When in Rome...
When in
Rome…be a proper tourist! Who has time to sit around, drinking cappuccino and whistling after beautiful girls when the Eternal City is to be explored, sights on every street corner.
The enormous diversity of the country is only properly appreciated on a round trip through various regions, and the necessary mobility is easily acquired: simply hire a car.
What to see
The most-recognised site in town is of course the
Colosseum, the biggest amphitheatre of its time. Originally it was built to entertain the emperors and the masses, and the performances were generally of quite disturbing brutality. 2000 years on the gladiators and lions have disappeared and the ancient theatre serves a more honourable cause: whenever the death penalty is abandoned somewhere in the world the mighty walls are lit up for two days, an event sadly witnessed very rarely. No less significant in historical terms is the
Forum Romanum where the fate of Rome was decided. The Forum was the religious, political, and cultural centre of the Roman Empire, and surrounded by columns, arches, and monuments the early fathers of the city met here and debated the course to be taken to further develop and expand Rome. Another epicentre of power is the
Vatican, west of the Colosseum. Everything about the smallest state in the world is magnificent. Entering the Vatican via St. Peter’s Square you will right away be confronted with the world’s largest house of worship:
St. Peter’s Basilica hosts 60,000 visitors and for major Christian holidays the square in front holds countless pilgrims hoping to get a glimpse at the Pope. Even if Benedict XVI is nowhere to be seen there is still days of sightseeing to be done in the Vatican. The most important sight after the Basilica is the Sistine Chapel where Papal elections determine the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Michelangelo’s famous Last Judgment graces the walls and the image of God creating Adam the ceiling, making this one of the world’s most significant cultural sights. The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museum which comprises one of the world’s most important art collections. Every last Sunday of the month entrance is free. Returning to Ancient Rome you should visit the
Pantheon, a temple built around 125 A.D., which makes the huge dome all the more impressive. It is in fact the only dome still in existence from ancient Roman times. One of the best views over the city is available from the top of
Castel Sant'Angelo,
Emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum towering over the river just half a mile east of St. Peter’s Basilica. No less than seven Roman Emperors were put to rest in what was later used as a fortress and is now a museum.
Eating and drinking in Rome
After so much sightseeing you may well indulge in that little bit of Roman lifestyle, enjoying a strong coffee on one of the piazzas. The most obvious to visit would be
Piazza di Spagna where you can work off the consumed calories by walking up and down the 138 Spanish Steps. The problem with Rome is never too few sights or too little to do, it is too little time. After days of exploring ancient catacombs and medieval power centres you still have not seen the St. John Lateran Basilica, the baroque Trevi Fountain, the ancient Ponte Sant’Angelo, or any of the sights outside the city. So drop a coin in the Trevi Fountain and hope to return to the Eternal City.
If you are travelling to other parts of Italy and wish to do so by car, rent your car while your stay in Rome.
The enormous diversity of the country is only properly appreciated on a round trip through various regions, and the necessary mobility is easily acquired: simply hire a car.
