1. VATICAN CITY The greatest church of Christianity, was constructed based on the design of Bramante, a design adopted and expanded upon by Michelangelo in 1547; the structure was subsequently lengthened by Carlo Maderno, assuming the definitive layout of the Latin cross and was officially consecrated in 1626.
As soon as one arrives at St. Peter’s Square, the first thing that astonishes and impresses the visitor is the largeness of the square in front of the Basilica of Saint Peter, encircled by the splendid four row colonnade designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
And then there is the cupola (designed by Michelangelo), 42 meters wide and 136 meters high. Inside, the Pieta’ of Michelangelo, the tomb of Clement XIII of Canova the mosaic of the Navicella of Giotto, the canopy that covers the main altar, the true visual fulcrum created by Bernini with bronze taken from the Pantheon, and the bronze-like statue of Saint Peter by Arnolfo di Cambio. To be visited are the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel.
2. CASTEL SANT’ANGELO From the Basilica of Saint Peter one can cover, on foot, Via della Conciliazione to arrive to the second part of our itinerary: Castel Sant' Angelo, which houses the National Museum, with its collection of ancient weapons. Originally the mausoleum of the emperor Adrian (II century A.D.), Castel Sant' Angelo is subsequently transformed into a fortress, in order to resist the invading Visigoths and Ostrogoths, then into place of detainment and finally into a magnificent papal residence. To be visited are the Papal apartments.
3. PIAZZA NAVONA Crossing the Tiber from Sant' Angelo bridge and then heading left one arrives at Piazza Navona. Seen from above, the square follows a design that resembles the outline of an arena. In the square one can admire three fountains: the fountain of the Moor, the fountain of Neptune and the most important, the central fountain, the Fountain of the Four Rivers (the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de the Plata) designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. An amphitheater in the period of Nero, around year 86 Domitian had a stadium constructed there, which became for many centuries a place of games and tournaments. On the outskirts of the square many narrow streets are full of restaurants, pizzerias, pubs, and locals where the young people from all around the world gather. Tor Millina street, behind the square, should be mentioned, as it is considered the center of nightlife.
4. PANTHEON From Piazza Navona one heads towards the Pantheon. Conceived as a temple dedicated to all the gods, and built under Marcus Agrippa in 25 B.C. and subsequently reconstructed by Adrian around the 120 A.D., the Pantheon endured several transformations: from being transformed into a Christian church in 609 to a fortress in the Middle Ages, the Pantheon is the result of the most exquisite architectural techniques of ancient Rome.
The simple and harmonic structure is obtained by the insertion of a spherical space within a cylinder, which from the height of the pavement is equal to the measure of its diameter.
In its interior we can find the tombs of important artists (the painter Raphael is buried here), and of monarchs of the Kingdom of Italy. In front of the Pantheon there opens the square of the Rotonda, which houses the fountain designed by G. Della Porta. Here one can find places to rest and eat.
From via delle Fornaci take bus route n°64 to piazza Venezia. Here, the second part of the itinerary starts: behind the square the hill of the...
1. CAMPIDOGLIO From the origins of Rome the famous hill has accommodated the offices of authority of the city and has been theatre of solemn public celebrations. Three palaces overlook the square, which was conceived by Michelangelo: the central Senatorial palace, seat of the offices of the communal administration, and the two lateral ones, the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo, which hold the splendid treasures of the Capitoline Museums; the Pinacoteca (Gallery) is home to more than 200 paintings realized from the XIV to XVIII centuries from extraordinary Masters such as: Titian, Pietro from Cortona, Caravaggio, Guercino, Rubens, and many others. At the center of the square one can admire a copy of the bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius; the original can be found in the adjacent Museums.
2. THE VICTORIAN A trench-like path recently opened to the public connects the Piazza del Campidoglio to the terrace of the Victorian from which an incomparable 360° view of the city can be enjoyed. The Victorian, or Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy, is entirely accessible both in its external and internal spaces, where the Sacrario delle Bandiere and Museum of the Renaissance are located and admission is free. The monumental complex was inaugurated in 1911 in occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Unification of Italy and since 1921 conserves the remains of the Unknown Soldier. One continues on to Via dei Fori Imperiali where one can find:
3. THE ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA It is the most important archaeological area of Rome, which extends from the Campidoglio to the Palatine. Political, trade and religious activities were concentrated in this area already beginning in the VII century B.C. The Forums of Caeser, Augustus, Nerva, Vespasian and Trajan, the most imposing and of which we can still admire the Column and Markets, were added to the Roman Forum. Not to be missed are visits to the ruins of Nero’s Domus Aurea, the Arch of Constantine and the Palatine Hill, the site of the first Roman settlement.
There are limitations to tours of the Domus Aurea:
Tours conducted in Italian and English require mandatory reservations.
Tours are possible from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. For reservations and information call: 06 39967700
4. and 5. THE COLOSSEUM with the ARCH OF CONSTANTINE This name was given to the Colosseum because a colossal bronze statue more than 35 meters high representing the emperor Nero was located in its vicinity. Symbol of Rome all over the world, the Colosseum was constructed from the emperors of the Flavian dynasty between 72-80 A.D. The Coliseum could accommodate more than 70.000 spectators, who could watch the combat between gladiators, the hunting of wild animals and, in the initial periods, to the naumachie (naval combat): the arena was flooded, transforming itself into an artificial small lake. In the Middle Ages it was transformed into fortress and then, stripped of its structures, became a quarry for building materials and a center for hospitals, confraternities and corporations of craftsmen; only towards the second half of the seven hundreds were the pillage and the devastation stopped, when the Colosseum was decreed as a sacred place by Pope Benedict XIV. Suggestions: in order to avoid long lines at the ticket booth, it is advised to acquire tickets near the sales points at the Palatine, in Via di San Gregorio or near the Arch of Tito.
A panoramic trip can be made on the many bi-level buses that are stop at many areas of the city center, a pleasant way in order to take control the essence of the eternity of Rome: the historical continuity between past and present in an urban context in which monuments and buildings constructed in various historical ages coexist and live one beside the other.
SHOPPING ITINERARY
Starting from Piazza Venezia, where bus line n° 64 (which is taken in Via dell Fornaci) stops, one walks along Via del Corso. It is the road at the center of the Roman shopping district. The cross streets are full of stores for all wallets. Before piazza Colonna, on the left one finds
1. Fontana of Trevi. Designed in the XVIII century by the architect Nicholas Salvi and built during the thirties, the fountain is a celebration of water as a symbol of life, well-being and change. Its location indicates the endpoint of the ancient aqueduct of the Acqua Vergine (19 B.C.). The fascination of the Fontana of Trevi is amplified from the contrast between its remarkable dimensions and the small public square that contains it. The personification of Oceanus at the center of the fountain seems to emerge from the water on a wagon hauled by marine horses and tritons, between rocks in which thirty different varieties of plants are represented, in a unique combination of sculpture, architecture and nature. Do not forget to launch the famous coin into the fountain in order to assure your return in the eternal city… From fountain one continues to Piazza Colonna by going through the second Galleria Alberto Sordi, with one of the largest bookstores in Rome.
Having arrived at Piazza Colonna where at 3. Palazzo Chigi there is the president's residence, at 4. Montecitorio, there is the seat of Parliament. Via della Vite, Via Borgognona, Via Frattina, Via Condotti, are some of the roads with the greatest concentration of stores. Via Condotti leads to: 5. Piazza di Spagna. Famous for the staircase, realized by Francisco De Sanctis (1723-26), and for the fountain in the form of a semi-submerged boat called "la Barcaccia", which was designed in 1629 by Peter Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo – Piazza di Spagna is a meeting point for both Romans and tourists.
At the height of the staircase is the church of the 6. Trinità dei Monti, on the left 7. Villa Medici and the hill of the Pincio, from where a magnificent view over Piazza del Popolo can be enjoyed. It is an area that is a shrine to fashion, and of places that have represented history and culture. To be visited is Caffè Greco in via dei Condotti, a place where the greatest Italian writers have stopped. At the bottom of via of del Corso one reaches Piazza del Popolo, with its obelisk.
ITINERARY FOR NIGHTLIFE
A - CAMPO DE’ FIORI Take bus 64 in Via delle Fornaci to Campo dei Fiori. In alternative, go through the Umberto 1° gallery, cross the Duca d’Aosta bridge and then Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where on the right one will find: Campo dei Fiori. It owes its reputation to the episode that saw the philosopher Giordano burned at the stake during the Catholic Inquisition for heresy on the 17th of February in 1600. A statue erected in the center of Campo dei Fiori in 1889 commemorates the execution. In this small and controversial square and in its surrounding narrow streets an unusual, mixed atmosphere is breathed between history and roman ness. In the evening premises surrounding the square are full, being preferred evening meeting places for young people, both Italian and foreign, while the morning sees the typical, noisy, roman market. To be seen: to the left of the square, Via dei Baullari leads to Piazza del Palazzo Farnese, seat of the French Embassy. The palace was started in 1514 by Antonio Sangallo il Giovane, continued after his dead [1546] by Michelangelo and subsequently finished by Giacomo Della Porta.
B -TRASTEVERE PTake Bus 64 in Via delle Fornaci to the first stop and from here either on foot or on one of the buses that run along Lungotevere to Piazza Trilussa, a famous Roman poet, from where the Trastevere section begins. Its name derives from the Latin trans Tiberim (beyond the Tevere). Thanks to its partial isolation, the inhabitants of Trastevere, called Trasteverini, came to form almost a population in itself: common people famous for their tenacity, pride and genuineness. Moreover, the women were considered very beautiful, with dark eyes and hair and with beautiful features. Today Trastevere maintains still to its character thanks to the winding roads covered by sampietrini, which are overlooked by medieval homes. The night is filled up with people, Italian and foreign, thanks to the wealth of restaurants and pubs for every price range. It is one of the most vibrant, characteristic and self-sufficient quarters of the city. It offers typical Roman restaurants and pizzerias, but also cinemas, markets (the one of Saint Cosimato has been renovated recently), banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, shops of all types and elegant boutiques. It is incredible how in Trastevere, two of the oldest and most appreciated monuments of Rome are hidden.
The Basilica of S. Maria in Trastevere, at the center of which we find a fountain, an octagonal basin elaborated by the architect Carlo Fontana in 1692 (according to tradition, the fountain of Santa Maria in Trastevere is the oldest of the monumental fountains in Rome). The paleochristian Basilica of S. Maria in Trastevere is probably one of the oldest churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The facade is decorated with a splendid medieval mosaic that represents the Virgin Mary on a throne, with the baby Jesus, joined by a procession of 10 Virgins. True jewel of the church are the mosaics that decorate the apse of the XII century. It is considered the greatest baroque work in Rome after the period of Bernini and Borromini.
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Rome ITALY
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tel. +39 340 4570606
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ITINERARY N° 1:.:.
From the Basilica of Saint Peter one can cover, on foot, Via della Conciliazione to arrive to the second part of our itinerary: Castel Sant' Angelo, which houses the National Museum, with its collection of ancient weapons. Originally the mausoleum of the emperor Adrian (II century A.D.), Castel Sant' Angelo is subsequently transformed into a fortress, in order to resist the invading Visigoths and Ostrogoths, then into place of detainment and finally into a magnificent papal residence. To be visited are the Papal apartments.
Crossing the Tiber from Sant' Angelo bridge and then heading left one arrives at Piazza Navona. Seen from above, the square follows a design that resembles the outline of an arena. In the square one can admire three fountains: the fountain of the Moor, the fountain of Neptune and the most important, the central fountain, the Fountain of the Four Rivers (the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de the Plata) designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. An amphitheater in the period of Nero, around year 86 Domitian had a stadium constructed there, which became for many centuries a place of games and tournaments. On the outskirts of the square many narrow streets are full of restaurants, pizzerias, pubs, and locals where the young people from all around the world gather. Tor Millina street, behind the square, should be mentioned, as it is considered the center of nightlife.
From Piazza Navona one heads towards the Pantheon. Conceived as a temple dedicated to all the gods, and built under Marcus Agrippa in 25 B.C. and subsequently reconstructed by Adrian around the 120 A.D., the Pantheon endured several transformations: from being transformed into a Christian church in 609 to a fortress in the Middle Ages, the Pantheon is the result of the most exquisite architectural techniques of ancient Rome.
From via delle Fornaci take bus route n°64 to piazza Venezia. Here, the second part of the itinerary starts: behind the square the hill of the...
From the origins of Rome the famous hill has accommodated the offices of authority of the city and has been theatre of solemn public celebrations. Three palaces overlook the square, which was conceived by Michelangelo: the central Senatorial palace, seat of the offices of the communal administration, and the two lateral ones, the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo
Nuovo, which hold the splendid treasures of the Capitoline Museums; the Pinacoteca (Gallery) is home to more than 200 paintings realized from the XIV to XVIII centuries from extraordinary Masters such as: Titian, Pietro from Cortona, Caravaggio, Guercino, Rubens, and many others. At the center of the square one can admire a copy of the bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius; the original can be found in the adjacent Museums.
A trench-like path recently opened to the public connects the Piazza del Campidoglio to the terrace of the Victorian from which an incomparable 360° view of the city can be enjoyed. The Victorian, or Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy, is entirely accessible both in its external and internal spaces, where the Sacrario delle Bandiere and Museum of the Renaissance are located and admission is free. The monumental complex was inaugurated in 1911 in occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Unification of Italy and since 1921 conserves the remains of the Unknown Soldier. One continues on to Via dei Fori Imperiali where one can find:
It is the most important archaeological area of Rome, which extends from the Campidoglio to the Palatine. Political, trade and religious activities were concentrated in this area already beginning in the VII century B.C. The Forums of Caeser, Augustus, Nerva, Vespasian and Trajan, the most imposing and of which we can still admire the Column and Markets, were added to the Roman Forum. Not to be missed are visits to the ruins of Nero’s Domus Aurea, the Arch of Constantine and the Palatine Hill, the site of the first Roman settlement.
This name was given to the Colosseum because a colossal bronze statue more than 35 meters high representing the emperor Nero was located in its vicinity. Symbol of Rome all over the world, the Colosseum was constructed from the emperors of the Flavian dynasty between 72-80 A.D. The Coliseum could accommodate more than 70.000 spectators, who could watch the combat between gladiators, the hunting of wild animals and, in the initial periods, to the naumachie (naval combat): the arena was flooded, transforming itself into an artificial small lake. In the Middle Ages it was transformed into fortress and then, stripped of its structures, became a quarry for building materials and a center for hospitals, confraternities and corporations of craftsmen; only towards the second half of the seven hundreds were the pillage and the devastation stopped, when the Colosseum was decreed as a sacred place by Pope Benedict XIV. Suggestions: in order to avoid long lines at the ticket booth, it is advised to acquire tickets near the sales points at the Palatine, in Via di San Gregorio or near the Arch of Tito.
Starting from Piazza Venezia, where bus line n° 64 (which is taken in Via dell Fornaci) stops, one walks along Via del Corso. It is the road at the center of the Roman shopping district. The cross streets are full of stores for all wallets. Before piazza Colonna, on the left one finds 
Having arrived at Piazza Colonna where at 3. Palazzo Chigi there is the president's residence, at 4. Montecitorio, there is the seat of Parliament. Via della Vite, Via Borgognona, Via Frattina, Via Condotti, are some of the roads with the greatest concentration of stores. Via Condotti leads to: 5. Piazza di Spagna. Famous for the staircase, realized by Francisco De Sanctis (1723-26), and for the fountain in the form of a semi-submerged boat called "la Barcaccia", which was designed in 1629 by Peter Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo – Piazza di Spagna is a meeting point for both Romans and tourists.
At the height of the staircase is the church of the 6. Trinità dei Monti, on the left 7. Villa Medici and the hill of the Pincio, from where a magnificent view over Piazza del Popolo can be enjoyed. It is an area that is a shrine to fashion, and of places that have represented history and culture. To be visited is Caffè Greco in via dei Condotti, a place where the greatest Italian writers have stopped. At the bottom of via of del Corso one reaches Piazza del Popolo, with its obelisk.
PTake Bus 64 in Via delle Fornaci to the first stop and from here either on foot or on one of the buses that run along Lungotevere to Piazza Trilussa, a famous Roman poet, from where the Trastevere section begins. Its name derives from the Latin trans Tiberim (beyond the Tevere). Thanks to its partial isolation, the inhabitants of Trastevere, called Trasteverini, came to form almost a population in itself: common people famous for their tenacity, pride and genuineness. Moreover, the women were considered very beautiful, with dark eyes and hair and with beautiful features. Today Trastevere maintains still to its character thanks to the winding roads covered by sampietrini, which are overlooked by medieval homes. The night is filled up with people, Italian and foreign, thanks to the wealth of restaurants and pubs for every price range. It is one of the most vibrant, characteristic and self-sufficient quarters of the city. It offers typical Roman restaurants and pizzerias, but also cinemas, markets (the one of Saint Cosimato has been renovated recently), banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, shops of all types and elegant boutiques. It is incredible how in Trastevere, two of the oldest and most appreciated monuments of Rome are hidden. 
