No matter how many times you see this city it makes you smile every time. I prefer it in spring, winter or late fall. It is much quieter compared to the summer days and the thousands of tourists have disappeared.
No matter if I want a city break or a romantic getaway, Rome will not disappoint me. I am always feeling like a child in front of the Christmas gifts. Never miss the chance to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain. I cannot help myself, call it incurable romanticism. The steps of Piazza di Spagna are ideal to rest my tired feet. As always I choose my hotel in the old town, close to Piazza Navona. This way I reach on foot much of the touristic sights of the city.
For the Colosseum I am taking the subway, the Exit is just across from the site. After the first time I stayed at an interminable line of tourists, I learned that the best time to visit is in the afternoon, before the sunset. In the evening light the photos come out wonderfully and the waiting time is reduced to 15 minutes. Roma Pass will allow you to get rid of the ticket queue and take the fast lane reserved for the permit. Every time the Colosseum overwhelms me. It is estimated that in the games played here for hundreds of years the building claimed the lives of about 50,000 people and over a million wild animals. And listen to this: the velarium – huge canvas protecting the spectators from the sun, was handled by a team of 1,000 people. As for the inauguration festivities of the amphitheater, they lasted a hundred days. Crazy, right?
For shopping therapy and anything else you desire, Via Naționale and Corso will do the trick.The streets are packed with shops, all known brands and are present and inside the Rinascimento I suddenly turn into a Shopaholic. But the most popular shopping area of Rome remains the surrounding streets of Piazza di Spagna. Prada, Gucci, Dolce e Gabbana, Jimmy Choo or Tiffany are in display and the list goes on. A true paradise for fashion addicts, a hell when bills are issued.
Among the favorite places I enroll Piazza Navona, with lively restaurants and cafés. I take a seat near one of the three fountains and watch the Sant’Agnese church. In Rome you do not need to rush. Ideal time for a city break: 4 days, from Thursday to Sunday. It is enough to see much of Rome sites without overstepping your credit card bill. The most effective method remains planning. You plan to have fun and get the icing on the cake when you arrive in Rome: a city to fall in love.
3 tips to remember
– Buy the Roma Pass from the airport. It is valid for all transportation lines for 3 days and has two free entrances to museums (not valid in the Vatican). Purchase price: € 25
– In winter the last entry for the Imperial Forum site is at 15.30 pm. Otherwise you’ll see glimpses of the ruins from outside
– In weekends the area around the Colosseum, Fori Imperiali and Vittoriano Museum is entirely pedestrian. Take a stroll enjoying street performers, food stalls and souvenir vendors.
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