3 Days Tour in Rome Attractions
(Another article about Rome: Shopping in Rome)
Rome is beauty, romance, culinary, culture, splendor,
architecture, colorfulness and much more. The center of
Rome is spread among seven hills east of the Tiber
River, on both banks of which lays the city. Between the
hills, that constitute the heart of the city, you will
find the Capitoline Hill and the Palatine Hill, on
which, according to tradition, the brothers Ramus and
Romulus established Rome.
The recommendation is to
arrive in Rome for a visit of 3-4 days at least. This
length of a visit will allow you to arrive at all the
famous tourists' sites but also find other interesting
beauty spots, certainly simultaneous with excellent
meals with lots of pizza, pasta, cheese, ice cream and
wine.
Recommended Hotels in Rome:
Near Piazza Navona:
Hotel
Lunetta
Relais Rione Ponte
Suites Hotel:
Close to Vatican:
Holiday Appartment (up to 5 persons):
Three-day tour of Rome
To arrive at the city center is best by
private
transportation from the airport at a cost of about 40
Euro.
Public transportation is not very convenient,
for this reason, try to stay near the center of town and
arrive by foot to the tourists' sites.
Day one tour
You said "Rome"; you said fountains, splendid structures, impressive architecture, history, religion. On this day, you can familiarize yourself with most of the sites that fall into those definitions when you tour among the most impressive fountains in the city.
Start the tour in the colorful market Campo de' Fiori. The market is active mainly during the morning and early noon hours, until 13:00. Here you will find vegetables stands, fruits, spices, pasta, flowers and juices, next to housewares and souvenirs. In the past, during the inquisition period, it is here where agnostics and witches were executed. Today, in the center of the square stands the sculpture of a philosopher from the 17th century who was considered an agnostic because he argued that the universe is endless and our galaxy is only one of many.
Continue from here by foot for about 10 minutes in the direction of the Jewish Ghetto. The neighborhood, which in the past was closed, is now pleasant for a stroll. Here you will find many restaurants next to delicatessen and coffee shops. In the heart of the Ghetto is Via Portico d'Ottavia, a romantic archeological structure that served as a fish market in the past.
Near the Ghetto, is located the Fontana del Tartarughe. In the fountain are four young men, each with a foot on a Dolphin made of Bronze. Bronze turtles are also around the piazza and they are a late addition to the construction. From the fountain, we will continue a short distance to Largo di Torre Argentina. This is a site of ruins of roman structures among them a theater and shrines. Animal lovers in general and cats in particular can expect a pleasant surprise. Here is a shelter for street cats that cares, treats and feeds hundreds of street cats. The place does a holly work and exists without the support of the Rome Municipality. If you happen to be in the area, do not miss a visit to the warm and pleasant shelter, and you may even leave a modest contribution for the continued existence of the important activity.
From here, we shall continue
with a 5 minutes' walk to the north, in the direction of
the Pantheon. The Pantheon is considered one of the
ancient sites that were conserved in the best way in the
City, and may be in the world. The structure was built
in the year 27 BC as a shrine for all gods, and was
reconstructed at the beginning of the second century.
The meaning of the word is in Greek: "pan" = all and
"teon" – godly. In the year 1870, the Pantheon was
turned into a shrine for the kings of Italy, and a
number of Italian kings, as well as the painter Raphael,
one of the important renaissance painters, are buried
here. Entrance is free.
Do not miss looking up, in the direction of the special ceiling in which there is a hole allowing the sunrays to penetrate.
From the Pantheon, we continue to Piazza Navona. This is the central Piazza of Rome, located in the heart of the tourists' center. The Piazza has an elliptic shape and ornamented by beautiful fountains. Around the Piazza are coffee shops, ice cream parlors, restaurants and shops in which the prices are, in accordance with the location – higher, in comparison to other areas. The central fountain in the piazza is the "Fountain of the Four Rivers". The fountain represents four continents separated by the four known rivers; Ganges (Asia), the Nile (Africa) the Danube (Europe) and the Rio De La Plata (America), and those are represented by figures of gods carved in marble, seated on separate rocks, from which runs each river. In the center stand an impressive obelisk that was moved here from the Forum, it represents the victory of the church over the paganism. Additional fountains are the "Fontana del Moro" and the "Fontana del Nettuno", where the God Neptune awakens to life.
From here we walk for about fifteen minutes in the direction of "Fontana Di Trevi" – the wish fountain. According to belief, whoever throws a coin into its water will win a return to Rome in the Future. There are those who add and say that a second coin will cause you to fall in love with an Italian whereas the third coin will bless with a marriage. In any event, it is interesting to know that each day, municipality workers collect from the bottom of the fountain about 3,000 Euro!!!
The fountain is impressive both during the
day and in the evening when it is lit. During any day of
the year, you will find in the fountain area hundreds of
coin throwing tourists, but pay attention to the
fountain and its design as well. The stars of the
fountain are Neptune, the Sea God, and the seahorses
leading his carriage.
Continue the walk in the
direction of the Spanish stairs and The Piazza di
Spagna, only 10 minutes away from the fountain.
Before arriving at the Piazza you will notice a large
fountain located at the foot of the Spanish Steps, this
is the "Barcaccia Fountain", designed in the shape of a
sinking ship.
The Spanish Steps are 138 steps leading
from Piazza di Spagna to the Trinita dei Monti, a French
church at the top of the steps. An enchanting view
appears from the church of the fountain and the city. In
the Church are two art creations by Daniele da Volterra,
a pupil of Michelangelo. Additionally, near the church
is a wide garden pleasant for a walk, which also offers
a nice view of the city.
The Spanish Embassy,
sometimes crowned as the first embassy in the world, is
located near the steps, providing the reason for the
steps being "Spanish".
From the Spanish Steps we will continue by foot in the direction of Piazza del Popolo – the square of the people. It is located at the northern tip of Via del Corso Street. This square has a tight connection to the history of Rome, because, already during the Middle Ages, horse races started here, and executions took place here. Today, you will find in the center of the Piazza an Egyptian obelisk from the period of Ramses the Second, approximately the 13th century BC. The obelisk is ornamented by hieroglyphs describing the life and the period of the Egyptian King.
From this piazza continue walking for 20 minutes in a southeastern direction to the last point of the tour – Piazza Venetia. This piazza is located at the foot of the Capitoline, next to the Large Forum, the old city center. The piazza is noisy and very large, full with tourists, cars, street artists and shops, but at its center, and you cannot miss it, is the large marble monument, Vittoriano. This impressive structure was built in memory of the first king that ruled United Italy, King Vittorio Emmanuelle the Second. The structure which was inaugurated in the year 1911, gained the name "The Altar of the Homeland", but also "gained" serious public criticism. There were some that said that its construction caused irreversible damage to antique structures, and totally changed the shape of one of the historical city hills, the Capitoline Hill.
The
structure by itself is impressive, but it is most
recommended to go up to the observation point from its
roof overlooking the entire area. To the observation
point – Roma dal Ceilo, you reach by a transparent
elevator on the rear side of the building. Entry fee is
required, but one can go to an observation point from a
lower level in the building, which also supplies a
breath taking view. Opening hours are 09:30 to 17:30,
last entry at 17:00
Additionally, in the large piazza
stands also the Venetian Palace, the first renaissance
palace in the city, built already during the 15th
century. Over the years, the palace served as the main
headquarters for Mussolini and many of the dictator's
speeches to the Italian People took place on the balcony
that faces the piazza.
Day two tour
As was already stated, the best way to know Rome is by foot, but an excellent and recommended way to "plow" the city without "killing" your legs is through a Segway Tour. The tour enables you to arrive – in a short time – to many places very difficult to succeed and visit all when walking by foot. Additionally, the tour guides know how to take you to beautiful spots less familiar to tourists, this way you will get to know wonderful additional places in Rome. A highly recommended Segway tours company is Rome By Segway.
The exit point of
the tours is at the Company's office locate 5 minutes'
walk from the Colosseum. Because of the proximity to this
site, you should visit it and the Large Forum prior to
or after the Segway tour (depending on the tour you
choose). Most tours last about 3.5 hours (including half
an hour of exercising and training on the Segway),
however, there are longer tours. A specially recommended
tour is named "Ancient Rome". The tour lasts for about
3.5 hours during which you will become acquainted with
the fascinating historical sites in the city, such as
the Palatine Hill, the Large Forum, and the Colosseum and
you will also hear many stories about the unique history
of the city, the construction, art and local culture.
Additionally, the experienced tour guides will know how
to lead you to less familiar spots such as the
magnificent view point, Knights of Malta Keyhole, that
offers a breath taking view from a keyhole, and an
observation balcony for a tour in Orange Tree Garden
Park. The Segway tour is accompanied by explanations by
the tour guide as well as pre-recorded explanations in
audio and video – to which you can listen and view
through the iPod player, you will receive from the
guide.
There are discounts
for families tour fee (parents + child). The tour departs 6 times
during the morning and noon, in accordance with the
season. Additional information on the company's site or
at info@romebysegway.com
Recommended and enjoyable!!!
If you chose a morning tour, continue with a tour by foot of the Colosseum and the Large Forum. Entrance by fee, the ticket includes the visits to both sites and the Palatine hill. Important! Make sure you order tickets in advance. Reservations on the internet and printing the tickets at home will save you dear time standing in lines. The queues are very long even during the winter and out of the tourism season, so order tickets in advance at: https://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm.
In
any event, if you did not order tickets in advance start
the visit at the Forum, there the queues are shorter. In
any event, the tickets are valid for two days, so you
can return to the site on the following day.
The
visit to the Colosseum is a must for anyone arriving in
Rome. Currently, when you wonder around in the ruins, it
is hard to imagine that once this structure was a large
stadium that seated about 45,000 spectators, seated in
accordance with their status, on marble seats, wood or
stone. The walls of the stadium were covered with marble
and sculptures were spread between the niches on the
second and third level. The upper floor supported the
240 masts that pulled the huge tent-cloth that covered
the arena.
The construction of the Colosseum in
ancient Rome began in the year 72 during the reign of
the Caesar Vespasian and was completed eight years later
during the reign of his son Titus. It was constructed on
the ruins of the hated Caesar Nero, and was apparently
named after a large (Colossus) sculpture of Nero that
was located nearby.
The inauguration of the Colosseum
was celebrated by one hundred consecutive days of fights
in which more than five thousand animals were killed.
It is horrifying to imagine the situation, however, tens
of thousands of spectators came to celebrate cruelty,
the shows included gladiators compelled to fight each
other, to death of course. In fact, the gladiators were
prisoners forced to fight, and it is assumed that
hundreds of thousands of them were killed in fights
inside the Colosseum.
Currently, after for many years
the place was robbed and ruined under various
circumstances, it is possible to see one section of it's
original height, only about a quarter of its
circumference.
In 2007, the Colosseum was elected as
one of the seven wonders of the New World.
Near the
Colosseum is located the entrance to the Large Roman
Forum. During the Roman Empire, the Forum served as the
focal place in the City, the hub of public life in which
all commerce, cultural political and religious events
took place. The construction of the Forum lasted for
about 900 years, however, for a long time the place
stood neglected and deserted, as a testimony to the
collapse of the Empire. The restoration of the place
began at the end of the 18th dentury, however,
archeological discoveries continue until now. At the
site of the Forum are many exciting digs, each one
adding more information about the history of the place.
The path that crosses the Forum is "Via Sacra" ("The
holly path"), this in fact is the main street of ancient
Rome along which the victory parades took place, as well
as religious parades.
The Arch of Titus is also in
the Forum. This is the victory arch celebrating the
subjection of the Jews during the Large Revolt, the
conquest of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple. The
Emperor Domitian in honor of his brother who led the
move built the Arch. Another arch is "Arco di Settimio
Severo. This arch was built in the year 203 in honor of
the Roman Emperor Severo and his sons Caracalla and Geta
and their victory of the Parthian Empire. After the
death of Severo, his sons rulled the Empire until
Caracalla murdered his brother. Since the murder all of
Geta's public sculptures were removed including his
image on all the reliefs of the Arch and a sculpture
that was placed above it. The temple of Julius Caesar is
also found in the Forum – Tempio di Giulio Cesare. The
temple was built at the location of the cremation of the
Caesar's corpse.
Other temples are located in the
Forum next to many antique impressive arches and
structures. The tour of the Forum and the Palatine Hills
is a travel in time – an exciting and unique trip.
Day three tour
Beyond thrilling history, Rome is
obviously the capitol of pizzas and pastas, and in short
– a culinary festivity. As befits for a city, that
sanctifies the good meals, superb wine and excellent ice
cream, a culinary tour is an extraordinary tour.
Gourmetaly
Company is a recommended company organizing
such tours. The Company organizes tours on different
subjects, such as a wine tour or a tour following the
Tiramisu, however, for the tourists who wish to
familiarize themselves as much as possible with the
local cuisine, the "Food Crawl Rome Tour" is
recommended. The tour lasts for about 3.5 hours during
which you will visit the city quarters, colorful
markets, family bakeries, famous delicatessen as well as
less familiar restaurants to the average tourist, but
that are considered real pearls in the eyes of the
locals.
During the tour you will taste cheeses,
sausages, pastries, pasta, wine, ice cream as well as
some traditional dishes of Rome, such as fried
artichoke, the traditional dish of the Jewish Ghetto.
Very interesting and not less important – tasteful!
The tour is for a fee and reservation are required in
advance on the Company's site. The Tour departs in
groups, up to 12 persons in a group. Each group has an
experienced guide that knows to provide helpful hints
regarding recommended (and less recommended)
restaurants, where you can find the best pizza, where to
buy quality pasta to take home, and which dishes are
recommended to eat at which season.
This tour offers
the visitor a different angle of Rome, and in a city in
which food is a central and important cultural
component, such a tour should not be missed!
After we were satisfied and enjoyed ourselves, the day of the tour can be continued by arriving to the smallest country in the world, the Vatican. Although this is the smallest sovereign country in the world, that populates only 800 residents, it has its own language (Latin), a flag, currency, army, postal service and even a radio station. This is one of the most crowded sites in Rome, obviously mainly because of its extreme religious significance to the Christian World in General and the Catholic in particular.
The central square of the Vatican is San Pietro Square. He is considered the first Pope, who was one of the twelve Apostles. The large impressive square, (can hold up to 400,000 persons!), has in its centre an obelisk that rises to a height of 25 meters. The obelisk was brought from Egypt in the year 37 AC and was placed in the piazza towards the end of the 16th century.
Adjacent to the impressive piazza is the church of Saint Peter.
Entrance to the church is free, but is conditioned by proper dress (and obviously, not a short queue…). This is the largest church in the world, and from its balcony the Pope carries his speeches. It is possible to go up to the dome of the church, from which one can have a view of the piazza and the area. Entrance to the dome is by payment, it is possible to go up by stairs or by an elevator.
The Vatican has other impressive sites,
to which the entry is for payment. Just like prior to
the visit to the Colosseum, here too is recommended to
buy tickets in advance, thru the Vatican's internet
site. Making the reservations in advance will save many
hours of standing in line, so prepare ahead of time. The
entrance ticket includes visit to the Vatican Museum,
the Pope Palace and the Sistine Chapel.
The Pope's
palace was built during the 12th century, but since, has
been renovated and expanded many times. In the palace is
the residence of the Pope and the offices of the "Holly
See". The museum, on the other hand, was established in
the 16th century to expose to the public the art
collections of the popes and in this way promote
cultural, historical and artistic knowledge. The museum
is part of the Pope Palace Site, and is constructed of
two palaces connected by very large galleries. The
Vatican museum has impressive art collections including
works by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, as
well as works from the renaissance period, antique
mosaics, Egyptian and Greek art and more.
In the
Vatican museum are also Raphael's rooms – "Stanze of
Raphael". Those four rooms served as residence for
Julius the Second and his followers. The rooms were
decorated by the famous painter Raphael, who also
painted by himself part of the tens of frescos in the
rooms.
In the area of the museum is also located the
Sistine Chapel, also known as the prayer place of the
Pope. The Chapel is decorated by impressive frescos
among them the famous painting "Creation" by
Michelangelo, describing the stories of Genesis. Here is
also conducted the tradition of the pope's election. In
accordance with the tradition, within 20 days after the
death of a pope, all the cardinals gather for a secret
ballot of the next pope. The cardinals are locked in the
chapel until a majority of two thirds is achieved in
favor of one of the candidates. On the top of the
chapel, a flue is installed. When the pope is elected,
the news are transferred by burning the names of the
candidates with a material emitting white smoke, the
source of the famous white smoke trail.
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