To end our trip, my boyfriend and I passed by took a train in Florence and went to Rome for three days.

As in the case of Paris, the sights here do not need much presentation, so this post is intended to give some tips for those who are visiting the city for the first time (just like us!).

Colosseum (Source: Andreas Tille / Wikimedia)

Rome is beautiful. I liked all the cities, but Rome has an incredible historical background, especially for those who study Letters, like me, and have heard a lot about Ancient Rome. Entering the Colosseum was one of the most exciting moments of our trip.

Where to stay

Finding a BBB type hotel in Rome was not that difficult. Always following the principle of good location, cleanliness and price that fits a trip with budget not too loose, we chose the Hotel Argentina.

Trevi Fountain (Source: RaBoe / Wikimedia)

The hotel is very close to Termini Station (where trains from other cities arrive and where one of the subway lines depart), so much so that we don't even have to take a taxi to get around. Okay, we had to drag our bags a couple of blocks, but we survived.

From this hotel, we walked to all the sights except the Vatican (but walked back from there!). He would be there again without thinking twice.

Where to eat

Of course in Rome there are many famous chef restaurants with the most legitimate Italian cuisine, but we already know that we are not talking about a purely gastronomic trip, so it took some "selectivity" when choosing where to eat.

Referring to my brother, my boyfriend and I, we met La Base, a themed restaurant full of references to international music and Italian actors, with busts and personalities paintings scattered all over the place. Prices were affordable and portions were generous.

La Base Restaurant (Source: La Base)

Anyway, restaurant is the most there is in Rome, so hungry you won't pass. What you can not help doing is to eat as much ice cream as possible, especially in Blue Ice gelateria.

Tips for the sights

Colosseum and Ruins

The Colosseum doesn't have much secret: it's beautiful and imposing! The ticket entitles you to visit the Ruins of Ancient Rome, amid the cypress trees and overlooking the Seven Hills. In the case of the Ruins, my tip is to go to the Roman Forum right away: we went to the other side and had to photograph the Forum quickly because the park was closing.

Us at the Colosseum? (Source: Personal Archive)

Trevi Fountain

I never tire of saying that everything in Rome is beautiful, and with the Fontana di Trevi is no different. By my reckoning, we went to this place FIVE times in three days, so beautiful it is. After all, since we were in Rome, it was worth taking a few streets to see the Trevi Fountain once again, right?

Visit during the day to see the details, and at night too to see the wonderful lighting. Be sure to eat ice cream around the fountain and toss a coin in it to ensure a return to Rome.

Vatican

We divided the tours in the Vatican into two days: in the first, we visited St. Peter's Basilica and, in the second, the Vatican Museum, where is the Sistine Chapel.

Admission to the Basilica is free, but care must be taken with clothing as it is a sacred place. To get to know the Basilica's Treasure you have to buy a ticket, but it's worth it to see the shrine with a supposed finger (!) Of St. Peter. There are lines to enter the church, but she walks fast.

Dome of St. Peter's Basilica (Source: NormanB / Wikimedia)

The Vatican Museum is huge and it is better to go with time. We even tried to arrive early, but because it was the last Sunday of the month, admission was free and the line was huge, several blocks. There were a lot of guides that offered a faster entry, but they charged 25 euros per person (the entry on normal days costs 15), so we decided to wait in line anyway.

We were able to enter the Museum and see many works, including the Sistine Chapel, but it had to be all very fast and always trying to abstract from the crowd around us. We would have enjoyed more if we had arrived earlier, but we liked it anyway.

Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini

Here is the legitimate caveiro in Rome. For those who like a bit more “dark” and not so famous sights, it is a big dish: in this church there is a crypt where the Capuchin friars built five mosaics with ... Human bones! It is a rather macabre but very interesting work of art, and some skeletons are using traditional Franciscan habits.

Moisaco made with human bones. (Source: Wikimedia)

Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini Church is on Via Veneto, near Piazza Barberini.

Other Locations

Be sure to visit the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo and Boca della Veritá and stroll along Via del Corso. See the photo gallery below!