilica, we visited the Vatican Museums (where the Sistine Chapel is located). We strongly advise you to opt for a skip-the-line ticket because the wait can be very long in front of the most famous museums in the world!
Do you want to visit all the Vatican monuments? Opt for the Vatican city pass which includes:
The Colosseum
You can not visit Rome without going through the Colosseum. It is a mustsee during your stay in the Italian capital. There is a fee to visit the Colosseum, beware of queues in summer!
Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
After this first discovery, we took the opportunity to visit the Roman Forum. Located between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum was the central square of Roman society in its time.
Then we continue to the Palatine Hill, the famous hill where Romulus created the first foundations of the future Roman Empire (an indispensable place, even the starting point for visiting Rome!).
Bridge and Sant'Angelo Castle
Continuing our journey through ancient Rome, we make our way to Castel Sant'Angelo. This fortress was built by Emperor Hadrian as his mausoleum and later used by several popes. From the top of the fortress walls you have a breathtaking view of the Italian capital!
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is certainly the most famous fountain in the world ( THE ) and should not be missed on your trip to Rome According to a custom, throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain with your back to the fountain before leaving the Eternal City is a guarantee that you will return there one day, and therefore a sign of good health!
The Pantheon
The Pantheon, whose name means "dedicated to all the gods" in Greek, makes it hard for us to catch a glimpse of the treasures it hides inside, which is why it's really worth visiting!
Its open dome is a true masterpiece. We learn that this "oculus" was added under Emperor Hadrian so that visitors to the temple could be in direct contact with the sky. And it succeeded! Believe it or not, there is a special atmosphere in these places!
Piazza Navona
Just a stone's throw from the Pantheon, Piazza Navona is Rome's biggest tourist spot! By the way, the square was built on top of a stadium that Emperor Domitian had built in 86. At that time, typical Greek games such as running, javelin throwing or discus throwing were held there!
Today, Piazza Navona retains the exact shape of that stadium and is one of the most beautiful pieces of Baroque architecture in Rome! Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit the Piazza Navona underground, so that is for next time!
Piazza Venezia
In Rome, every square is grand and Piazza Venezia is the perfect example! It serves as a transportation hub in the center of the capital and is an important intersection where three Roman avenidas meet: Via dei Fori imperiali, Via del Corso and Via del Teatro di Marcello.
The highlight of the exhibition is this majestic white marble building: the Vittoriano! This huge monument was designed to celebrate 50 years of Italian unity and was built in honor of Victor-Emmanuel II, the first king of united Italy in 1861!
The Baths of Caracalla
If we had to sum up the Baths of Caracalla in a few words: luxury spa version of ancient Rome. Well, at first sight it is not easy to imagine it, since today there is not much left, but the beauty of the place and the size of the ruins do not leave you indifferent!
Villa Borghese and Borghese Gallery
In search of freshness, we visit the Galleria Borghese, located in the villa of the same name. This museum houses an incredible collection of Renaissance works. We can find there the works of the greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance: Botticelli, Raphael or Caravaggio, but also paintings by Flemish painters of the time such as Brueghel or Rubens.
Trastevere district
The Trastevere district, with its numerous bars and restaurants, is known for its lively nightlife. On weekend evenings, Romans gather here to drink an aperitivo and attend the numerous street performances. Apart from its gastronomic charm, the neighborhood offers pretty colorful streets and some monuments to visit!
