4 DAYS IN ROME

There is a lovely saying about Rome that when it comes to the city, “non basta una vita” – a lifetime is not enough. The Eternal City is built in layers, full of ancient wonders, Renaissance opulence, gorgeous Italian fashion and design, and modern spaces and eateries.

Rome is easily one of our favorite cities in Europe. It is absolutely stuffed full of sights, with thousands of years of history layered upon itself – you’ll find everything here from Roman ruins to Renaissance art. It’s also home to fantastic food, the Vatican City and sights like the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum and the Spanish Steps.

Certainly 4 days in Rome is not enough to see absolutely everything that the city has to offer, but it’s definitely enough to see all the highlights if you manage your time effectively.

PANTHEON

One of Rome’s most famous landmarks, the Pantheon (from the Greek for “honor all Gods”) is the best-preserved monument from Ancient Rome. Make your way to the Piazza Navona via Ponte Sant’Angelo to reach this beautiful landmark.

The building is circular with a portico of large granite Corinthian columns under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) to the sky, and we dare you not to be impressed by its incredible dome, which even today, two thousand years since it was built, still holds the record as the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

With a diameter of some 140 feet, the Pantheon’s dome is actually larger than St. Peter’s dome, and it remains the single largest unreinforced, concrete dome in the world.

Fun Fact: The 16 granite columns that guard the facade were quarried in Egypt, dragged 100km to the Nile, placed on barges and shipped up the river, then transferred to bigger boats to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

Tip: It’s always been free to go inside the Pantheon, but the city plans to start charging an entry fee of €2. The dome really is quite impressive to see from the inside, so do stop by if you have time.

FONTANA DI TREVI

Only a short walk from the Pantheon – our adventure continued towards the Fontana Di Trevi. As you can imagine, it is always crowded. Located in the Quirinale district of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is known as one of the most stunning fountains in the world. But there’s a lot more than just beauty behind this famous fountain!

The vibe around it is absolutely spectacular and so inviting. Even if busy, we felt happy and relaxed to be there. Standing 26.3 meters (86 ft) high and 49.15 meters (161.3 ft) wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

The Trevi’s size exceeds every fathomable expectation. Not only is it enormous, but it’s also intense. There’s an energy surrounding the fountain, due to the constant rush of recycled water, that meets the ear with a powerful-yet-pleasant song, that sings in perfect symphony with its powerful and fluid sculptures.

When the fountain is open roughly €3,000 is thrown into it every day as people follow the tradition of throwing coins over their shoulders. The legend holds that a coin thrown into the fountain will ensure a return to Rome. This tradition also dates back to the ancient Romans who often threw coins in water to make the gods of water favor their journey or help them get back home safely. (Throw in a second coin if you’re seeking love – even a third for wedding bells!)

What many don’t know is that the coins are collected every night and given to an Italian charity called Caritas. Caritas, in turn, use the money for a supermarket program giving rechargeable cards to Rome’s needy to help them get groceries.

PIAZZA DEL POPOLO VIA THE SPANISH STEPS

After throwing a lucky penny and making a wish at the Fontana Di Trevi, we started walking towards the Piazza del Popolo via the Spanish Steps, Villa Medici, and Piazza Bucharest. The Viale della Trinita del Monti should be mentioned on all travel guides as a place that should not be missed! We stumbled across it by mistake and it turned out to offer some impressive views of Rome.

This 135 step staircase was opened in 1735 to link the Spanish Embassy near the bottom of the steps to the Trinita dei Monti staircase at the top, and are today a popular spot to stop, eat Gelato, and watch the world go by. They were made particularly popular in the 1953 movie Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn.

If staircases are your thing (aren’t they everyone’s?) then the Scalina Spagna is guaranteed to float your boat. As one of Rome’s most famous symbols, these beautiful steps connect Piazza di Spagna with the Trinità dei Monti French church, which dates back to the 1500s!

It’s a place to simply be, a place to enjoy the sunshine and revel in the fact that you have arrived – in Roma! But whatever you do, don’t sit down with ice cream or a slice of pizza – strict rules are in place to keep the steps clean as they have been classified as a monument (Since Aug 2019 new rules are in place), and there is the potential of being fined. So stick to standing on them instead.

COLOSSEUM

We then continued via Piazza Venezia towards the Colosseum, the very iconic ancient Roman gladiatorial arena.

The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the world and seen as one of the greatest works of engineering and architecture. It is estimated that it could hold between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators and it was used for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, dramas based on mythology, and even as a Christian shrine. Of course, this is the most obvious tourist attraction in Rome, but it’s one you won’t want to miss. The entry to the Colosseum was 14 euros per adult and it included entries to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. It’s one of the most popular destinations in Rome for visitors, our advice is to come as early as you can, and take advantage of a pass or advance ticket purchase options so you can skip the ticket queue and go straight to the security line.

Skip the line access for the Colosseum is included on the Rome and Vatican Pass, and the Roma Pass. It’s also included if you take a guided tour like this one with Take Walks.

Important! As of March 1st, 2019, even with these passes, you still need to reserve your entry time to the Colosseum. You need to do this as far in advance as possible to secure the time you want. You can make the reservation either by calling the reservation line, or (more easily) by booking online. See the section later on in the post on how to do this.

ROMAN FORUM AND THE PALATINE HILL

Located just next to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum, which I believe is the most fascinating ruin in Rome. We were more impressed with this part than with the whole Colosseum experience. The Forum was an important market, the social and political hub of the Roman Empire. It’s filled with grandiose relics, including temples, churches, and crumbling pillars. When you picture Roman ruins in your mind’s eye, this is more than likely the scene that you envisage.

Overlooking the Forum is Palatine Hill, which is where the rich and important Romans resided in their palaces. It’s often described as the ‘Beverly Hills of Rome’, but I think that evokes all sorts of unsuitable connotations. It is said that it was here that Romulus killed his twin brother Remus and founded the city in 753 BC. The views over the Forum and Rome’s skyline blew my mind. This is not to be missed.

Fun Fact: The word “palace” comes from El Monte Palatino (Palatine Hill), where Augustus and his chums built their palaces.

You can combine this with your colosseum tour ticket like we did this one here.

ALTAR OF THE FATHERLAND

If you pass by Piazza Venezia you may wonder what is the enormous white marble monument dominating the square. This is the Vittoriano, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland. The Vittoriano is among Rome’s easiest-to-spot monuments. It is a historical monument built in the honor of the first king of unified Italy. Its architectural style draws on the great classical temples of antiquity.

Famous with many names, this place is most commonly referred to as a roman wedding cake by the locals due to its cake-like shape. Being made with the best quality marble, the roof of this monument provides the best panoramic view of the city. Designed to be open for the public, this place can be enjoyed without any ticket if you’re not climbing the rooftop. To get on the roof and enjoy the beautiful view of Rome, you will need to get a ticket. The heritage it holds makes it one of the best places to visit in Rome.

THE TERRACE: For 7 € you can take an elevator up to the terrace on top and enjoy one of the finest views of Rome from every angle. This is where you will have Rome right at your feet, admire the city’s architectural greatness, and feel its vivid and lively vibe.

Among the people there, you will come across some other frequent visitors: seagulls flying above your heads and usually sitting on the marble, being a good company while you stare at the ‘eternal’ grandeur of Rome.

The monument is open to the public from Monday to Thursday from 09.30 until 19.30, Fridays, and Saturdays from 09.30 to 22.00 and on Sundays from 09.30 to 20.30. For more information regarding visiting hours, you can find here.

VATICAN CITY & MUSEUM

From St. Peter’s Basilica to Sistine chapel to Vatican Museum – Vatican city has a lot to offer and you can easily spend a whole day like we did exploring this beautiful part of the city. Vatican Museum is without a doubt one of the best museums in Europe, treasuring so many masterpieces from the Antiquity to the Renaissance time. It has one of the most important collections in the world. You must go to museums to visit the Sistine Chapel. The chapel is at the end of the museums, essentially right before the exit. In Sistine Chapel, we were amazed by Michelangelo, his persistence and talent. And St. Peter’s Basilica is a masterpiece itself. It really is the Cathedral of the World. Every single detail in it is beautiful, from Michelangelo’s ‘Pieta’ to Bernini’s ‘Baldacchino’.

See our complete guide to visiting the Vatican City & Museum here in detail.

AFTERNOON IN TRASTEVERE

Stroll across the River Taber to the village-like Rioni (neighbourhood) of Trastevere and take a break from the thronging Centro Storico. This historically working-class area was once home to the majority of the city’s immigrant population and, as so often happens, it quickly became one of the most interesting and diverse places to eat. It is a colourful place with narrow streets, clothes drying on the balconies, and plenty of small cute cafés and restaurants.

By day, its ochre and bottle-green streets hum along with the gentle rumble of locals popping in and out of delicatessens, cafés, market stalls, and butchers.

By night its ivy-choked walls harbour some of the finest watering-holes in Rome, attracting students, revellers, and carousers from all parts of the city.

With a combination of beautiful Roman architecture and golden hour, we couldn’t resist taking our cameras out and trying to capture that beauty. We definitely understood why Rome is called the Eternal City.

RIDE AROUND ROME IN VESPA

Another way to see Rome is by Vesta. We rented the Vespa on our 3rd day and explored some of the artistic neighbourhoods and secret spots which were unusual but worth it.

Read about our guide here to hiring and explore Rome by Vespa.

LEARNING HOW TO COOK LIKE ITALIAN

Oooh, Italian food… It’s probably my favorite cuisine! After a day of walking and working out a serious appetite – we wanted to try something different in the city. What better way other than to brush up our pasta making skills anywhere but in Rome, so we booked a cooking workshop for that evening. This is the pasta making class we booked and would recommend it.

Our experience: Standing around the island of our individual workspaces where separate plates of flour and glasses of water were waiting, we kicked it off by learning every step; from mixing the ingredients to kneading the dough and making the sauce. We ended up making three different types of Italian pasta from scratch.

Throughout the evening our chef taught us some take-home tricks for cooking the perfect pasta; from the different uses for different flours to the best sauce bases and substitute ingredients, we could source at home. We were also tasting as we went, but the highlight of our evening was the dishes we cook for ourselves.

After the class, we enjoyed a glass of wine, some antipasti along with the pasta and dessert we made included in the price of the class to complete the eveni

After four days in Rome, we can say it is an eternal city! The one that will always inspire people and the one to which they will always be coming back. Read about it before your trip, buy the tickets for museums and archaeological sights in advance, and if possible, go on a guided tour! And enjoy

And in the end, don’t forget to throw a coin to the Trevi Fountain, so you’re sure you’ll come back!

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