If you only have one day to explore Rome, many will tell you that there will be very little to see, but don't be discouraged. I will propose a route that will allow you to visit all the significant places of the Italian capital. If you run headlong, you will cover the route in four hours, but if you walk leisurely, enjoy the views, take in the sights, stop, taste, relax, etc., it will take you 8-10 hours. Therefore, I recommend starting the tour at 8-9 am. If you think that the route is too busy, you can be content with only the main attractions of Rome, which are listed in the table of contents on the website All about Rome.
If you want to see the main attractions of Rome in one day, start your tour from Piazza Barberini. You can get there by metro from Termini station in five minutes.
Piazza Barberini has existed since the XVI century. In the past, this is where the route of the cart began, on which the corpses of unidentified people were placed. The cart was driven through the crowded streets of the city so that someone could identify the dead.
The name of the square comes from the Barberini Palace, located on the same square. There are two fountains on the square. You can see one of them in the picture above. It's called "Triton". The second is the “bee fountain” (the bee was depicted on the coat of arms of the famous Barberine family). It is located on the corner of Vittorio Veneto. Both fountains were created by the famous Italian architect and artist Giovanni Bernini.
From Piazza Barberini, turn right onto Via Sistina. In about 5 minutes you will be at Plaza di Spagna:
One of the symbols of the “Eternal City” Spanish Steps starts from the Spanish Square, where it is always crowded. At its foot is the famous Barkacha fountain.
More about the Spanish Steps =>>
Up the stairs you will find yourself in the 16th century Church of the Holy Trinity (Santa Trinita dei Monti). It houses a copy of the Pietà sculptural group and the famous fresco “The Descent from the Cross” by Daniele da Volterra.
If you are not lazy and walk about two hundred meters, you will see on the right Villa Medici:
This is an aristocratic villa that belonged to the Medici family from the XIV century. The greatest personalities of the Italian Renaissance often gathered here, and here the fate of the development of the dynasty was decided.
If you decide to visit it, you will have to pay 12 euros, but if you only have one day to explore Rome, I recommend that you just look at it from the outside, walk through its beautiful gardens and enjoy the wonderful view to the city.
Now head down the Spanish Steps again to Piazza di Spagna, one of Rome's most famous shopping areas. Here you can stroll along via Condotti, a very interesting shopping street in Rome. By the way, at number 86 of this street there is the Greco cafe, which was visited by Schiller, Stendhal, Goethe and other famous people.
If you follow via del Babuino from Plaza España, you will reach Piazza Popolo, the same as “People's Square”, which is one of the main architectural and historical attractions of Rome.
There is an obelisk in the center of the square. It was brought from Egypt in 10 AD. Its age is about 3500 years!
There are many attractions in the square. Side by side stand two churches from the 17th century: Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto:
There is also the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo. It was built in 1099 and reconstructed in 1472.
In the square you will see the “Porta del Popolo”:
From here begins the Via Flaminia, along which the Roman legions marched to conquer the northern peoples.
In the square there is a fountain of lions, a fountain of Neptune and a fountain of a Roman goddess. You will also see the Sphinx statue on the parapet of the square.
Let's return to Spanish Square. If you go to the left of the square, you will reach Piazza Mignanelli, turn right and walk along the beautiful via Frattina to the end.
Cross via del Corso and you will find yourself in Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina. Here at the cafe Ciampini you can drink coffee or try something else. I suggest you buy a wonderful Roman ice cream and hit the road (if you sit in a cafe and order it like that, it will cost you more).
Now take a stroll along the via di Campo Marzio. This is one of the oldest parts of Ancient Rome.
Go straight, don't turn anywhere and you will come to the Pantheon, which was built back in 126 AD during the reign of the emperor Adriana.
In front of the Pantheon, an obelisk of Pharaoh Ramses II and a fountain were erected.
Admission to the Pantheon is free. Come in, you won't regret it.
A three-minute walk from the Pantheon is Piazza Navona. I recommend not to miss one of the most beautiful squares Rome.
Piazza Navona has been the site of Roman competitions, fairs and recreation since ancient times. There are many attractions here: three fountains - "of the four rivers (Nile, Ganges, Danube and La Platte)" (architect Giovanni Bernini), "Neptune" and "Mauris", four palaces -Palazzo de Cupis (built in 1520), Palazzo Torres Lancelotti (built in 1552), Palazzo Pamphili (built in 1650), Palazzo Braschi (built in 1792), the Church of Santa Maria del Sacro Coure and the Church of St. Agnes:
From Piazza Navona, follow via del Governo Vecchio, a charming cobbled street lined with boutiques, vintage shops and cafes.
At the beginning of this street is Piazza di Pasquino. There is a nice bar called "Cul de Sac" where you can grab a bite if you haven't eaten yet.
Now go to via dei Banchi Nuovi, cross Ponte Sant'Angelo and head towards Castle Sant'Angelo:
This castle tower is also called the "Mausoleum of Hadrian". This is one of the most popular places in Rome. Its foundation was laid in 135 during the reign of Emperor Publius Hadrian. Over the centuries, it was a crypt, a defensive structure, the residence of the Popes, a fortress, and now a military history museum (Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo) and is an amazing architectural monument that is necessary see for all tourists coming to Rome.
The cylindrical building is surrounded by walls. A round tower was erected in each corner of this square. They are named after the apostles: St. John, St. Luke, St. Matthew and St. Mark. This is what the building looks like from above:
On its top there is a bronze statue of Archangel Michael:
The author of the statue of ten angels installed on the bridge is the famous Italian architect Giovanni Bernini.
The name of the fortress is associated with a legend: in 590, during a plague epidemic, the Archangel Michael appeared to Pope Gregory the Great and sheathed his sword, which was a sign of the end of the terrible disease.
According to another legend, Beatrice Cenci's 16-year-old daughter was sentenced to death for the murder of her abusive father, and on September 11, 1599 she was beheaded in the square in front of the castle tower. Every year on the night of September 11, her ghost walks here.
The museum has a lot to see: a library, a military arsenal, a chapel, halls, galleries, frescoes, etc.
Admission is paid and costs 15 euros.
Then go to St. Peter's Square and enter St. Peter's Basilica, which was erected on the site of the torture of the Apostle Peter. Entrance to the temple is free.
More about St. Peter's Basilica =>>
Now you are in the territory of Vatican. There are so many attractions here that even a day is not enough to explore them (Vatican Museums, Belvedere Palace, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens, Vatican Library, Vatican Pinacoteca, Raphael's halls and loggias, etc.)
Return to Castel Sant'Angelo and this time follow via Giulia. Go to the arch with vines hanging from it. This is the back façade of the French Embassy (aka the Farnese Palace). Turn left, walk past the embassy walls and you will find yourself in Piazza Farnese:
From Piazza Farnese, head towards Campo dei Fiori. This is a historical square where people were once publicly executed. It was here that Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in 1600. His statue has stood in the square in his honor since 1889.
Now go along via dei Giubbonari to Largo di Torre Argentina. Here you will see the ruins of four ancient temples and the place where Julius Caesar was killed.
From here along Via delle Botteghe Oscure you will reach Piazza Venezia:
The main streets of Rome converge on Piazza Venezia: Corso - the commercial artery of the capital, November 4, Plebiscita, Victor Emmanuel Avenue (to St. Peter's Basilica), Fori Imperiali (through the Roman Forum to the Colosseum). In Piazza Venice I will highlight the Venetian Palace, part of which is the Basilica of San Marco (with frescoes from the IV century):
Currently, the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Chere Museum - an exhibition of wax figures are located here.
The Bonaparte Palace is also located here. It was bought by the mother of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1818.
Also worth mentioning is the Athenaeum, a II century academy, the ruins of which were discovered in 2009 during the construction of a metro line, and the 38-meter-high Trajan's Column , which was erected in 113 in honor of the victory of Emperor Trajan over the Dacians.
Right on the square, on a hill, you will see a monument to the legendary Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of united Italy, and an architectural complex dedicated to him - Vitoriano, aka “altar of the fatherland”. For Italians it is a symbol of victory, loyalty and freedom.
Here is the Risorgimento Museum, dedicated to the history of Italy's struggle for independence in the XIX century. The height of the complex is 81 meters. There is an elevator, thanks to which tourists can climb to the observation deck without bothering themselves with 196 steps, which offer beautiful views of the city.
Behind Vittoriano is the Capitoline Hill. This is one of the seven hills on which Ancient Rome was built. The Capitoline Temple was located on it. Senate meetings and public meetings were held here.
Now the Capitoline Museum is located here, which consists of three palaces: the Conservative, the Senatorial and the New Palace. In the center of the trapezoidal square of the Capitol is a statue of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor on horseback.
To visit the museums and exhibitions located here, you will need to buy a ticket.
Ticket price:
- for adults - 15 euros;
- for youth 6-25 years old - 13 euros;
- children under 6 years old - free admission.
For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the official website of the Capitoline Museums: http://www.museicapitolini.org/en.
On the Capitoline Hill there is also the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracelli, in which you can see the icon of the Mother of God from the 10th century, the holy parts of St. Helena and a statue of the baby Jesus (said to have healing properties). Entrance to the basilica is free.
In the northern part of the hill you can see the Mamertino Castle (Carcere Mamertino), which is located under the Church of St. Joseph. According to legend, the apostles Peter and Paul spent the last days of their lives here before their execution. Admission is free.
If you reach the end of the square, you will see the Roman Forum from above:
More about the Roman Forum =>>
Go down this hill, turn left and you will find yourself on via Fori Imperliali. From here you will see Colosseum:
If you don't have time to see it from the inside, you can enjoy its splendor from the outside.
Go back to Piazza Venezia and turn right into via IV Novembre, follow it, now turn left into via della Pilotta and you will find yourself at the Trevi Fountain:
You can stand with your back, close your eyes and throw a coin into the water with your right hand over your left shoulder. They say that in this case you will definitely return to Rome.
More about the Trevi Fountain =>>
From here it's a five-minute walk to Piazza Barberini, where you'll begin your morning tour. We can say that you managed to see all the main attractions of Rome in one day.
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