One could
spend a lifetime in Rome, and still have unticked boxes of amazing attractions
in this wonderful city. But for us, weekend travellers, time is of the essence!
Whether you are planning your first visit to the eternal city, or if you had
already been to the main sights like us, have a look at the five special tips we learned during the 48 hours we spent there in February.
Lesser known attraction: Terme di Caracalla
Of course,
the Colosseum and the Vatican are the must-visit. But what other attraction can provide a window into the Ancient Roman world, possibly without the crazy crowd? The Baths of Caracalla (map). This incredible thermal establishment, built in 212-216 AD, included pools of
different temperatures, saunas, gyms, a garden, and a library. It was able to
welcome up to 6000 people in a day! Modern excavations and restoration started
in 1824; some of the sculptures and mosaics are now displayed in famous
museums.
Nowadays,
it's just shocking to raise your eyes to the top of the brick walls, soaring
above grand arches, and imagine the domes that used to cover them almost two
thousand years ago.
TOP TIP: Get
the Virtual Reality guide! With only 7 euro per person, you get to listen to
interesting explanations (available in different languages) while admiring in
the visor a rendering of how the Baths used to look like: the marble floor, the
sculptures and fountains, the pools and mosaics... everything is so much more
real. It makes such a difference! (In February we didn't need to book, but during spring and summer perhaps it's safer to book it online).
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| The size of the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla is mind-blowing! |
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| Look around with the Virtual Reality guide... |
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| ... this is what you see inside the visor! |
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| Happy travellers :) |
Authentic local food: pasta alla carbonara
Did you know
that Carbonara is Rome's typical pasta? The original recipe includes egg yolk,
guanciale (a specific type of cured meat), pecorino cheese, and pepper. I know
you will be tempted by pizza and pasta and plenty of other delicacies from all
over Italy, but carbonara is the one thing you should taste in Rome!
TOP TIP:
Plenty of restaurants cook excellent pasta alla carbonara. We recommend
Tonnarello, Roma sparita, and Le mani in pasta (map), all three in Trastevere (we had
lunch at the latter, where also other types of pasta were absolutely
delicious). In general, it's safer to book a table in advance.
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| An enormous, mouth-watering dish of pasta alla carbonara @ Le mani in Pasta, Rome |
Sightseeing tip: walking
Even though
Rome is really large, it is absolutely worth walking around, instead of using
public transportation. You just need comfortable shoes, and you will not regret
it! In between the attractions you will choose to visit, you will be surprised
with endless fountains, sculptures, churches, squares, beautiful buildings and
picturesque streets. Walking is the perfect way to enjoy the atmosphere of
Rome!
TOP TIP: If
you do not wish to take part to a walking tour, at least plan your itinerary
cleverly, as a succession of sights in a reasonable line. Start from your
accommodation and create a circle; or proceed in a line and come back by public
transport; or reach the farthest attraction by public transport and come back
on foot (example: our itinerary by night, perfect to admire the Forum and the ruins, the Altar of the Fatherland, and then enjoy some nightlife at Campo de' Fiori).
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| Golden hour at Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) |
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| Golden hour at the Colosseum |
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| The Imperial Forum by night is magical |
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| The Trajan Column and a Baroque church behind. Incredible history! |
Just South
of Vatican city is the beautiful neighbourhood of Trastevere - literally
"on the other side of the Tiber river". It's the perfect escape from
the noise and crowd of the city centre: quiet cobblestoned alleys with laundry
hanged, hip bars at night, a great view from Gianicolo Hill, and of course
plenty of magnificent churches and villas to admire.
TOP TIP:
Craving some more time away from the crowd? Consider a bike tour! If we had
just one more day in Rome, we would have gone on Via Appia Antica, "the
Appian way", or to see the ancient aqueducts at Parco degli Acquedotti.
They look really epic!
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| View of Isola Tiberina from Ponte Palatino. From here you will see also the unusual Ponte Rotto, the broken bridge! |
Enjoying a
trip for us means finding the sweet spot between plans and spontaneity. The
Roma pass is the
most convenient tool for this. It includes unlimited transportation on buses,
metro and tram; free access to one or two museums; discounted entrance to any
other museum; and lots of other benefits. We already knew we wanted to use the
entrance for the Baths of Caracalla, and we already knew more or less how many
trips on public transport we were going to make; for the rest of the 48 hours
we spent in Rome, the Roma pass created a wonderful feeling of freedom and open
possibilities, as we knew that whatever we would choose to do, we would make
use of the discounts.
TOP TIP: I
recommend walking, but then I also recommend the Roma pass for the public
transport. Why the contradiction? Well, public transport in Rome does not have
a wonderful reputation. Metro stops can be closed for malfunctioning, buses can
be late for traffic, protests, visits of public officials... So overall, don't
count on public transport too much, especially if your schedule is tight: be
ready with a plan B.
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| Hop on tram 2 to reach MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts, planned by Zaha Hadid. |
Are you
planning a trip to Rome? Let us know in the comments if you have other questions, and we'll be happy to help you!
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