- Rome landmarks
- Parks and villas in Rome
- Religious buildings
- Tiberina Island
- Shopping in Rome
- Note for gourmets
The Italian capital does not need additional tourist recommendations. The eternal city is replete with attractions of all sorts, and architectural monuments from different eras on the Roman streets literally crowd each other. Ancient ruins and medieval palaces, museums and parks, fountains and villas vie for the right to form the golden fund of the world's cultural treasury. If you are lucky enough to go to Italy, and you are deciding where to go in Rome in order to feel the heartbeat of the Eternal City to the maximum, do not limit yourself to architectural monuments and museums. Enjoy strolling through the parks, shopping in one of the world's fashion capitals and finally discovering what real Italian pizza tastes like.
Rome landmarks
It is extremely difficult to list all the architectural structures of Rome, and even more so, to get around them within the framework of one tourist trip, but the list of the most famous and popular attractions among the guests of the Eternal City still exists:
- The Flavian Amphitheater, built in the 1st century. for the entertainment of the Romans, it became the largest building of its kind in history. The Colosseum could simultaneously accommodate up to 50 thousand spectators, its height was more than 50 m, and the length of the larger diameter of the theater oval is 188 m.
- The most beautiful Spanish Steps in the Old World is the place where an exhibition of azaleas is held in the spring. In the rest of the year, it is no less beautiful, and its 138 steps are most often occupied by those wishing to arrange a photo session against the backdrop of Pincho Hill and the Church of the Holy Trinity.
- The ancient pagan temple of the Pantheon has been illuminated for 2000 years by one hole in the ceiling at the top of the dome. The reason for this architectural solution is the belief of the ancient builders in the unity of all deities. Many noble and famous people are buried in the Pantheon, including Rafael Santi.
- The Fountain of the Four Rivers was created by the greatest architect Bernini, but people flock to Piazza Navona not only to look at the sculptures of the river gods. Here you can also see the ancient obelisk from Egypt, admire the Church of St. Agnes and compare the Fountain of the Four Rivers with the fountains of Neptune and the Moor.
- And yet the most famous Roman fountain is called Trevi, built according to the project of the same indefatigable Bernini. Neptune is placed in the center of the sculptural composition, his shell-shaped chariot is drawn by seahorses, and in the pool where streams of water fall, it is important to leave a coin in order to be sure to return to the Eternal City.
Rome, which once began from the central square, is today centered around the ruins of the Forum. The latter looks now only as ancient ruins, but many centuries ago life was in full swing here and pagan sanctuaries were built. You can wander around the Forum and imagine the atmosphere of Ancient Rome with a guided tour. Without the help of a guide, it will be very difficult to understand the pile of ruins.
Parks and villas in Rome
Despite the status of a metropolitan city and its considerable size, Rome gives the impression of a very compact and cozy city. The reason for this is not only an abundance of historical monuments, but also a lot of green areas, where tourists can spend their time and take a break from the bustle of the museum and some gloomy stone ruins. The main gardens and parks of the Eternal City appeared centuries ago and have become attractions themselves.
Villa Borghese, the name of which is heard by all tourists, is immersed in the greenery of the park, often compared to New York's Central. The park appeared in the 17th century, when the nephew of Pope Paul V bought the land under the vineyards. Well-known specialists of that era worked on the creation of the park, and the magnificent example of landscape design received its name from the surname of its owners - the Borghese family. There is a gallery with picturesque masterpieces in the park, a small zoo and a cinema Casa del Cinema. You can rent a boat and take a boat trip on the lake.
Former House of Mussolini, Villa Torlonia is also surrounded by a beautiful garden where interesting architectural structures can be found. The Owl House once served as the residence of the banker Torlonia himself, who built the mansion. The gallery displays sculptures that have been collected by the Torlonia family for several centuries. There are enough antique masterpieces among them.
The huge Villa Ada park in the north of Rome is the place to go in the summer if you love music. For the past couple of decades, the park has hosted a festival and famous bands have come. Villa Ada Park is one of the largest in the Italian capital. Beautiful ponds in it give way to green lawns, and under the shade of cypresses, pines and noble laurels, it is easy to find a saving shade in the hot Roman summer.
Religious buildings
There are a great many churches and temples in Rome, and the most important and grandiose one is St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. The history of the temple has sixteen centuries and begins in the 4th century, when the first basilica was erected over the grave of the Apostle Peter. Now the temple rises to the sky at 136 meters and the largest religious buildings of the Old World could easily fit in it. The interiors and facade of the temple are decorated with real works of art, including works by Michelangelo and Bernini.
However, the main Roman Catholic temple of the planet is not the only place where a pilgrim or a connoisseur of religious architecture should go in Rome:
- The oldest basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was founded in the 4th century. and has hardly changed since then. The main treasures of the temple: a magnificent mosaic dedicated to the legend of the appearance of the temple "Miracle with snow", the real manger of the baby Jesus, the relics of the Apostle Matthew and the icon "Salvation of the Roman people", written by the Apostle Luke.
- In Piazza Navona, you will find the Basilica of Saint Agnes, built in the 17th century. on the site of the early church. The temple is dedicated to a miracle that happened to a Christian woman exposed to desecration by the pagans. The main relic of the temple is the relics of St. Agnes.
- The twin churches in Piazza del Poppolo are exactly the same in appearance. They were built in honor of Saint Mary and in one of them, called Santa Maria dei Miracoli, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God is kept.
- The temple of St. Eupraxia is decorated with magnificent mosaics. The basilica was built in the best Byzantine traditions and luxuriously decorated, for which it is called the "Garden of Eden". The pillar is carefully kept in the church, to which the Savior was tied during the scourging.
Roman temples are conventionally divided into three large groups: titular churches, pre-Christian buildings and patriarchal basilicas.
Tiberina Island
A small island on the Tiber River in the city limits of Rome has been notorious among the townspeople since ancient times. There is a legend that it was formed after the rebellious Romans threw the corpse of Tarquinius the Proud, the last king of Ancient Rome, known for his cruelty, into the river. The mud and silt adhered to the body and became the basis of the island, called Tiberina.
Until the end of the III century. BC NS. the island remained uninhabited, and then the inhabitants of Rome built the sanctuary of Aesculapius on it. At the end of the 10th century, Emperor Otto III founded a church in honor of Adalbart of Prague on Tiberin, now called the Basilica of St. Bartolomeo. The relics of the saint are kept in the temple.
You can also go to the island in the center of Rome for a walk along the bridges connecting it with the banks of the Tiber. The oldest bridge in the Italian capital, the Fabrice Bridge, leads from the right bank to the Tiberina, the construction of which dates back to 62 BC. NS. The left bank of the river is connected to the island by the Cestio bridge. The ferry was built in 46 BC. NS.
Shopping in Rome
The perfect place to find and buy the latest novelties of the coming season, Rome will swallow the fashionista or fashionista without leaving a single chance to fly away with an empty suitcase. Everything is cheaper here than in Milan, so shopping is worth planning, especially if you are flying during the sales period. In Italy they start on Christmas Eve and in the middle of summer.
The main addresses, where boutiques and expensive shops are concentrated, are Via dei Condotti, Via del Babuino, via Frattina, Via Borgognona, Via Bocca Di Leone, scattering in different directions from Plaza de España. In shops on via del Corso, prices will be more pleasing.
Galleria Alberto Sordi is a shopping center on Palazzo Piombin, where all brands and brands that exist in Europe are concentrated. In the malls of the Coin chain, you will find leather cosmetics and accessories, and in UPIM and Oviesse stores you will be pleased with an assortment of not too expensive clothes and shoes.
It is important to remember that away from tourist routes, the degree of prices drops sharply, and for the most profitable purchases it is worth going to the outlets in Rome.
Note for gourmets
The capital of Italy is the perfect place to taste real pizza, learn to distinguish ravioli from panini, and generally have a lot of gastronomic pleasure just poking at the menu and smiling at the waiter. Ideal home cooking is found here in trattorias, where you can meet a modest sum for a very decent dinner or lunch.
If your soul asks for haute cuisine, you should go to La Pergola. The gourmet restaurant in Rome boasts three Michelin stars and a gold Foyer of Artists Awards for its chef. Remember the dress code and the need to book a table at least a couple of weeks before your upcoming restaurant visit. Despite the solid price tags, the establishment is very popular.
But in Antica Pesa, in the old Roman quarter, the guest will find extremely pleasant prices. Especially when you consider the history of the restaurant, which began four hundred years ago. The place has been visited by many of the movie stars who have stayed in the Italian capital, and on the menu you will surely see dishes typical of an authentic trattoria.
