It is beautiful to live in the capital no matter the season. An eternal, vital and cosmopolitan city from the early morning sees people travelling on scooters (hurrying to get to the office or arrive at the official appointments) fascinatingly constantly passing by archaeological exhibits and antique monuments. Rome is full of historical beauties scattered among piazzas and main streets, so that it is extremely difficult to see them all in one single day. However, we lead you on a picturesque journey through treasures that cannot be missed under any circumstances.
If there was an art period in times, which can be considered to have left its character and impression on Rome, then it is Baroque with its leaders Borromini and Bernini. Numerous testimonies of the Bernini’s talent are present in Vatican, a maximum Baroque’s expression can be seen in a spectacular columnade of Piazza San Pietro (the basilica’s copula is Michelangelo’s masterpiece).
Our journey then moves forward towards the Rome of Renaissance and Vatican Museums, from inside of which can be seen Sistine Chapel, one of the most famous monuments visited in the whole world.
From Vatican Museums you arrive at Saint Peter’s Square and Campo di Fiori, best known piazza in Rome with its local market, that in the evening becomes a meeting place of young people that visit wine bars and restaurants of the area.
For the Roman cuisine lovers we suggest to try local specialities like pasta alla carbonara, penne all’arrabbiata or bucatini all’amariciana (originating from Abruzzo) and from main meals there are some meat dishes, tripe à la romana, coda à la vaccinara, fagioli con le cotiche, saltimbocca à la romana.
In Rome, the are also numerous triumphal arches, that constituate the greatest homage the city could attribute to its winners. Konstantin Monumental Arch on the Colosseo square (Anfiteatro Flavio) is one of the most majestic ones. The last one is the most important monument of the antique Rome, where there were fought cruel fights between gladiators and wild animals. Divided into four sectors it had a capacity of 50 000 people.
Rome can also be proud of many historical squares, like Piazza Campidoglio at the Capitulary Hill, since always a privileged seat of divinity and power, although the lowest and the least spread of all 7. The splendid historical Piazza Navona is well known to everybody, as it is one of the most extraordinary examples of urban persistence of the city. Walking along the tiny streets, you will almost surely arrive at the Trevi Fountain, immortalized in Fellini’s film “La dolce vita”. It is said, that if someone throws a coin over their back to the fountain, their wish will come true! During the trip you cannot miss walking through the Spanish Square, original in shape and knowned for its stairs. From the 600s it was a meeting place of travellers arriving there in chariots from all over the Europe. Today it is also a scene for numerous encounters with fashion and TV transmissions at warm summer days.
In the end, you cannot leave Rome without having taken a walk among infinite stalls of Porta Portese, one of the most beautiful markets in Rome. Here are sold shoes and boots, new and second hand clothes, kitchen accessories, antique furniture, bed linen, towels, plants, discs, CDs...in one word, here you find everything you can think of. There are also many Russian sellers with caviar, dresses, glasses, cameras and national artisan products. We are sure you won’t be coming back home empty handed!
How to reach it:
By car:
- A 14 in Bologne direction, exit Cesena Nord
- From Cesena Nord take E45 Orte-Ravenna
- Exit in Orte, in A1 direction
- Follow Roma direction and exit towards Roma Nord
- Continue on A90 in Tangenziale Est direction and then continue on A24
- Take an exit in Foro Italico and enter Roma centre
Total km: 381
Driving hours: around 4
Alternatively:
- A 14 in Ancona direction
- take an exit in Teramo-Giulianova direction and continue for Teramo, Giulianova, Roma
- Turn left SP262 in Teramo direction
- Turn right SS80 and again right SP17
- Continue on SS80
- Continue on A24 to the east of Rome and take an exit in Foro Italico direction, then drive into the centre of Rome
Total km: 390
Driving time: less than 4 hours
By train:
The main station in Rome is Stazione Termini (piazza dei Cinquecento) and Stazione Tiburtina (piazza della Stazione Tiburtina). There are connections with both the stations (there are different timetables), the only thing is to depart from Riccione Station (in Piazza le Cadorna) and change in Bologna Centrale, Ancona or Falconara Marittima.
