During my last few days in Rome I put together this list of
the top sights, neighborhoods, and restaurants based on my personal favorites
as well as some favorites from other students who traveled through Rome. There
are so many things about Rome that I loved that I did not include in my
previous posts, so I wanted to make sure I mentioned everything here. It’s a
long list but worth reading, especially if you plan to go to Rome!
Top Attractions
The Vatican
· Book your tickets to the museum in advance!
· Expect a long line in the sun even with tickets
· Remember to cover your shoulders so you can enter
the Sistine Chapel
Pantheon
· No tickets needed
· Can purchase an audio tour if you want but I
don’t think it is necessary
Borghese Gardens
The prettiest gardens/park in the city
Grab some sandwiches and wine and have a
picnic before or after visiting the Borghese Gallery
You can rent bikes
Beautiful view of the city from the overlook
that is above Piazza del Popolo
Colosseum
Tickets
are 12 euros and get you in to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine
hill, so make sure you have enough time to at least do the Forum and Colosseum
More
details in previous post
Spanish Steps
Walk to the top and enjoy the view
Surrounding area is filled with designer
shopping
Trevi Fountain
Walking distance from the Spanish Steps
Very packed but everyone must go and throw a
coin into the fountain
Beautiful at night
Capitoline Hill
Designed by Michelangelo
Location of the worlds first museum – the
Capitoline Museum
Walk to the top of the stairs and then to the
back right to get the best view of the Roman Forum and Colosseum
Neighborhoods, Piazzas and Streets
Trastevere
and Jewish Ghetto neighborhoods
Two of the oldest neighborhoods
Good shopping, but just great to wander
around
Trastevere
is filled with bars and is packed with young people at night
Monti
Beautiful and old neighborhood
Great
shopping with lots of vintage boutiques
Via del
Corso
Huge street with tons of chain retail stores
mixed with a few boutiques
Everyone walks right down to shop
Start at Piazza del Popolo and walk until you
reach Piazza Venezia
Quarinale
Hill
This is where the president lives and it was
the old summer home of the Pope
Near the Trevi Fountain
If you make it to the top, walk down the
street towards the two churches by the greatest Roman architects, Bernini and
Borromini
Piazza del
Popolo
Big square at the top of the three shopping
roads, Corso, Ripetta, and Bubino
Was the original “entrance to Rome”
Piazza
Navona
One of my favorite squares, mentioned in
previous posts
A lot of great restaurants and shops near by
It was the old track of Rome, but you can’t
run around it anymore
Churches
*Note that
most churches close for lunch from 1-3pm
*Shoulders
and knees should be covered for entrance and some churches are stricter than
others
St. Peter’s
Basilica
Within the Vatican walls but has a separate
entrance from the Vatican Museum
One of the largest churches in the world and
the holiest Catholic church
Michelangelo’s Pieta
Can climb to the top of the dome
Go to St. Peter’s Square Sunday at noon to
see the Pope give the blessing from his window
San Carlo alle
Quattro Fontane
Santa Maria
del Popolo
Houses two of the most significant works of
the Baroque period
Incredible works by Caravaggio and Carracci
San Luigi
dei Francesi
Three Caravaggio’s that are striking
Church of the Gesù
Incredible ceiling work
Sant'Ignazio
Amazing illusionistic dome and ceiling
Sant'Ivo
alla Sapienza
Interior open only on Sundays but worth
seeing the outside courtyard
Santa Maria
della Vittoria
Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Bernini
Santa
Cecilia in Trastevere
Santa Maria
in Trastevere
One of Rome’s first churches
Basilica di
Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Very Close to
the Pantheon
Michelangelo's Cristo della Minerva
Restaurants
*It is hard not to fall for the tourist
trap restaurants that sell mediocre food at a high price. I put this list
together with one of my foodie friends who was great at knowing the difference
between authentic and imitation.
There are
three pasta dishes that are most popular in Rome
Amatriciana – slightly spicy red sauce with
pork
Carbonara – white sauce made from egg with
bacon
Cacio e pepe – cheesey creamy parmesan sauce
with pepper
La Buca Di
Ripetta
Via
di Ripetta
Good
for lunch
Pastas
moderately priced had the homemade ravioli with red chicory and gorgonzola
Dal Bolognese
Popular and great location near Piazza del
Popolo
Food of the Bologna region
Gusto
10 Euro brunch buffet that is incredible
Forno Campo di Fiori
One of the most famous pizza by the slice
places
Try the bresola and arugula sandwich
Located
right on Campo di Fiori, Vicolo del Gallo, 14
Mercato Wine Bar
Great places to get an aperitiv and drinks
Forno
Rosciolli
A grab and
go kind of a place
Lots of
baked breads, prepared dishes, and amazing pizza
They also have
a dinner location next door
Located at 34,
via del Chiavari
Piperno
More expensive but delicious
Soro Margerita
Best meatballs ever!
The epitome of hole in the wall, handwritten
menus, moms/grandmas cooking
In Trastevere
Dar Poeta
Top two pizza places in Rome
Good for lunch or dinner
Da i due ciccioni
Hard to find but worth the search
25 euro for four courses and bottomless wine
Very inviting
Cul de Sac
One of my favorites
Love it for lunch or dinner
Long wait for dinner
Right off of Piazza Navona
Da Tonino
Via del Governo Vecchio, 18
Mentioned in previous post
Super cheap and delicious
Pizzarium
You know its great when everyone eating there is
speaking Italian
Right near the Cipro metro stop, close to the
Vatican
A little expensive but worth the splurge
Creative toppings you wont find in America
Colline Emiliane
Make a reservation
Food of the northern region, Emilia-Romagna,
rich and delicious
Stuffed pastas, parmesan cheeses
Nightlife
Bar del Fico
Freni e Frizioni
La Maison
Small club but very fun
Doesn’t open until 11:30pm and doesn’t get
crowded until 12:30-1am
Akab
On The Rocks
Coyote
Scholars
Lounge
Large bar filled with international students
and tourists
Good place to watch the American sports you’re
missing at home
Caryoke and live music
Gelato
Old Bridge
Mentioned in previous post
Best by far for price and taste
Next to the Vatican
Frigidarium
Right on Governo Vecchio near piazza Navona
Millennium
Near the Vatican museum
Giolitti
Near the Pantheon
San Crispino
Near the Trevi Fountain
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