Plan Your Trip to Rome

By Go City Expert

Planning a trip to Rome is no mean feat; it’s a city of great cultural and historic importance and the thought of trying to fit everything into just a few short days can seem impossible. Whether you’re a veteran tourist, or a first-timer, it’s hard to prioritise your favourite monuments and landmarks when you really want to see them all! How to do it? With the OMNIA Vatican & Rome card it’s easy. For three consecutive days, the card acts as your complete sightseeing package while on holiday. Giving you free entry to the Vatican Museums and tours, including Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel, you can skip the queues and save up to four hours in the busy months. If anyone is planning on traveling to the city in the summer, not having to wait in line is a definite added bonus. When in Rome...

  • The Coliseum, Roman Forum and Capitoline Museums are also high on people’s itineraries, as is the Villa Borghese Gallery and the National Museum of Castel Sant’angelo; so it’s just as well the card gives you free entry to two out of those five must-not-miss landmarks, as well as discounted entry to a further 30 top attractions.
  • If you fancy something a little different and want to put your feet up and see the city through a different perspective, why not try the hop-on, hop-off bus tour. The perfect way to see the sights – and give yourself a much needed break! Included in the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card is a free bus tour ticket, valid for three consecutive days, giving you a bit of extra flexibility to plan your itinerary just how you want it.

Many tourists who visit Rome like the independence and to explore things the local way. If this sounds like you, there’s a travelcard valid for the entire duration of your three days, allowing you access to Rome’s extensive transport system; including the Metro, buses and rail service. Explore Rome the Roman way and don’t worry about having to carry any spare change to flag down taxis. Hassle-free holiday The run up to any holiday is both exciting and stressful. What the OMNIA Vatican & Rome card does is minimises the stress, but allows you time to plan and think about what you want to see and where you want to go. Free with the Card is a detailed guidebook about the city and its monuments – providing you will all the information you need to start to work out what you want to see. It’s hassle free and saves you lots of time and money and you can order online and pick it up whenever you’re in Rome from one of three central collection points. If you haven’t got a date in the diary yet, the card is valid for 12 months from purchase, so you can start planning and thinking ahead with the free guidebook. There’s really no easier option; this package is the perfect travel companion and will make your trip to Rome that bit easier, cheaper and definitely more fulfilling!

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Rome Travel Expert

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Vatican City attractions

Save on Vatican City attractions with the Vatican Omnia Card A visit to Rome would be wasted if you didn’t take time out to see the awe-inspiring Vatican City attractions. As the heart of the Catholic faith, many have endured pilgrimages to reach this holy place starting with the ancient Romans and persisting all the way to the present day. As home to some of the most famous landmarks and attractions in the world, you can see the best of them for free with the Rome and Vatican pass package and learn more from our guide to the Vatican city below.   St Peter's Basilica  One of the most important sites of pilgrimage in the world, St Peter’s Basilica is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and justifies the Vatican City tickets price for the millions of tourists who flock to its doors. Enjoy a free audio guide and skip the long lines at St Peter’s Basilica to fast-track your way into one of the Catholic faith’s most important sites. Dating back to the 16th century, it is an impressive building and perhaps one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in the world. With names like Bramante, Michelangelo, Maderno, and Bernini involved in its construction, it’s no wonder it’s one of the most impressive attractions in the city. From the huge square to its iconic dome, the true treasures of the Basilica lie within its walls: gleaming gold décor, mosaics, statues, and sculptures galore. See if you can spot Bramante’s bronze Baldacchino, which takes prime position at the head of the church. Underground, you can also explore the crypts which house the tombs of the former Popes. For unparalleled views over the city, climb up to the top of the Dome to really appreciate the vast expanse of this amazing site.   Vatican Gardens  Many popes have found peace of mind and solitude at the Vatican Gardens, an oasis of calm amidst the city with an unbeatable view of St Peter’s Basilica wherever you tread. In recent years, savvy tourists have been allowed beyond its walls to explore its numerous green pockets which include exotic plants, miniature succulent plots and no end of breathtaking sculptural fountains poised making for a picturesque experience. Not just anybody can wander in, however, as only a select number of visitors are permitted a day. You’ll need to make a reservation on a Vatican Gardens tour or on an inclusive Vatican tours package to see the site.   Sistine Chapel  The Sistine Chapel is considered one of the finest works of High Renaissance art for the sheer scale and the skill of the frescoes, predominantly painted by Michelangelo in the early 16th century. The chapel itself dates back to the late 1400s which was built by Pope Sixtus IV. The later decorations were commissioned by Pope Julius II. Perhaps the most famous of the frescoes is The Last Judgement, but central to the ceiling are the nine scenes from the Book of Genesis. It wasn’t just Michelangelo that deserves all the credit, other leading painters and contemporaries such as Botticelli and Ghirlandaio also contributed to the painting of this impressive chapel. The building measures an impressive 40.9 meters long so it puts it into perspective – if you want to be awed then visit the Sistine Chapel to appreciate the magnitude of one of Rome’s most impressive works of art.   Vatican Museums  The Vatican Museums are home to over 9 miles of art, sculpture, tapestries and more. The estimated worth of the art in the Vatican Museums is over €15 billion so you’re promised a wide range of world class collections. The collections were built up over the centuries by the Popes who lived in the city and date back to Ancient Egyptian pieces, to the 20th century – most notably some of the finest masterpieces from the Renaissance years. There are 54 rooms, from the Gallery of Statues, the Gallery of the Busts, to the Rotonda, and finally, the Sistine Chapel which is at the end of the tour. These Museums are not to be rushed and a thorough visit can take over 4 hours. Join one of the many Vatican tours and learn about Papal history along the way, not to mention the history behind some of the most famous works on display.   Garden of Eden Painting - Vatican This stunning painting is one of the Vatican’s most iconic, barring of course Michelangelo’s frescoes stretching across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Lovingly crafted by Wenzel Peter, this masterpiece named Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden has to be seen to be believed as both its gigantic size and attention to naturalistic detail make it one of the most exciting pieces in the Vatican Museums’ collection. Situated in the Pinacoteca Art Gallery in Room XVI, it takes up an entire wall and awes everyone who passes.   St John in the Lateran and the Cloister  St John in the Lateran and Cloister is in fact the official seat of the Pope. It’s older and – officially – more important than St Peter’s Basilica and is one of the oldest churches in Western Europe. It’s hugely significant in religious history and dating back to 324 AD has a wealth of history to tell. Within, the building is a fine example of Cosmatesque and Baroque architecture and design, with grand gold decorations and sculptures down its long nave. St John in the Lateran is also famous for its peaceful Cloister, which was built in the 13th century and is now a site of meditative prayer for many locals and visitors. Many pilgrims also flock to the Holy Steps, the Scala Sancta, which can be found in an early Papal chapel named the Lateran Palace.
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A Royal visit to Rome

It's the convergence of two cultures as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are scheduled to visit Rome on the 3rd April. Fulfilling the postponed visit from last year, which was delayed due to illness, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are finally making the trip next month to meet with Pope Francis and the Italian president, Giorgio Napolitano. In anticipation of her visit, we’ve put together a list of places in Rome where the Queen might like to go and things to see during her stay. We hope her majesty is reading... Quirinal Palace This palace, known locally as Quirinale is the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. Famously, it has been home to thirty popes, four kings and eleven presidents and spans over 110,500 square metres - giving Buckingham Palace a run for its money. Built in 1583, Quirinale is the sixth largest palace in the world and is adorned with impressive Renaissance art work and mosaics. If it’s good enough for the Italian royalty, it’s good enough for ours. St Peter’s Basilica Home to the Pope, there’s no doubt that the Queen will be visiting this iconic cathedral during her short stay. As the epicentre of Roman Catholicism, it has a wealth of history behind it, from masters of the Renaissance to papal patrons. If the Queen is after a view to remember then she should go up the Duomo (dome) for spectacular panoramas across the city. We’re sure the Pope will agree. Capitoline Museums For a bit of culture, history and to learn about the ancient ways of Rome, the Capitoline Museums are the perfect place to indulge in a bit of artistic appreciation. From sculptures, mosaics and paintings, the Queen can discover Rome’s talented past and marvel in its ancient archaeology and architecture. As a patron of the arts herself, we’re sure her majesty would enjoy a walk around this notable museum. Coliseum One of the most iconic sights in Rome, the Coliseum is as important a landmark to the city as St Peter’s Basilica. Drenched in history, the Coliseum was once the amphitheatre of legendary gladiator competitions and entertainment where the head of state, like the Queen, would have no doubt have been special guest over 2000 years ago. As a monumental landmark with such an exciting history, the Queen couldn’t leave Rome without walking through its ancient stone arches, surely? National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo Another important historical landmark, this museum should be top of the Queen’s to-do list when she visits Rome in April. A building with many pasts, Castel Sant’Angelo has been everything from a military base, a prison, Papal refuge and even a fortress. Now the museum delves into its diverse past and is one of Rome’s most fascinating attractions. Just down the Tiber from St Peter’s Basilica, it would be a tragedy to miss it. We’re sure the Queen is getting excited for her impending visit, after all Rome is a city with much to offer and with a spread of ancient landmarks to see, so she’ll no doubt be busy. If you fancy a visit to Rome and like the sounds of the itinerary above then the OMNIA & Vatican Card is your key to the Eternal City, unlocking over 30 attractions and giving you free and discounted entry into the best sights. With a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, travel included and a guidebook it’s the perfect sightseeing pass.
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Celebrate the Feast of Saint Anthony Abbott

One of the many celebrated traditions in Rome is the feast of Saint Anthony Abbott, or ‘La Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate’ as it’s called locally. Celebrated on the 17th January it’s the perfect excuse to extend the festivities of the season and banish those January blues after all the excitement of New Years and the Epiphany. To give you a bit of context, originally the Feast of Saint Anthony Abbott stems from the celebration of Anthony, the ‘Father of Monks’, who is believed to be the founder of monarchism. He lived his years in the dessert and dedicated himself to charitable acts and those of piety and assistance. Nowadays the celebration of Saint Anthony Abbott involves street processions, local food stalls and artisan crafts laid in the grounds of the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate and Sant'Eusebio on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. The Church of Sant’Antonio Abate is a medieval 15th century church, nestled around the corner from the grand Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, that used to serve as a hospital and convent church, dedicated to ‘Anthony of Egypt’. From the late 1400s there was a ceremony in honour of Saint Anthony known as the ‘Blessing of the Animals’ that took place at the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate on the 17th January. Unfortunately, as it rose in popularity over the centuries, and after the invention of cars, the livestock was a little endangered as they wandered the grounds of the church. So much so it was decided to move the celebrations around the corner to the piazza outside Sant'Eusebio just to be safe! So whether you’re with or without a pet on your trip to Rome, and especially if you’re an animal lover, make sure you attend this family friendly celebration at the beginning of the year. It’s a good enough reason to continue celebrating for just one more weekend (this year it falls on a Friday) so head up to the Esquiline Hill and explore the ancient churches in the area, participate in the ceremonies and appreciate one of Italy’s longest standing traditions. Don’t forget to take small change so you can make the most of the arts and crafts stalls and take something home as a little reminder! Make the most of your trip to Rome with an OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass. With free and fast track entry to the Vatican and Museums, as well as top attractions such as the Coliseum and the Capitoline Museums, your holiday itinerary is sorted. Hop on a bus tour and get free travel around the city as well, all included in your three day pass. Click here for more information on how you can make your trip all the more memorable.
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