Rome is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. The very cradle of human civilization, its many landmarks are a joy for the eyes to behold. The Eternal City remains unrivaled when it comes to the sheer aesthetic supremacy of its antique structures and its impressive, widely-venerated history. It doesnt come as a surprise then that Rome has claimed the #2 spot on the top travel destinations in the world.
1. Rome
With a climate mild and rainy in winter rather than full of snow, many find Rome the perfect place to vacation during any time of year. You do not need a Visa if youre only staying for 90 days or less. Experts recommend visiting Rome in the off-peak months between October and March to avoid the summer rush. If you can, try to book a hotel near or within the centro storico or historic district.
2. Take The Tour
Be sure to make a list of locations you intend to visit within Rome beforehand to save you time and money. Private tours are a great way to get around and at the same time soak up the local culture. Another great way to economize is by taking the TramBus system, that goes around the city and provides a fascinating tour of Romes neighborhoods.
3. Don't Miss These Locations
The Coliseum is probably, next to the Vatican, the best structure to visit in the city. You can tour the premises on your own or join those conducted every hour by guides dressed as Gladiators. Operating hours vary throughout the year, so you will want to call in advance if at all possible.
4. The Roman Forum
Check out the civic center of Ancient Rome where political, religious, and economic activities took place. Many of its columns remain standing among the ruins even after 2000 years, displaying the intricacies of Roman architecture. Admission is free, opens at 9 am and closes an hour before sunset. If you want, you can spend a little more to get a personalized guided tour complete with audio pedestals where you can learn more.
5. The Vatican
One of the most popular spots to visit in Rome is, of course, the Vatican. In addition to its religious importance, the Vatican has a fine collection of sculptures, paintings, books, and many other artifacts that chronicle the Catholic Churchs history. You can view St. Peters Basilica, marvel at Michelangelos Pieta, its detailed masonry, or the papal catacombs. Move on to the Vatican Museum where even more magnificent antiquities are housed, not the least of that are Egyptian mummies from B.C. era.
6. The Sistine Chapel
If pressed for time, skip everything else and proceed to the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo, primarily, was known as an excellent sculptor so when Pope Julius II commissioned him to paint the Bible on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he thought it was a ploy by his rivals who thought Michelangelo, not being a full-on painter, would yield mediocrity and embarrass himself. Of course, we all know it didn't quite turn out that way. In fact, the Sistine Chapel is probably the most recognized piece of work from the Renaissance period.
Tour Guide In Rome
Rome is dry and hot in summers and rainy in winters. The city has a population of 2.7 million. You need to have a passport to visit Rome, as it is for most of the Italian countries. But you do not have to worry about the visa if your stay is not more than 90 days. You should visit Rome during the off-season that is from October to March. There are too many tourists during the summer months. Try to get accommodation into hotels near the historic district or the centro storico. Hotel de Russie is the situated perfectly between the Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Popolo. This way you will get to visit these places first and then move on to visit other places of interest.
You should explore Rome on your own. You should make a list of the sites you intend to visit. This will make traveling a lot easier for you. It will also help you save time. Private guided tours are also a good option. You can get the bookings done from your hotel only. You can also opt for the TramBus system. It is cheap and good. This bus system takes you to all the beautiful places in and around Rome.
Different people visit different places in Rome however there are certain sites which one should never miss. The Coliseum is the most popular structure in the city. You must visit this place. You can either look around it on your own or go for guides who are part of the conducted tours. The guides dress up as gladiators. The time when these tours are conducted are not fixed so you should call earlier and inquire about them.
After Coliseum the place to visit should be The Roman Forum or Foro Romano. This place has significant historical importance as it was the civic center of old age Rome. This was the place where all the significant activities took place be it political, religious or anything else. Even after 2000 years, its structures depict the Roman architecture in the true sense. There is no entry fee for visiting this place. It opens at 9 in the morning and closes 1 hour before the sun sets. Paid audio and guided tours are also available.
The Pantheon is a very old structure, around 1,800 years old. However the structure is still intact. This structure was built around 125 A.D. the word Pantheon literally means temple to all gods and it was built by Emperor Hadrian. It has got a huge 9 meter opening. That is the only source of light here. Some famous people like Vittorio Emmanuel II, Renaissance painter Raphael, Umberto I and two Kings of Italy are buried here. The building has remains of so many civilizations. You can know a lot about Roman civilization from here. You can learn about their sculpture, clothing, woodwork, language and many other things. You can actually learn about their thoughts also. There is no entry fee for The Pantheon. It is open for visitors throughout the week. It is closed on all holidays excluding Christmas.
You can visit all the listed placed in Rome in a single day. After this, you can spend a 3 hours at The Vatican. Here you can find huge collections of books, paintings, sculptures and many other things related to the history of the Catholic Church. But this time is not sufficient to examine each and every piece out there. You can not go through the entire Vatican collection at one go. In St. Peters you can have a look at Michelangelos Pieta. Then there is the magnificent Vatican Museum where some great antiques are placed.
There are also some Egyptian mummies here. However one place which you must visit is the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was a great sculptor and Pope Julius II asked him to paint the bible on Sistine Chapels ceiling. However his aim to embarrass Michelangelo wasnt fulfilled as Sistine Chapel went on to become one of the greatest pieces of art from the Renaissance period. The schedules here arent that regular so you should inquire about it well in advance.
Cafes and restaurants are there almost everywhere in Rome so there is no problem in finding them when you are feeling hungry. For traveling, wear comfortable dress and shoes. Do not carry too much luggage with you. To know all the things you need to do and need to visit, consult the hotel concierge or some other tourist information.
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