The nickname of The Eternal City, Rome fully deserves it because of the combination between the modernity of the metropolis and the timelessness of monuments that, over the centuries, have served as the backdrop to historical events, changes in the city, and daily life.
First day: what to see in Rome
A trip to Rome cannot start without the dome of the Basilica of St. Peter: it is the first building you look for among the roofs of Rome, then immerse yourself in the vastness of the naves and the whiteness of the marbles, in the heart of the Vatican.
Not far away stands Castel Sant’Angelo, a circular fortress reflected in the Tiber. The road to the center of Rome is flat and invites you to walk, so Piazza Navona and its Four Rivers Fountain welcome passersby for an ice cream to enjoy on one of the benches or for a hot tea to sip in one of the historic cafes with tables on the square.
For this stay in Rome there is no time to lose: shoulders back, the heart of the city is close and on the way you encounter the Pantheon, the round temple dedicated to all the gods; continuing to walk through cobbled alleys paved with the so-called sampietrini, suddenly rises the Altar of the Fatherland in Piazza Venezia. A monumental marble monument that, step by step, leads to see the center of Rome from above, with a breathtaking view. Opposite the Altar, Piazza Venezia opens in several directions.
Ahead you head towards Via del Corso with destinations for shopping on Via Frattina and Via Condotti, until you dive into Piazza di Spagna and Trinità de’ Monti, must-see places during a trip to Rome.
To the right of the Altar of the Fatherland, turning your back, here is the impact with Rome of ancient splendor and ancient history: the Roman Imperial Forums.
Second day: what to see in Rome
The Markets of Trajan offer the first welcome to visitors before continuing towards the Forum of Caesar, the Forum of Augustus, the Forum of Peace, and the Forum of Nerva.
Along the Via dei Fori one proceeds at a brisk pace towards the Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheatre. Reaching the Quirinal Hill is simple, thus moving among old and more recent architectures until finding some refreshment in front of the Trevi Fountain, a sculpture very famous worldwide, dedicated to the sea.
Memorable, among these waters, is the sexy walk of Anita Ekberg inviting Marcello Mastroianni to join her, in a scene from the film La Dolce Vita.
Third day: what to see in Rome
Rome is not just monuments and grandeur of the past: Rome is also the bustling crowd who converse and meet in the many squares of the city, to explore on foot or using means like city buses and the metro. Even better by bike.
After so much walking, there is nothing more refreshing than a break on the heights of the Pincian Hill: from here you overlook all of Rome, just steps from the cool foliage of Villa Borghese and the spacious Piazza del Popolo.
In the evening Trastevere becomes the center of social life, among bar tables and trattorias to eat at, among suggestive alleys revealing the popular heart of the city best known in the world.
It’s time to realize it’s time to go sleep in a hotel or in one of Rome’s many b&b’s and you already want to roam the city again, convinced that it’s already time to organize the next vacation in Rome!
