TEN THINGS TO DO IN ROME

Nestled in the heart of Italy, is the ancient city of Rome. Legend has it that Rome was founded by twin brothers; Remus and Remulus who was nursed by a she-wolf, Lupa at birth. The city whose existence can be traced to antiquity is the cradle of Christianity, culture, power and civilization.

In addition to being a historic city, Rome is a tourist mecca which welcomes lots of tourists every year. If you are a tourist enthusiast visiting Rome, you can get involved in a myriad of activities for fun.

Here are ten things you can do in Rome;

Visit the Colosseum

The gigantic Colosseum is a hallmark feature of Rome which has been in existence since the 1^st century. Your visit to Rome will be termed “complete”, only if you take a trip to the Colosseum. The structure also known as the “Flavian Amphitheatre” was built to accommodate an audience of 80,000. Of course, this is just one of many interesting facts about Rome.

The enormous building is tucked at the terminus train station’s South West wing, making it easy to access. Visit this ancient architectural wonder and you’d be fascinated at the sheer beauty of the place that was once the center of entertainment in Rome.

Take a trip to St. Peter’s Square

Rome is home to the birthplace of Christendom- the Vatican City. If you visit the Vatican City, you would find a religious site named after St. Peter, the apostle of Jesus Christ. St. Peter’s Square as the site is fondly called is a round shaped plaza flanked by lovely statues of popes and religious bodies.

In the middle of the square is a huge obelisk which is believed to have been taken during a conquest in Egypt. Located at the distal region of the square is the famous St. Peter’s Basilica. You will be astonished by the huge crowd who has all gathered to take in the beauty of the place.

Tour the St. Peter’s Basilica

The burial place of St. Peter is said to be at the St. Peter’s Basilica- the most popular religious site in the world. St. Peter’s Basilica is a true testament of Catholicism. St. Peter’s Basilica is the posterchild of Rome.

What captivates the hearts of holidaymakers, who visit this religious shrine, is not just its history but how picturesque the interior looks. Little wonder, the church has been bandied as one of the most beautiful places to visit on the planet.

The church’s interior features paintings from iconic painters such as Michelangelo and Bellini. Every part of the building was carefully done to leave viewers bedazzled- you should see for yourself. If you ever visit this church, climb up the stairs so you can have panoramic views of the entire scenery.

Check out the Pantheon

The mausoleum called the Pantheon part one of the ancient pride of Rome. The Pantheon is seated at the heart of Rome. The 1^st century site of attraction was once the shrine of an ancient temple. The landmark building was erected by one of the leading figures in Rome- Agrippa.

 It features an imposing dome which has other features such as a main coffer and some stone patterns. Whenever you are in Rome, the Pantheon should be on your must-visit list.

Become a Professional Pizza Chef

When it comes to gastronomy, Roman cuisine takes the lead. One of the foods native to Rome is Pizza. If you are visiting Rome, you can take a short lesson on pizza making.

One of the go to places for Pizza classes is the Trionfale market, where the recipes for the best Neapolitan Pizza are offered to you. This pizza is baked in a wooden oven. The Pizza tutorials start within the creative lab, and you will be guided on how to prepare pizza by the private chef.

After you have finished with the pizza preparation, you will be offered a seat to enjoy all you have labored for.

Follow the Pope’s footsteps at Passetto di Borgo

In ancient times, the Passetto di Borgo which translates to “tiny passage” in English, connected the Castel Sant’ Angelo to the Vatican City. The narrow passage which is situated in the region of Borgo was once an escape channel for Popes who found themselves in danger.

In the 15^th century when Charles VIII invaded the Vatican, Pope Alexander VI escaped through the route, while a vast majority of the Swiss Guard at St. Peter’s Basilica was massacred. A walk down this passage while take you back in time on how the Popes ran for their dear lives.

Take a tour of the Ancient Baths of Caracalla

The thermal baths of Caracalla are one of the oldest, beautiful bath complex ruins in Rome. It should be on your “bucket-list”. Here’s why; the hot water baths accommodated 1,600 bathers at once and they were supplied by functional aqueducts. The ancient baths were a meeting place for those who wanted to clean up their bodies and for networking.

The Caracalla baths named after Emperor Caracalla, have been in existence since the 1^st century. You’d be fascinated by the imposing 33 acres of land which was served as sanitation hot spot for ancient Romans.

Visit the Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain is a drawcard of Rome. The scenic fountain which was erected in the 18^th century was built to honor Oceanus- a Roman god. The fountain features Oceanus riding in a chariot, taming some Hippocamps.

Myth has it that throwing some coins into the fountain over your shoulder will bring good luck. This fountain is a sight you should not miss when you are in Rome.

Palatine Hill

The name ‘Palatine Hill’ might not ring a bell, but “Palace” does. The word “Palace” was coined from the “Palatine Hill”. Legend has it that this hill was where the founding fathers of Rome were discovered, after being dumped at infancy. Some of the buildings on this hill include the Temple of Cybele and the Flavian Palace.

Whenever you are in Rome, you can have go for fun stuffs such as visiting any of the above named tourists areas, if you want to pass time, you can visit all of them one after the other.