How about spending the perfect vacation in the eternal city of Ancient Rome? There is plenty to see for history lovers including museums, galleries, churches, bridges, and a variety of gardens. Although a trip to Rome may sound costly and time-consuming, there are ways in which you can enjoy your tour within your budget.
According to research, Rome is one of the most visited places by tourists. Since there is so much to see inside the city, do keep in mind that the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican museums are absolutely worth a visit. It would be a shame to take a tour around Rome without seeing these places.
As Rome is busy more or less all year round attending to tourists, there are still times when you can visit without much hassle.
We will give you a few tips and advice on how to plan your perfect vacation to Rome.
Best time to visit
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Rome is mostly a tourist destination for history buffs who want to see historical sites, monuments, and art.
Those with a set budget for the tour should definitely go when the prices of everything are a little lower. That means the off-peak season.
Although the city welcomes visitors all year, the summer season is usually the busiest, with prices skyrocketing. The greatest time to visit, in my opinion, is between November and March, when the temperatures are at their lowest. You can also get savings on aircraft tickets and hotel rooms.
Book skip-the-line tickets
If you want to avoid wasting valuable time standing in long queues in order to enter the various historic sites and museums then it is highly advisable to book entry tickets in advance. Also, you can avoid crowds inside the museums and galleries as the ticket can be booked according to off-peak hours.
Booking tickets in this method is also advisable for those who want to save money, as usually the tickets are sold at a discounted price. Some of the tickets also include an audio tour and tour guide which will make the tour more interesting for you.
Traveling across Rome economically
A ticket for 100 minutes can be purchased. This will allow you to travel on the metro, buses, trains, and trolleys. The biggest benefit is that you can switch between several modes of transportation to get to your desired location. However, keep in mind that the ticket is only valid for 100 minutes.
When it comes to affordable travel, the Roma Pass tourist card is indeed a great offer. The ticket gives you access to all types of public transit in the city as well as free admission to a few museums. With the use of a tourist card, those who visit cultural sites can also obtain discounts. The biggest benefit is that after you’ve purchased it, you’ll be able to use it for visiting various attractions. It comes with a map of Rome with information, a museum guide, and a calendar of travel activities.
If you want to visit the city by bus, we recommend using a local bus rather than a tourist bus. Tourist buses are far more expensive and simply show you the monuments. A local bus, on the other hand, will carry you all around the city, allowing you to see a lot more.
Famous Landmarks
Colosseum
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This particular monument is known to be the most popular in Rome. It was built between 72-80 AD. It took nearly a decade to build the Colosseum which was done by 60,000 Jewish slaves. The building was built as a gift to the citizens of Rome from the Flavian Dynasty. It was done to increase popularity. Also to display various forms of entertainment and to show the world that Romans are skilled at engineering.
The Colosseum got its name from the statue named ‘the colossus of Nero’. The building had 84 gates and could hold up to a total of 50,000 people at a time. The exterior part had three stories of entrances that were arched. Also, the columns were of different styles At the bottom were simple columns in Doric order. The arch of Constantine was at the front entrance. This was built in AD. 315 in honor of the victory of Constantine over Maxentius.
The Colosseum represents a symbol of capital punishment. In Italy, the death penalty was announced back in 1948. If anyone over the world has their death sentence announced. Then the illumination lights of the night change into gold from white, of the Colosseum.
There are a few things that are a must-see at the Colosseum which include:
The Arena floor is the place where all the battles that took place between gladiators and prisoners were also executed there. The Arena has been reconstructed several times but luckily you can still get a glimpse of the trap door which was used to allow slaves and animals to enter.
There is a museum located on the second floor which contains a number of photographs and models which show the purpose of the Colosseum over time.
The Hypogeum is located under the main floor of the arena. This was used as a backstage for the animals and gladiators before going out to battle.
- 8.30 am – 5.00pm (During winter)
- 8.30 am – 7.30pm (During summer)
Pinacoteca Vaticana:
This is an art gallery that was designed by Luca Beltrami and inaugurated in 1932. The gallery has many famous paintings and modern religious art also. A few of the paintings include Saint Jerome in the Wilderness by Leonardo da Vinci, Frari Madonna by Titian, Pieta by Giovanni Bellini, The Entombment of Christ by Caravaggio, Madonna of Foligno by Raphael, and many more.
Museo Pio- Clementino:
The name of the museum originates from two popes named Clement XIV who established the museum and Pius VI who helped in the completion of the museum back in 1771. Originally the museum was filled with artworks of antiquity and the Renaissance. If you pay a visit now you will be able to see Roman and Greek sculptures. There are many galleries.
Octagonal Court:
The place where a few of the first classical statues from the papal collections were put up for the show. Some of the well-known pieces which have been here since the 1500s are Laocoon and His Sons and the Apollo of the Belvedere.
Gallery of the Statues:
This gallery holds some of the most important statues which include the bust of Menander, Barberini Candelabra, and also the Sleeping Ariandre.
Sala Rotonda:
The room is shaped like a miniature Pantheon. It is decorated with ancient mosaics on the floors as well as ancient statues. The main attraction is the bronze statue of the Braschi Antinous and Hercules.
Museo Gregoriano Egiziano:
This particular museum holds artifacts from Ancient Egyptian times. It was opened on 2 February 1839 in order to remember the anniversary of Gregory XVI’s entrance to the papacy.
Museo Gregoriano holds collections such as animal mummies, the Grassi Collection, and reproductions of the Book of the Dead.
Museo Chiaramonti:
The museum includes a large gallery which consists of an arched gallery where you can find exhibited statues, friezes, and sarcophagi. There are also statues of the Doryphoros and the Augustus of Prima Porta.
Open every day except 25th December and 1st January.
Timing:Vatican Museums
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The Vatican Museums are located within the Vatican City. It is regarded as one of the world’s most important museums, and it is a must-see for anybody visiting Rome. It is estimated that around 6 million individuals visit the site each year. There are many masterpieces inside the museums, including art collections, ethnology, and archeology created by Pontiffs over time. Around 70,000 works are housed in the museums, with 20,000 on display for public viewing.
Pope Julius II established the Vatican Museum in the early 16th century. Inside, you’ll be able to see artwork from the Catholic Church and the papacy that spans centuries. There are also Roman sculptures and a few Renaissance masterpieces among them.
Open every day except Sundays and national holidays.
Timing:9 am to 6 pm
There are a number of different museums and art galleries which include:
Sistine Chapel
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The Sistine Chapel is located in Vatican City and serves as the Pope’s official residence. It is a necessary component of museums. Between 1473 and 1481, Pope Sixtus IV constructed the Chapel. Pope Sixtus IV Della Rovere, who had the edifice renovated between 1477 and 1480, gave it its name.
The chapel was once used as a center for religious and papal functionary activity. However, it is currently mostly utilized for the selection of the new Pope.
The Sistine Chapel is a towering rectangular structure with a width of 13.4 meters and a length of 40.9 meters. The structure is divided into three levels. The basement is tall, with lots of windows and a huge entrance. The vaulted ceiling, which rises 20.7 meters above the main room, may be seen above it. Finally, there is a third floor above the vault with guards’ washrooms.
The chapel’s interior is elaborately decorated with murals on the sidewalls, all of which were painted between 1481 and 1483. On the north wall, there are six frescoes depicting the life of Christ. Cosimmo Rosselli, Domenice, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, and Pinturicchio painted these. Six more frescoes depicting incidents from Moses’ life may be found on the south walls. Aside from these, there are further murals between windows depicting several popes.
The chapel’s greatest appeal is Michelangelo’s frescoes on the west wall behind the altar and on the ceiling. Pope Julius II commissioned the ceiling frescoes in 1508, which Michelangelo created between 1508 and 1512. Michelangelo also created another fresco on the west wall called ‘The Last Judgment.’ This was done for Pope Paul III between 1534 and 1541.
Open every day except Sundays and national holidays.
Timing:9 am to 4 pm
Wrapping up
The three famous landmarks which have been discussed are a must-visit when in Rome. You can almost spend an entire day visiting these places and getting to know the history behind all the art, paintings, and sculptures.
But if you do have spare time in your hands and want to explore historical Rome. Then we would strongly suggest that you book skip the line tickets and take a tour around the famous Borghese Gallery and gardens, Spanish steps, Pantheon and Castel Sant’ Angelo.
