Posted by Maia
There is so much to do in Rome and you can learn about the many attractions such as the Vatican, St. Peter’s, the Forum and the Coliseum in any guidebook, but we wanted to share some our favourite things. Have a great visit and we can’t wait to see you!
Guidebooks
Top pick for special things to see: City Secrets: Rome by Robert Kahn, Angela Hederman and Pablo Conrad)
Top pick for a colourful overview (good for inspiration if you are not familiar with the city): Rome Eyewitness travel guides by Dorling Kindersley.
http://tinyurl.com/yp2v4q
Sights
Best churches:
San Clemente (takes you through several layers of history, from modern-day Catholic church all the way down to an ancient Mithraeum on the lowest level)
Santa Maria del Popolo (admire the Caravaggios)
San Luigi dei Francesi (admire the Caravaggios in the Contarelli chapel)
Santa Maria in Trastevere (one of the oldest in Rome, possibly the first in which mass was openly celebrated)
Best Museums:
Musei Capitolini (on the Campidoglio). Visit the coffee shop on the roof for a great view, see the new wing housing the Marco Aurelio statue.
Montemartini, (Via Ostiense). An old electric power station is decorated with Roman statues and mosaics.
Crypta Balbi (near largo Argentina). Layers and layers of the old Roman and medieval city fabric under the streets.
Vatican Museums. If you decide to visit, try to get there early in the morning to avoid long queues. Check schedules at: http://tinyurl.com/23x3mr
Best Piazze:
Piazza Navona (where the blessing will be)
Piazza del Pantheon
Piazza di Spagna
Campo de’ Fiori
Best views:
Campidoglio
Gianicolo
Giardino degli Aranci (Parco Savello), and the nearby Knights of Malta keyhole with views of St. Peter’s
Most interesting local neighbourhoods to walk around:
Trastevere
Il Ghetto (Portico d'Ottavia)
Food and drink
Best pizza pasta etc:
Il Nuovo Mondo a via Vespucci, Testaccio
I Sardi a via Sprovieri, near via Poerio
Best coffee:
Tazza d’Oro (Pantheon)
Caffe’ Greco (Via Condotti—charming ambience)
Best cappuccino:
Before 11 a.m.Best gelato:
Giolitti al Parlamento
Best bus:
# 117 electric bus at terminals (Piazza del Popolo and Piazza San Giovanni)
Food to try:
Fiori di zucca fritti (fried zucchini flowers). Most restaurants and pizzerie will have them.
Carfciofi alla Giudia (Roman Jewish artichoke delicacy)
Filetti di baccala’ (fried cod, a typical Roman dish)
Short Trips
Napoli:
For the more adventurous! Naples can be chaotic but is also very interesting. Eat in a pizzeria, try the mozzarella di bufala (the best in Italy), have a famous Neapolitan coffee and a pastry. Visit the Presepi (nativity scene) market in Via San Gregorio Armeno, and see the nativity scenes in local churches. To get there, take the train from Stazione Termini (~2 hours).
Florence:
Visit the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio, Brunelleschi’s Duomo and so much more. The Uffizi require bookings ( see http://www.b-ticket.com/b%2Dticket/uffizi/venue.aspx). Recommended Trattoria to eat in: Trattoria Cammillo Sas, Borgo S. Jacopo, 57 (just across the Ponte Vecchio)
(Tel. 055.212427). Recommended pasticceria (pastry shop): Gilli, Piazza della Repubblica 39.
To get there, take the train from Stazione Termini (~2 hours).
Orvieto:
Visit the beautiful Gothic Duomo and the old town (get up there by cablecar from the station).
To get there, take the train from Stazione Termini (~1 hour).
Ostia Antica:
An easy half-day trip (or full day if you are interested in archaeology). The port of ancient Rome boasts beautifully preserved ruins. There are a couple of restaurants near the ruins, and there is also a restaurant inside the site.
To get there, take the suburban train line from Piramide Station (also on Metro Linea B) in the direction of Ostia Lido, and get off at Ostia Antica (~20 minutes). Then follow the signs over the footbridge.
Getting around
Trains:
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Remember to stamp your ticket before you get on your train (look for a “Convalida” machine near your track). This is not required on the faster and more expensive "Eurostar" trains.
Buses:
Tickets cost €1 and last 75 minutes from when you stamp them (always remember to stamp them when you get on the bus because the inspectors can be quite sneaky). You can buy tickets at most newsstands and Tabacchi shops. Be very careful of pickpockets on the buses—keep your valuables close and be especially careful on the buses that go to the big tourist destinations like St. Peter’s.
http://www.atac.roma.it/
Getting to Rome from the airport:
There is a “Leonardo Express” train that leaves every 30 minutes for Stazione Termini (takes 30 minutes and costs €11). If you are staying in Trastevere you will find the regional, non-express trains more convenient. These leave every 15 minutes for Roma Ostiense and Roma Tiburtina and make several local stops, including Trastevere.
