Have you ever wondered why Rome is called ‘The Eternal City’?
It is said, that the Roman believed that no matter what happened across the world and no matter how many empires came and collapsed; Rome would go on forever and survive. And having survived decades, Rome is today one of the most vibrant cities and a leading tourist destination in Europe.
Being one of the oldest cities in the world, Rome is known for its archaeological and artistic treasures, views and unique traditions. Not only is it the capital of Italy, but also the capital of the ancient empire & the capital of Catholicism in the western world.
Whether, its discovering the Roman architecture mapped with arches, domes and vaults, walking through roads lined by catacombs and tombs, watching the golden lights shine on beautiful buildings with colourful walls or just lazing around with a Gelato in hand, after a heavy meal of pizza at one of the charming ‘piazzas’, Rome is much much more than that.
How we travelled:
I was travelling from a city known for wine – Florence to a city known for history. Traveling from Florence to Rome was easy. A direct train, leaving Florence at 09:30 am reaching in one hour helped us reach a busy terminal in Rome.
While exiting we left Rome to Abu Dhabi by Etihad flight and back to Mumbai. The airport was a large airport with an airport train taking you to the terminal, somewhat like the Emirates terminal in Dubai.
Travel from station & our Stay:
Our Hotel ‘Allbergo Del Senate’ was 3 kms away from the station right next to the Pantheon in the city center, so a public transport was required to reach. On our arrival at Rome station, a flock of people gathered around us asking if we needed taxi services.
We had done our research, hence we walked straight to the taxi stand.
Tip: Avoid drivers who approach you for a taxi ride. The taxi stand is just outside the station and runs on a meter system.
Our Stay:
The Hotel, ‘Allbergo Del Senate’ was all about the location. It was situated in the complex of the Pantheon, a fully packed tourist area, yet away from the crowd as the windows were sound proof. The hotel Cars were allowed only near a distance to this place. Being central to the city, made it easy to walk everywhere. Clean rooms, a roof garden bar with amazing views of the city’s beautiful architecture and super friendly helpful staff, made our stay eventful.
What to see:
Pantheon:
The Pantheon founded between 25-27 BC was a marvellous architecture of a Roman temple, now a Church. Standing out with its grandeur & importance was this structure dedicated to Venus, Mars & the divine Julius, the name Pantheon was conceptually linked to the Hellenistic Panthea, the sanctuaries devoted to the 12 Gods & the reigning king. As I wandered inside I realized, that the real wonder of this edifice is the gigantic dome-shaped covering with a central opening, (of a diameter about 9m) the greatest expression of Roman architectonic daring solutions.
Castel Sant’Angelo:
A walk of about 20 minutes from the Pantheon and you reach this cylindrical building, actually a mausoleum of Hadrian. The building almost feels like a fortress. As we climbed the steps to reach the terrace, we had no idea what we were about to witness. As the sun set and darkness began to set in, we walked towards the end of the terrace and saw the most spectacular view of the Vatican & the city. This edifice is now converted into a fort which houses an eclectic collection of paintings, sculpture, military memorabilia and medieval firearms. Some of the rooms are lavishly decorated with Renaissance interiors. If you’re looking at some refreshments, don’t forget to visit Caffetteria Ristorante Le Terrazze Castel Sant’Angelo. Also catch the sights of some of the famous bridges of Rome from the terraces.
Piazza novella:
We wandered the streets of Rome only to catch up with the Piazza novella, famous for the Fountain of the Four Rivers. It also houses 2 other fountains; at the southern end – the Fontana del Moro and at the northern end, the Fountain of Neptune. A pretty place to hang around at night, savour a few delicacies on the streets of Rome or just have a drink.
Tip: Rome is not as crowded at night or early morning, so visit these places early morning to catch great photo opportunities.
Trevi Fountain:
One of the most beautiful fountains of Rome was the Trevi fountain. An architectural marvel on the streets of Rome, created by an Italian architect Nicola Salvi. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city & one of the most famous fountains in the world. The legend of coin throwing goes this way. If a person toss a coin in the fountain using the right hand over the left shoulder into the water, it promises the person a return to the city. And obviously I had to toss a coin in the shimmering waters of the fountain to wish I’d return to this beautiful place.
The Colosseum:
If you have seen the movie Gladiator, then this place is what it felt like to be in the centre, facing thousands of Romans cheering to a game of life & death. Having a capacity of 40000-70000 people, the Colosseum hosted games that included human to human combat, humans with animals & animals that fought with animals too. Class-wise seating dominated the arena with the names of the richest people inscribed on the marble seats. There was a private room at the bottom of the stage, like a dungeon that acted like a dressing room for the gladiators. The arena also had a shelter to protect the audience from rain & sunshine. Games were also organized privately by families as a show of fame & power. The morning shows mostly included fights with or between animals, evenings were for gladiators. Bloodshed aroused strong public emotions & created a huge fan following for these fights. Boys at the age of 17-18 were recruited as gladiators and their average lifespan was about 30 years. Once the fights were over, the body of the defeated gladiator was tapped with a burning iron rod to check mortality. Winners were given a crown as prize and were applauded. A winning gladiator earned 10 times more than a celebrity endorser would earn today. Excavation activities have found bones of various animals in the arena signifying the events. The origin of the games is debatable but is certainly linked to funerary rituals. Restorations at the Collosseum are an on-going process, since this place has suffered a lot of damage in the war and yet today after so many years, the Collosseum still retains its charm and is one of the monuments that cannot be missed when in Rome.
The Vatican city:
The Mecca is for the Muslims, Vaishno-Devi for the Hindus, Udvada for the Parsis, Amritsar for the Sikhs as the Vatican is for the believers of Christianity. Devotees throng in large numbers to catch a glimpse of their highest authority; the Pope and believe a trip to the Vatican is an absolute necessity in one’s life. You can safely reach the Vatican in a 10 min taxi ride costing around 8.2 euros from the center of the city. A group of agents thronged around to persuade us in spending 30 euros, for skipping the line which is double the cost you pay if you were to enter without any special pass. The ticket you buy entitles you an entrance to the museum and the Sistine chapel. The cathedral – the St. Marks Square and Basicila are free for visit. We realised, we had already spent time in the line and were halfway, so we skipped the extra cost & waited to get in. But beware in peak seasons, the entry would take a long time, so be prepared to stand in a queue incase you forget pre-booking. The Vatican is the smallest country in the world and is governed as an absolute monarchy with the Pope at its head. It is ruled as a separate country but lacks an administrative function; taxation. Inside the Vatican, a visit to the St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Pinacoteca (Picture Gallery), Raphael Rooms, Egyptian Museum, Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square) and the Vatican library is a must. A walk inside the Vatican gardens is recommended for a view of the fountains and sculptures. Also Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes at the Sistine Chapel have to be seen to be believed. A visit to this seat of the Catholic Church is an absolute must for a history buff, while in Rome.
- Don’t forget to take a picture with the Royal guards outside the Vatican.
- Visit to the Vatican can be pre-booked, but beware of thugs outside the Vatican in case you forget to do so.
- There is no photography allowed in Sistine Chapel.
What to eat & drink:
- Bottega Rocchi is a local fast food joint to grab a quick lunch. Quaint place serving paninis, pizza and pasta. Has bar stool arrangements on a large table for a quick, yet delicious meal. They also serve 3 brewed beers. Try the Birrificio angelo coretti with tonarelli cacio e Pepe which is spaghetti pasta tossed with pepper parmigiono cheese & pecorino. Although this may not be the dish for people with a spicy tongue. Self service is required.
- Try Gin & tonic at one of the local restaurants close to the Piazza novella
- A gelato on a hot summer afternoon could rest your nerves. You’d be treated to flavours from chocolate to the more unusual flavours like black cherry and much much more. This sweet treat is impossible to resist.
Streets of Rome:
- Italy is famous for the fictional character and the protagonist of the children’s novel ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ by Italian writer Carlo Collodi and the streets of Rome depict it. There are 3 original Pinocchio stores across Rome, selling beautiful merchandise in wood & other materials.
- Just opposite the Pantheon is a gift shop; buy the unique magnets made of cement block with Rome mentioned. They could be shared as unique gifts with friends.
- Sit in any of the pizzarias in Rome,
Rome has seen empires rise and fall and endures and still stands to tell its tales. Rome has seen empires rise and fall and still stands to tell its tales. With significant contributions to art, history, war, food and way of living, left by the Roman Empire, the city of Rome cast a spell on me.
Kreizi_Bawi 