Capitoline

The Best Rome Walks - Get Around the City

By Megan Hills

Ah, Rome. One of the best ways to see this ancient city is by foot as there’s a surprise on every corner and given that many of its big tourist attractions are quite close together, a good itinerary will save you money flitting back and forth.

We’ve put together two of our favorite Rome walks which will take you from the Spanish Steps to the Colosseum in no time and hit all the big attractions in between.

Bring some good shoes, you’ll need them.

Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain to The Pantheon

Start things off like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday at the Spanish Steps, one of Rome’s biggest landmarks. Dating back to 1723, this grandiose staircase has attracted many and it’s worth nipping into the nearby streets to explore the boutiques and cafes for a souvenir or three.

Once you’ve wrapped up at the Steps, it’s pretty much a straight line towards the Trevi Fountain. Walk past the Keats/Shelley house nearby the base of the steps and walk south along the Piazza di Spagna.

It will eventually give way to the Via di Propaganda and you’ll spot the Sant’ Andrea delle Fratte Basilica church on your left, continue going straight on Via di Sant’Andrea beside it. When the road forks, go left onto Largo del Nazareno and then continue onto Via del Nazarano. After that, turn right Via della Panetteria, right onto Via della Stamperia and keep walking straight until you hit the Piazza di Trevi. It’s not going to come as a huge surprise that the Trevi Fountain will be waiting for you there and it’s pretty easy to spot, as there’s usually a big crowd congregated round the massive ivory structure.

After you’ve taken your photograph and taken part in a very Roman tradition (tossing a coin into the fountain), head towards Vicolo del Forno. Continue onto Via delle Muratte and walk past the McDonald’s, onto Via di Pietra and finally left into a narrow street called Vicolo de Burro. Continue onto right onto PIazza S. Ignazio, then left at the end of the road and right onto Via del Seminario. Then just walk straight until you see the gigantic facade of the Pantheon rise up in the distance, it’ll be on your left. All in all, the total walk should take between twenty to thirty minutes — of course, if you’re stopping off at the sights then it’s going to take a little longer.

Trastevere to the Capitoline Museum, Roman Forum and Colosseum

A lazy morning in Trastevere is a gorgeous way to start the day, as it’s one of Rome’s coolest districts and it’s packed with no end of restaurants perfect for a spot of brunch and coffee. Once you’ve finished up and spent time getting to know the area, return to the Basilica of our Lady in Trastevere — located in one of Trastevere’s biggest squares. With your back to the church entrance, turn left and walk till you reach Piazza di Santa Maria. From there, turn right and go past Ristorante Sabatini, past Antica Osteria Rugantino until you hit a major dual carriageway called Piazza Sidney Nonnino. Cross the road, turn left and walk over the bridge (Ponte Garibaldi) which crosses the River Tiber. You’ll then hit Lungotevere de Cenci, which you should follow along the length of the river until you hit a turn off for Via del Foro Olitorio. At the end of the street, turn left onto Via di Teatro di Marcello, then right onto Piazza del Campidoglio. This is when a lot of stairs get involved, as you’ll then start your climb up to Capitoline Hill which you’ll easily spot by the gigantic white statues that line the walk to the entrance.

Once you’ve finished with the fascinating ancient museum, stand on the hill and take in the ruins of the Roman Forum from a distance. You can choose to walk down and around to explore it properly, however this walking tour will take you up to the Colosseum first. Take the stairs to Via del Campidoglio (located at the edge of Piazza del Campidoglio) walk along it. It’ll eventually give way to another street called Via di St Pietro which you’ll want to continue along, then turn right onto Via dei Fori Imperiali. You’ll be able to see the Piazza del Colosseo and the imposing structure in the distance, so just continue towards it — you literally can't miss it!

Megan Hills
Rome Travel Expert

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The Weird & Wonderful Rome

Aside from the obvious ancient history that is part and parcel of visiting Rome, there’s a whole other side that many don’t get to experience. From the downright weird to the amazingly wonderful, Rome is blessed with its fair share of quirks. From skeletal décor, to keyhole views, here are some of our favourite weird and wonderful things. Skeletal Decorations Interestingly there is more than one place in Rome where you will see the religious remains on display. If you’re not freaked out by the prospect, visit the Crypt of Capuchin Friars, Santa Maria della Concezione, to be really spooked. With the bones of over 4000 friars decorating the walls and ceilings you can’t escape the message: death can come at any time. San Silvestro Church is another one to visit as it claims to own the head of St John the Baptist. But depending on where you’re from, a church in Germany, France and Syria also claim to be the owners of the same head... Another dubious skull can be found in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, which if you’re a born romantic, might strike a stronger cord, as this Roman church claims to own the head of St Valentine – the patron saint of lovers. Criminology Museum Another disturbing establishment – not for the fainthearted – is the Criminology Museum, near to Piazza Navona. After a visit you’ll certainly appreciate how far Italy has come from the days of executions and brutal methods of torture. On show are real objects of restraint and torture that were once used for incarceration during the late 19th century and into the 20th century. One of the most shocking artefacts on show is the infamous body-shaped Milazzo Cage which would be hung outside the castle or prison displaying the mutilated criminal. Fantastical architecture As well as the awe-inspiring historic architecture of the Coliseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon, for instance, you will also come across some fantastical architecture when you least expect it. One of our favourite places is the Quartiere Coppedé in the Northern part of the city. Home to a real blend of architectural styles, you’ll find Art Nouveau, Ancient Greek, Roman Baroque and even some Medieval all mixed in, designed by architect Coppedé between 1910s and 1927. Admire Florentine towers, Venetian palazzi, mosaics and frescoes... You won’t want to forget your camera, trust us! Aventine Keyhole A keyhole with a view, this really is a hidden gem and many miss it – literally. On the corner of via di S. Sabina and via di Porta Lavernale you’ll find a very nondescript looking door on the Aventine Hill, leading into the Priory of the Knights of Malta. But the trick is not to go in, but to look through the keyhole instead. Whether it was a stroke of brilliant design or pure fluke, you’ll be hard pushed to find another keyhole like it. Through the opening you’ll see your gaze lines up perfectly with the gardens inside the courtyard which frames the dome of the St Peter’s Basilica in the distance perfectly. Optical illusion Around the corner from the Pantheon make sure you visit the Jesuit church of Saint Ignazio, on Via del Caravita. Decorated by Andrea Pozzo between 1685 and 1694, the church was originally meant to have a dome but when the money ran out in 1642, Pozzo had to get creative. The painted dome on the ceiling is a real work of perspectives and many visitors don’t even realise that the shadowed dome is in fact a flat ceiling. You can also notice that the huge fresco on the barrel-vaulted ceiling also employs this trick of the eye and is a great example of the quadratura technique, juxtaposing geometrically accurate architecture and dreamlike cherubs and floating saints. All things Egyptian Pyramids might be a legacy from ancient Egypt but you’ll also find a rather famous one in the city of Rome. The Pyramid of Cestius was built in the wake of the conquest of Egypt in 30 BC when Rome was gripped by Egyptomania. The Pyramid is believed to have been built as a tomb for a wealthy Roman between 18 and 12 BC, however, it’s since been ransacked and any evidence or remains of who he was have disappeared. There was a second pyramid at one point, near Castel Sant’angelo, but it didn’t survive – instead its marble was used for the steps of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Another Egyptian landmark is the obelisk which you’ll find in Piazza del Popolo, which is actually one of thirteen dotted around the city. image credit: tamthientran.com
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Fun Facts about the Vatican Museums

The Vatican City is the home of the Pope and thus the Christian world and especially this year with the Jubilee of Mercy it holds even more significance. The magnitude of its importance means that often the smaller facts are overlooked. Here are 10 facts about the Vatican so you can impress your friends as you walk around: With a total area of 0.44 kilometres (1/8th the size of central park) the Vatican is the smallest country in the world It is entirely landlocked by Italy and has no motorways or large roads, only streets The Vatican is governed by an absolute monarchy with the Pope as its head. It has its own passports, flag and national anthem. There is no tax within the Vatican. Sale of museum admission and souvenirs is the only way the government generates revenue. The Vatican doesn’t have an official language. People speak Italian, English, French, German, and Spanish. The Vatican has the smallest population of any country in the world- around 1000 people would call it their home. The Vatican has its own radio station that broadcasts in 20 different languages across the world. The Vatican City is a UNESCO Wold heritage site, and is the only site that encompasses an entire country. Vatican City is the only independent state that has not become a member of the United Nations. If you joined all the Vaticans museum rooms together they would extend for 9 miles. If you spent one minute looking at each painting in the museums it would take you 4 years to see them all. If you want more, read about the top 10 things to see in the Vatican Museums and learn about these 20 fascinating facts about the Sistine Chapel.
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A Guide to Christmas in Rome

Christmas in Rome is an amazing experience and there are a vast array of different things to do. We made a guide to get you started on what you could do over the festive period: See the Pope Over Christmas you have a lot of opportunities. If you can get tickets midnight mass is magical but if not ‘Urbi et Orbi’ on Christmas day is another opportunity, and you don’t need tickets! Visit a Christmas market There are markets all over Rome during December and early January. The most famous is the market in Piazza Navona which is always bustling and is lit up with lights. Go ice skating Here’s an ice skating rink in the shadow of Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo which is perfect for getting in the Christmas spirit. You can also ice skate at the Auditorium which also houses a Christmas fair and lots of concerts. Discover the tradition of nativity scenes Rome boasts a museum of over 3000 nativity scenes and also a pop-up exhibition over Christmas of a further 200 scenes imagined by artists from around the world. Appreciate the Christmas lights Wander the streets of Rome and see it from a new perspective. The city comes alive over the festive period with lights lining the roads. Go to a bakery The bakeries fill up with delicious holiday treats like panettone and torrone that aren’t sold in the other months. You won’t regret it!
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