best places to see in Rome?

Answer 1

☻Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
The Pope's Seat
religious/spiritual

Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Tel: [phone] (info)

☻Capuchin Cemetery
Boney M
religious/spiritual ; cemetery

Via Vittorio Veneto 27
Tel: [phone] (info)

☻Castel Sant'Angelo
Papal Fortress
castle ; fortress

Lungotevere Castello
Tel: [phone] (info)

☻Colosseum
Truly Colossal
archaeological site ; stadium/oval

Piazza del Colosseo
Tel: [phone] (info)

☻Museo e Galleria Borghese
Art Attack
art-related ; art gallery

Piazzale del Museo Borghese
Tel: [phone] (info)

☻Pantheon
Temple of All Gods
monument ; religious/spiritual

Piazza della Rotonda
Tel: [phone] (info)

☻Pincio Hill
The view of St Peter's from the Pincio just has to be seen to be believed. This elegant park with its avenues of shady trees gets its name from the Pinci famaily, who owned it in the 4th century. It's a popular place for a weekend passagiata.

Giuseppe Valadier designed the lofty gardens (which adjoin Villa Borghese) around 1809-14. Roman families, cyclists and skaters continue the tradition of past strollers, including Keats, Severn, Richard Strauss, Mussolini, Ghandi and King Farouk.

☻Roman Forum
Imperial Hub
archaeological site ; government

Piazza Santa Maria Nova 53 & Via di Monte Tarpeo
Tel: [phone] (info)

☻Trastevere
Palazzi of Old



Although its traditionally proletarian nature is changing as the crumbling palazzi become gentrified, a stroll among the labyrinthine alleys of Trastevere still reaps small gems of a bygone past. Washing strung out from the apartments in best Mama-leone tradition has everyone sighing and reaching for the Kodaks.

The lovely Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere is the area's heart. It's a true Roman square - by day peopled by mothers with strollers, chatting locals and guidebook-toting tourists, by night with artisans selling their craft work, young Romans looking for a good time, and the odd homeless person looking for a bed. The streets east of the piazza is where you'll find the most photographed washing in the world.

☻Trevi Fountain
Toss a Coin
square ; film/tv locations

Piazza di Trevi

The famous custom is to throw a coin into the fountain over your shoulder to ensure you return to Rome. A second coin will have you falling in love with an Italian, and the third marrying him or her. Needless to say, the terraces around the fountain are always packed with tourists throwing coins.

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Answer 2

-- recommend hotels along the via della conciliazione (www.hotelcolumbus.it) - right by the Vatican and close to the metro - very central. also right by the Borgo Pio which has great shops, bakeries, tratorria's etc. 
the pope usually has a general audience on Wednesday’s - free but you need a ticket.
vatican museum 12 euro's and another 3 at the coffee shop on the corner while you're waiting in line and take turns to run and get coffee LOL
postcards are between 1 or 2 for 1euro
when you go into churches you will have books for purchase -some of them are worth it and very interesting - about 5 euro - they will also have lighting for the main artwork - this ranges between the half and 1 euro - hand on to your coins as you can't usually get change!
colossuem was 10 euro (and watch out for the crooks in front in roman garb who pose for pictures with you -- i got rooked when i had nothing smaller than a 20 and he said 5 euro's each! they are NOT part of the facility!!!)
castle san angelo 6 euro and make sure you know the history - made it more worth while
roasted chestnuts in Piazza Navonna - 3 eor's and a must!
pizza (lunch) 7-10 euro's
dinner 30 euro's should work - sometimes more sometimes less.
2-5 euros - gelato
1.10 euro - candy bar

go to www.romaturismo.it and they had a SUPER map that was our saving grace! i still have it as i mapped out various walking tours. it has the metro and city all mapped out and detailed.

please feel free to email me if you'd like the walking tours - we had 4 of them and the main and not so main things to see along the way. 

you have to get up to the Gianicolo & San Pietro on the Janniculum Hill and there is a church atop the mt. where they say St Peter was crucified -- it's a spot most people DO not visit as it's not the "famous" one -- it was darling and really something to see!

the other book i recommend = knopf mapguides - it's just perfect in size and has most of the information for the basics.

one thing i did that might sound silly.... i had a small journal with me everywhere and took notes - sometimes simple ones but.... with 6 days it can get a little overwhelming and you don't want to miss out on remembering just what that picture was! for example - to the left of the street coming up to the vatican is a little know church called Santo Spirito - it was built in the 1200's Michelangelo did the ceiling - it was a hospital at one point during one of the many sieges/battles and returned to a church! the ceiling was beautiful!

thanks for the trip down memory lane and have a lovely time!!! Ooh dress in layers and take a scarf or hat!!! a sturdy wind proof jacket would work best!

sorry this is sooooo long but i had to *** because i almost forgot - the Scala Santa - right across from St John Lateran - it was really something!

ooh and most places close in the afternoon about 4p then the restaurants open at 7-8pm. i took snacks and a fruit and nut type trail mix & diet pepsi because they don't have diet anything! i'm glad too because i shopped, boy did i shop and having the extra space was sooooooooo necessary!

Answer 3

There are the usual "must see" spots like the Vatican and its Sistine chapel, coliseum, etc. But personally, I wouldn't go without visiting the Americana Market on Travestere (not too far from the Vatican). It closes early so go as early as you can. One side is used items (like a flea market) the other is new items from all over Europe and Asia, and at lower than cheap prices. Bought lots of brass, stacking dolls and inlaid wood items. Then had to buy another suitcase (also good deals on them).
I guess it depends on how much time you have and what days you are there. I think that market is only open on Sunday, but may have changed since I was there.
Sally B

Answer 4

I really, really enjoyed the Roman Forum and Palatin Hill. It really brings to life the old Roman Empire. The Vatican museum is good but it is pretty crowded with line ups. I thought the Pantheon was really cool to see. It is a lot of fun just to walk around the city though because it is such an interesting city with surprised around every corner and lots of neat shops.

Answer 5

Definitely the area near the monument of Victor Emanuel. I used that as a pinpoint so I would know where to get the bus back. they drop you off right in front of the monument. the coliseum, forum, bocca della verita, and arch of Constantine are all right in the area along with some great gelattorias.

Answer 6

just go see the ruins. stand across the street from it, look past the traffic lights and grafitti and down into history.

walk across and take in the hugeness of the colisseum... breath in the aroma of an empire.

Walk down to the forum and have something funny happen along the way.

Answer 7

Check the Italy travelogues on TheTravelzine: http://www.thetravelzine.com

Have a great trip!