Amore Roma. Top Places To See in Rome

Amore Roma. Rome is one of the cities that everyone must visit at least once in their lifetime. And luckily enough I got the tickets to Rome as my birthday present. Our first visit to Rome was in January 2019, the low season month. Everyone warned me that Rome is super crowded, however I didn’t notice it in January, so I would recommend it as the perfect time to visit Rome. The weather was 14 degrees and sunny, so it was great for walking and enjoying the beauty of Rome. 

We fell in love with Rome so much that in July 2021 we booked a flat near the Vatican and stayed in Rome for a whole month. Therefore, we were able to see and try nearly everything in Rome, so I feel very confident to write this blog.

There is always so much to tell about a city (especially a city like Rome), that is why I separate my articles into 3 very useful parts:

Part 1: Transport and Accommodation in Rome

Part 2: Top Places to See in Rome

Part 3: Best Places to Eat in Rome

Extra: Best Coffee & Desserts in Rome

Top Places to See in Rome

1. Altar of the Fatherland 

This is one of the most eye-catching buildings in Rome, which was built to commemorate Victor Emmanuel II, who was the first King of a unified Italy. The colossal size of the building really makes one gasp, as the building rises 135 metres above you. The interior itself is astonishing, with huge columns and endless stairs all covered in marble. At the top you will find a bronze sculpture of Victor Emmanuel on a horse. Every detail in the building aims to highlight the principles of unity and freedom in Italy. That is why inside it is not surprising to find a museum of Italian Unification, which tells visitors the history of Italy, its culture and the language.

Not only does the interior of the building take your breath away, but you can also climb up and enjoy a 360 panoramic view of Rome. In winter you can even see sunsets from here (In summer the last entrance is at 18:30, which is too early for the sunset but the views are nevertheless great). There is also a cafe on the roof, where you can get drinks and sit down and relax. It is completely free to visit and for sure not to miss!

Price: free

Tip: you can pay 10 euros to use an elevator to go on a higher viewing platform, however you get the same views on the lower platform for free, so I would not recommend it.

2. Castel Sant’Angelo & Ponte Sant Angelo

This Castle has a fascinating history dating back to 123 AD, when it was first built as a mausoleum for the Roman emperor, Hadrian. Later the Castle became an important defensive bastion for the city. Inside the castle you will find many apartment buildings, which were used as a residence for Popes, and helped popes to escape the Vatican city during the Massacre of Rome in 1527. 

Inside you will also find beautiful Renaissance halls, the exhibitions of old artillery, and a great terrace with beautiful views over Rome. Here you can take some amazing panoramic photos, or enjoy a drink at the terrace cafe. 

3. Colosseum

Before coming to Rome I’ve read so many articles advising to reserve your tickets online. I was sceptical, as you have to pay an extra 4€ fee for online reservation, but trust me it is worth it! You will have to first pick up your tickets at the counter for online reservations and then proceed to the security control at the entrance. Online ticket will allow you to skip the queue and moreover it guarantees you can visit the Colosseum, as there is a limited entry and tickets sell out very fast.

I would also advise you to download the ‘Rick Stevens audio guide’ app on your phone and listen to the Colosseum podcast when visiting. It tells a lot about the history of the Colosseum and allows you to feel like you are going to see a real Gladiator battle from the past.  In this app you will also find other guides for Rome, such as the Jewish District and the Heart of Rome podcast, which I really recommend to listen to when you have time.

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Price:

Adult: 16 € +4€ online ticket fee

Reduced ticket for EU-citizens aged 18 to 25: 4 € +4€ online ticket fee

Tip: Colosseum only accepts EU passport as proof of citizenship for a reduced ticket, so if you only have a residence permit you will be forced to pay a full ticket price and won’t be refunded your online booking. 

4. Roman Forum

When you purchase admission to Colosseum, Roman Forum and Imperial Forum are included for free within the next 24 hours. Once again, I would recommend you to download  ‘Rick Stevens audio guide’ before visiting. 

The Roman Forum was once the main centre of Rome, and walking here along its main street ‘The Sacra Via’ you can really feel the greatness of the once existing Roman empire. There are many important historical sites and architectural ruins, such as the Temple of Saturn, Basilicas and the Temple of Julius Caesar. In fact you can walk on the same stones where Julius Caesar once walked.

5. Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica

Vatican is the smallest country in the world, with one of the most fascinating histories. It became independent in 1929 under the Lateran Treaty signed between the Pope and Mussolini, which allowed Vatican to gain independence and required the Pope to accept unified Italy. Today, Vatican is still a holy city for Catholics ruled by the Pope.

You can’t easily enter Vatican, but you can visit its Museum and Basilica. Make sure to book your tickets online which allows you to skip the queue to the Vatican Museum. Inside the Vatican Museum you will find a huge collection of art accumulated by the Popes, along with a beautifully decorated interior. It is worth mentioning that the museum is full of religious art. At the end of the museum you will find Sistine Chapel, which hosts one of the world’s most famous paintings: ‘The Creation of Adam’ and ‘The Last Judgement by Michelangelo’. It is also a significant building for Catholic Church, as Popes are inaugurated here. 

St Peter’s Basilica is located on the Piazza San Pietro and it is free to enter, however be prepared to face long queues (can be 2-3 hours waiting time). So if you want to visit it, make sure to come really early in the morning from Tuesday to Friday. Why is it so popular? St Peter’s Basilica is one of the world’s largest churches, with magnificent architecture and artworks by Michelangelo and Bellini. Its history dates back to 2000 years ago and today it remains home to most of the Catholic Church’s crucial ceremonies.

Vatican Museum Price:

Adult: 17 € +4€ online ticket fee

Reduced for children up to 18, or students up to 25 with valid ID: 8 €  +4€ online ticket fee

Price for St Peter’s Basilica: free

Tip:

1. Avoid Vatican on a Sunday, unless you want to see the Pope (it gets super crowded)

2. Visit Vatican as early in the morning as possible

3. Be careful of your clothing, especially in summer, as you might be denied entrance. Shorts, skirts and tank tops are forbidden. It is important to cover your shoulders, either with a scarf or long sleeve clothes.

4. Download free audio guide and bring your own headphones – We had purchased an audio guide on site for 8 € each (1.50 extra for headphones) and we were completely disappointed with them. Many paintings are not explained and the guide focuses on the people who commissioned the artwork, rather than on the art themselves. 

5. If you buy an online ticket don’t forget to exchange it at the entrance in the machine for a real ticket.

6. The Churches of Rome

My best advice here would be just to get lost in the city and visit every church you see on your way. Some churches that seem small from outside might have breathtaking artwork inside. In all my years of travelling, I have never seen so many beautiful churches as in Rome. 

Here are a few of my favourite churches:

Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola

Sant’Andrea della Valle

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore 

Price: free 

7. Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti (Spanish steps)

Did I mention that Rome is a city of seven hills? Definitely be prepared to climb a lot of steps 🙂 Spanish steps are situated right in the heart of the city, at the end of the big shopping street, with a lovely square Piazza di Spagna in front of it.

By climbing 135 stairs you can see a lovely view of Rome’s shopping streets and visit the Church of Trinita dei Monti. The area is lovely for a walk and if you continue to walk up you will reach Villa Borghese’s park, which is great to have a relaxing picnic in whilst enjoying the panoramic views of Rome. 

8. Trevi Fountain 

I was not sure if I should include the Trevi Fountain on my list, as it is one of the first places to pop up on Google’s recommendations. It is crowded any time of the day, so it is hard to enjoy its beauty without being pushed by other tourists. It is a beautiful Baroque fountain and the legend says that you must throw a coin in it, however we didn’t like it that much because of the crowd. 

However, the area around the Trevi Fountain is really nice to walk along, it is full of little shops and gelaterias. Also right opposite of the Trevi fountain there is a small, quiet church: Church of Our Lady in Trivio, so if you need a little break from the crowd make sure to go inside the church or sit on the steps to enjoy the fountain view. 

9. Piazza Navona & Pantheon

If you are looking for another beautiful fountain in Rome, which is less popular and quieter, then head to Piazza Navona. The square is very spacious and you will see many locals meeting here, in fact that tradition dates back to 1AD. The square is always lively and is absolutely beautiful with it’s colourful building, 3 fountains and the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone.

Just a short walk from Piazza Navona you will find Pantheon, which is a former Roman temple built in 126 AD by Emperor Hadrian. Today Pantheon is a Church and is one of the best remaining ancient buildings in the world. The building has remained largely unchanged, so you can admire the great Roman architecture dating 2000 years back.

10. Ponte Fabricio & Basilica di San Bartolomeo all’Isola 

To admire the real beauty of Rome, head to the Tiber River. In the central area near the Vatican the bridges can get quite crowded, however only a few minutes walk away you can enjoy a quiet river stroll along the Fabricio bridge. In fact, Ponte Fabricio is the oldest Roman bridge in Rome, which will lead you to the small island of Tiber. Make sure to look inside the Basilica di San Bartolomeo all’Isola on the island, as this church is very different compared to others in Rome. It doesn’t have rich, golden Baroque decorations, however the walls of this Basilica are covered in beautiful paintings.

Tip: If you use the ‘Rick Stevens audio guide’ app they have two tours about Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto starting from this bridge.

11. Trastevere & Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere

If you walk right across the island of Tiber, you will reach one of Rome’s liveliest areas – Trastevere. To make this walk more enjoyable make sure to grab the ice-cream from lovely Italian people at Gelateria del Viale. And of course in the middle of the square you will find another beautiful Roman Church – Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere. There is also a very beautiful church hidden in the little streets – Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.

The area is great both at night, and during the day, as it is filled with many cafes, restaurants and bars. You can either stroll along it during the day and explore the beautiful churches, or try out the many bars here at night. However, as the area is quite popular there are many touristic places and the price tag can be quite high. 

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12. Monti

Another lively area of Rome is Monti. In fact it was one of my favourite areas to walk around, exploring little Roman streets, with flowered balconies and clothing lines across the buildings. Monti is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Rome, so don’t be surprised to find many cozy traditional cafes along its streets. What I really liked about this area is that you can really feel this flare of an old, traditional Rome, but yet it is still lively and modern. 

13. Borghese Gallery museum

If you have extra time and want to visit a museum, I would recommend the Borghese museum. The museum itself hosts a large collection of Italian paintings, sculptures and mosaics dating from the 15th to 19th century. There are famous artists in the collection like Caravaggio, Raphael and Bellini. It is worth mentioning that the rooms of the museum are magnificent themselves, with large paintings on the walls and ceilings.

Tip: currently entry into the museum is only possible by booking your ticket and a specific time slot in advance. Usually the earliest tickets are available in 1-2 weeks.

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14. Circus Maximus 

If you happen to be in Rome in summer, check out the open air performance at the Circus Maximus. Tickets start at 20€ and it can make for a fabulous evening activity, enjoying Italian opera or ballet outside with ancient Roman ruins around you. 

15. Giardino degli Aranci 

You might easily miss this little park on the map, but it has one of the best views of the Vatican and Rome without crowds of tourists. Most of the evenings there is live music here and many locals come here with wine and food to see the sunset. Beware, that the park closes at 21:00. небольшой парк с красивым видом на Ватикан

Extra: Some souvenir Recommendations

Are you looking for something special to bring back home? Here are my top places to check out for a really special gift. 

1. Delizie – a small local shop located in the city centre. Here they have a great collection of local delicates, such as pasta, olives, pesto, olive oils and wine. It is one of the few shops that have wines from Frascati (an area near Rome) such as Principe Pallavicini wines. The owner of the store is always happy to advise you and recommend all the delicious food.

2. Paciotti Salumeria – let me tell you, we are completely in love with this shop. It is a family owned salami and cheese shop where tradition is passed from the father to the son for many generations. Here you will find an amazing selection of meats, prosciutto and cheeses. They also have big prosciutto legs where they will kindly explain to you all the different flavour varieties and even slice a fresh piece for you to try. They also have amazing Parmesan ranging from 2 to 5 years old varieties. They vacuum everything for you to safely take home (the meat will last then up to 3 month in a vacuum). We bought a variety of salami and parmesan for our family back home and they were totally in love with the quality. We loved the shop and all the owners so much that we will return many many times. Many thanks to Antonio, Roberto, Stefano and Luca for being the most welcome and kind owners!:)

3. Essenzialmente Laura di Laura Bosetti Tonatto – although it is not a food shop, it can make a very special gift. This is a handcrafted perfume store with more than 60 different perfumes and aromas to choose from. They have even smells like the Vatican church or the smell of Italy. What is great about this store is that you don’t have to buy huge perfume bottles, but can get several smaller (7ml) bottles. They also have a great deal if you buy 8 small bottles then you get a 30% discount. 

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To find out more about food in Rome, best locations to stay in and which transport to use, check out my other articles:

Part 1: Transport and Accommodation in Rome

Part 3: Best Places to Eat in Rome

Extra: Best Coffee & Desserts in Rome