Having visited Rome on numerous occasions I feel well placed to give advice
on which sites in this magnificent city you should visit. Since the founding of
Rome in 753 BC it has become the centre of the Roman world, the centre of the
Catholic world and now a city, which is the capital of the most stylish country in
the world. The eternal city really does need a lifetime to explore but if you are in
a hurry here are some of the highlights that the City can offer:
The Vatican City:
Simply the greatest collection of classical and renaissance sculpture in the world,
while the Sistine Chapel is so famous for obvious reasons and St. Peter’s Basilica
is one of the greatest examples of religious extravagance in Europe. Despite
enormous crowds (in the Sistine Chapel you will be swept slowly through by
the power of the human current regardless of attempts at changing direction)
the collection on view is awe-inspiring and will probably give Dan Brown novels
more depth.
The Roman Forum & Coliseum:
These two sites are next to each other and were the centre of Imperial Rome
around 2000 years ago. They form the postcard image of Rome, so I shan’t speak
of what they look like but only say that age does make things beautiful, and
walking through the Forum is the closest that you can get to understanding the
power that Rome had.
Trevi Fountain:
This also is an iconic image of Rome but for those who are unfamiliar with the
culmination of high baroque sculpture it is a mass of figures strewn over rocky
outcrops, which project semi organically from the façade of the building. Its taste
may be dubious but it is an undeniably exciting place to visit. Tourists and street
vendors always surround the fountain while at night it is carefully lit so that a
coin being tossed over the shoulder can always be captured on camera.
MAXXI:
The National Museum of the 21st Century Arts is notable for its architect
more than its collection. Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid won a RIBA Stirling
prize for this building and just looking at it you can see why. This building is
unashamedly modern and part of its success is that it has no shame in being so
different from the rest of the city.
Piazza Navona:
The most iconic square in Rome is home to the famous fountain of the four rivers
by Bernini and the Church of Sant’Agnese by Borromini. The square itself is on
the site of the stadium of Domitian and still retains that shape. It is a thriving
square at all hours and is one site in Rome where Romans equal tourists in
numbers.
Spanish Steps:
An iconic area within Rome surrounded by a wealthy shopping area its famous
138 steps were once the meeting place for artists and models and it still retains
this vibrant feel. This area is also host to many of Rome’s finest ice cream
parlours.
These form just some of the highlights that the dynamic city of Rome has to offer;
however Rome is such a timeless city that on any trip you will be boundless to
find your own unique, favourite spot somewhere nestled in the famous seven
hills. Needless to say, if you're looking for the full jet-setting experience, luxury shopping and alcohol will be of the utmost importance. These experiences are truly easy to come by and are best left to the individual to discover.
Trystan Lever
on which sites in this magnificent city you should visit. Since the founding of
Rome in 753 BC it has become the centre of the Roman world, the centre of the
Catholic world and now a city, which is the capital of the most stylish country in
the world. The eternal city really does need a lifetime to explore but if you are in
a hurry here are some of the highlights that the City can offer:
The Vatican City:
Simply the greatest collection of classical and renaissance sculpture in the world,
while the Sistine Chapel is so famous for obvious reasons and St. Peter’s Basilica
is one of the greatest examples of religious extravagance in Europe. Despite
enormous crowds (in the Sistine Chapel you will be swept slowly through by
the power of the human current regardless of attempts at changing direction)
the collection on view is awe-inspiring and will probably give Dan Brown novels
more depth.
The Roman Forum & Coliseum:
These two sites are next to each other and were the centre of Imperial Rome
around 2000 years ago. They form the postcard image of Rome, so I shan’t speak
of what they look like but only say that age does make things beautiful, and
walking through the Forum is the closest that you can get to understanding the
power that Rome had.
Trevi Fountain:
This also is an iconic image of Rome but for those who are unfamiliar with the
culmination of high baroque sculpture it is a mass of figures strewn over rocky
outcrops, which project semi organically from the façade of the building. Its taste
may be dubious but it is an undeniably exciting place to visit. Tourists and street
vendors always surround the fountain while at night it is carefully lit so that a
coin being tossed over the shoulder can always be captured on camera.
MAXXI:
The National Museum of the 21st Century Arts is notable for its architect
more than its collection. Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid won a RIBA Stirling
prize for this building and just looking at it you can see why. This building is
unashamedly modern and part of its success is that it has no shame in being so
different from the rest of the city.
Piazza Navona:
The most iconic square in Rome is home to the famous fountain of the four rivers
by Bernini and the Church of Sant’Agnese by Borromini. The square itself is on
the site of the stadium of Domitian and still retains that shape. It is a thriving
square at all hours and is one site in Rome where Romans equal tourists in
numbers.
Spanish Steps:
An iconic area within Rome surrounded by a wealthy shopping area its famous
138 steps were once the meeting place for artists and models and it still retains
this vibrant feel. This area is also host to many of Rome’s finest ice cream
parlours.
These form just some of the highlights that the dynamic city of Rome has to offer;
however Rome is such a timeless city that on any trip you will be boundless to
find your own unique, favourite spot somewhere nestled in the famous seven
hills. Needless to say, if you're looking for the full jet-setting experience, luxury shopping and alcohol will be of the utmost importance. These experiences are truly easy to come by and are best left to the individual to discover.
Trystan Lever