Italy: Rome

Best of IgoUgo

A February 1998 trip to Rome by kylebarber

Colosseo Photo - The Colosseum/Coliseum, Rome, Italy

Quote: Memories and highlights from my two trips to the eternal city of Roma

10 Photos

Italy: Rome

Best Of IgoUgo

Overview

Quote:

The Colosseum is pretty amazing to witness, and its immense size and historical importance puts your trivial travel worries in perspective. But my favorite thing about Rome is the Romans. And if you're ballsy enough to chat them up, you'll soon find out why they are so memorable.Quick Tips: Choose a hotel location that is near the center of town if you plan on walking around to all of the different sights and neighborhoods. We stayed across the river and found it to be a challenge getting to many of the attractions that were not that remote. Make sure and bring good walking shoes.Best Way To Get Around: Besides hiking all over the city, you can employ the local bus lines to get a...Read More

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Cheer!
Flag

Visconti Palace

Hotel

Quote:

The Visconti Palace''s web site claims that the hotel''s greatest strength. That, however, is the primary reason I would not recommend this hotel to most tourists who wish to see all of the city. Situated across the river from most attractions, it''s also a fair distance north of the Vatican. The included breakfasts were simple and bland, and unfortunately served in a subterranean chamber that seemed more suited to a Soviet bloc destination than sunny Rome. The room itself was nice and well lit, though not what you might expect for what we paid. The service was adequate during the day and pretty awful in the evening. This hotel definitely seems geared towards business travelers and ho...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on December 4, 2000

Visconti Palace
Via Federico Cesi 37
Rome, Italy 00193
+39 (06) 3684

Cheer!
Flag

San Crispino

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:

While gelato in Rome can't compare to the wonderful offerings in Florence, this small gelateria located next to the Fontana di Trevi ought to keep you satisfied while roaming the Eternal City. A wide variety of flavors, of both fruits and candies, are kept fresh in stainless steel vats. The salespeople are quick and efficient, yet remain friendly and do their best to explain in English what the flavors are. My only complaint is that the servings tend to be small, especially when the gelato is this good.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 3, 2000

San Crispino
Via della Panetteria 42
Rome, Italy

Cheer!
Flag

The Colosseum/Coliseum

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Colosseo"

Quote:

It hasn't aged so well, but the Colosseum is still mightily impressive to the large groups of tourists that come looking for a glimpse of Roman days gone by. Plopped down right in the center of town, its huge walls still tower over the neighboring ruins of the Forum and can be seen from a distance. Though you can probably gain much more insight from hiring a guide or taking an organized tour, I found that simply witnessing this huge relic from another world was awe-inspiring and prompted meditative thought. While its not in nearly as good shape as the Arena up in Verona, the sense of history hangs much heavier in the air. For 10,000 lire, it is an exciting history lesson that can't be easily repli...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 30, 2000

The Colosseum/Coliseum
Piazza Del Colosseo
Rome, Italy 00184
+39 (06) 7004261

Cheer!
Flag

St. Peter's Basilica

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Basilica di San Pietro"

Quote:

The Basilica di San Pietro is huge, yet surpringsly intimate and beautiful. The stern guards that are looking for an opportunity to turn away t-shirt or shorts clad tourists can't dampen the joy that stems from visiting this lovely cathedral. There are lots of world-class art works on display here, including the church's magnificent architecture. Michelangelo and Raphael both contributed to the Basilica di San Pietro's construction before their deaths. Even if the idea of visiting the Vatican seems fairly dull to you, make sure to stop by this church for quick visit, as it really is an amazing sight.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 30, 2000

St. Peter's Basilica
Piazza San Pietro
Vatican City, Rome 00193
+39 0669883462

Cheer!
Flag

Vatican Museums

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Musei Vaticani"

Musei Vaticani Photo - Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy

Quote:

There's a lot more to the Vatican's museums than the Sistine Chapel, which of course is jammed with large tour groups gawking at the ceiling. Although the recent work done on the chapel may now more effectively illuminate the masterpiece up above, I felt that the Sistine Chapel was somewhat of a letdown due guests that can not be drowned out. The lesser known works of art, many of which were quite interesting and different in style, could be appreciated with some privacy. The museum is so large that it's hard to cover it all, and you'll probably find after a few hours that you want to get back out into the more vibrant Roman streets. But the Musei Vaticani is a worthwhile stop that has a few treas...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 30, 2000

Vatican Museums
Viale Vaticano
Rome, Italy 00165
0039 06 69884676

Cheer!
Flag

Piazza Navona

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction

Piazza Navona Photo - Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy

Quote:

Back in the Roman Empire Piazza Navona was the site of brutal games and circus entertainments, an outdoor companion to the Colosseo. Today it mainly serves as a quiet rest stop, where you can sip a drink at one of the many cafes that line the circular piazza and watch the crowds walk by. The fountain in the middle of the plaza seems to be popular with American tourists, who otherwise are trying to figure out what is the point of this large open space. At night, many locals seem to enjoy walking the loop of the Piazza Navona, passing by our table and smiling each time. I'd probably smile quite easily too if I could call this lovely area my home.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 30, 2000

Piazza Navona

Rome, Italy 00186

Cheer!
Flag

Trevi Fountain

Attraction | "Fontana di Trevi"

Quote:

I had never seen Three Coins in the Fountain or La Dolce Vita, but had of course herd of the Fontana di Trevi. The fountain is not so big and spectacular in terms of its waterworks. But the ornate sculpture of Neptune and other sea deities that make up its back wall is amazing to check out during the day, and the whole piazza seems wonderfully romantic by night. The gelateria next door provides treats to enjoy as you sit by the Fontana di Trevi and bask in the 'sweet life' that the Romans enjoy.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 30, 2000

Trevi Fountain
Piazza di Trevi
Rome, Italy 00187

Cheer!
Flag

Pantheon

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:

While most of the ancient Roman monuments have crumbled over time, the Pantheon still stands as a testament to the ingenuity of Roman architectural design. Completed in 128 by the emperor Hadrian, the Pantheon had the largest freestanding dome in the world until just a few years ago. It was originally designed as a pagan temple but over time was swallowed up by the Catholic Church.

Walking around inside you can feel disoriented by the strange dimensions and acoustic effects. The dome is nearly perfect in its spherical shape making it seem rather tall and airy. Coupled with the wide open hole on top it feels kind of outdoorsy inside the building.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 15, 2000

Pantheon
Piazza della Rotonda
Rome, Italy 00186
+39 0668300230

Cheer!
Flag

Villa d'Este

Attraction

Quote:

This villa, which housed a convent before being converted into a fabulous summer home, is now more of a landscaped garden with a large number of decorative fountains. At the top of the villa's hillside you can enjoy wonderful views from the main building's patio. And as you walk up and down Villa d'Este's sloped grounds, you'll pass monuments and statuary that all enhance the villa's primary focus of flowing waterfalls and fountains.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 15, 2000

Villa d'Este
Piazza Trento
Tivoli, Italy 00019
+39 0774312070

Cheer!
Flag

Villa Adriana

Attraction

Quote:

The emperor Hadrian needed a summer home away from the bustle of Rome, and so Villa Adrianna was created in the year 125. The ruins here are in much better shape than what you'll find at Rome's Forum, and though much of the buildings and artwork has been pillored or destroyed, the quiet, undisturbed country seems to have been relatively untouched by the years. Visiting Villa Adriana gives you more of a sense how the elite Roman society lived out their days than other collections of ruins for the buildings' shapes are often clear enough to reflect what they were used for in their time. My favorite sight was the small temple at the end of a reflecting pool, which seemed quite tranquil as evening b...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 15, 2000

Villa Adriana
Via Tiburtina
Tivoli, Italy 00019
+39 0774530203