Rome, the eternal city, has so many amazing sites to behold that it can be an overwhelming experience. I have been lucky enough to have visited Rome fives times, 3 times with work and my 4th work visit coming up later this year!
For me, Rome is my favourite city in the world. The old amongst the new, the food and the Italian people are all reasons why I love this city so much!
Rome Walking Tour
Rome has so much to offer, but where do you begin? I created a walking tour for work which gets you to the main sights all in one day. Then you have more time to immerse yourself in the intense culture of Rome and Italy for your remaining days in my favourite city.
Now, I hope you are wearing your walking shoes cause you are going to be racking up those metres!
Colosseum
After breakfast, start your day at the Colosseum. The Colosseum needs no introduction – it’s the number one thing you want to see in Rome and for good reason. When I first caught a glimpse, I gasped in excitement and said out loud “ohmigod it’s really the Colosseum.”
The Colosseum is one of those places that never loses it’s lustre. Sometimes, I’m in a taxi at night, and all of a sudden we are passing the Colosseum and any chatter inside the taxi stops and gazing begins.
While you are by the Coliseum, it is worth it to have a walk around, seeing sights such as:
- The Mouth of Truth – you must place your had through the mouth of a stone carvings of a man’s face. If you tell a lie while your hand is in the mouth – it will be bitten off!
- Palatine Hill – one of the most ancient parts of Rome.
- Roman Forum – ruins of several ancient government buildings.
- Arch of Constantine – Built in 315AD!!
Altar Of The Fatherland
After you have pretended that you are Russell Crowe, walk up the street to the magnificent white building, the National Monument to Vittorio Emmanuele, also known as Vittoriano. Italians say it looks like a birthday cake and it has split opinion. Some Romans are appalled at its size, location and colour whilst others are proud of what it stands for.
I myself love this place, for its grandeur and its views.
This monument was erected for Vittorio Emmanuel who was the King of Sardinia, who brought the Italian States together to form the Kingdom of Italy and liberated Rome from being ruled by the Pope. He is hugely important to the country!
Vittoriano also houses the museum of Risorgimento (Italian Unification) if you want to learn more about how the states unified.
Once you’ve marvelled at Vittoriano from the outside, marvelled at it from the inside, it’s time to ride an elevator to the top (from behind the monument) and check out the awesome views of Rome!
You can see so much, and see the 7 hills of Rome clearer than you can from ground level. A great place to grasp the city and what you are about to cover on foot!
Lunching In A Piazza
Up next is a stroll over to Piazza Navona for some lunch.
This piazza is quite clearly a former ‘circus’ stadium. In the centre of the Piazza stands the Fountain of the Four Rivers – the Nile, Danube, Ganges and Rio de la Plata.
There are many good restaurants within the piazza where you can sit outside and have a glass of Aperol Spritz and some pasta! Now that you’ve gathered your strength and rested your weary feet you can make it to the end of this one day walking tour of Rome.
Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola
This Church is a bit of a sleeper. From the outside it doesn’t look like much, but on the inside it’s pretty ‘wow’. The frescoes rival those inside the Vatican! My favourite part was the fake dome. The roof was painted in ‘3D’ style to imitate a dome, though there is none. It’s a total Magic Eye moment because your brain keeps telling you the dome exists, but it really doesn’t!
The Pantheon
A short walk from Piazza Navona is a little building called The Pantheon. This place is incredible. I’ve been inside the Pantheon on 4 of my trips to Rome and every time I have the same question – how on Earth did they construct this?! It was built by 126AD…!!
Mainly because of the hole in the roof, I can’t imagine how builders all those years ago had the knowledge to be able to build the roof. I also enjoy that the floor has small holes through the marble to drain the water that would come in through the roof if it rained. It’s the little things 🙂
Hadrian’s Temple
On the way to the Trevi Fountain, walk via Hadrian’s temple. Hadrian was the emperor of Rome from 117-138 AD and the Temple was built by 145AD. Not much is left but the columns, now being preserved, but it’s yet another location that is so historic it’s mind boggling.
Trevi Fountain
Finally you’ve reached the Trevi Fountain. It’s much bigger than I had pictured before I first saw it. It’s also much more beautiful. Legend has it that if you throw a coin from your right hand over your left shoulder into the fountain, you will return to Rome! I did this on my first trip – and now I’ve been back 4 times and counting 🙂
The only downer about the Trevi Fountain is the tourists. So, you’ve seen it in the day, but come back at night when it’s lit up and the tourists are tucked up in their hotel beds.
Here’s a post covering my favourite things to do in Rome!
Capuchin Crypt
For a tourist destination with a twist, head across to the Capuchin Crypt. It’s a small crypt with several chapels containing the skeletal remains of thousands of capuchin friars bodies.
I’ve never seen something more bizarre, but it was really interesting too! The bones are not just there, they are displayed! They are hanging light fixtures! They make wall patterns! It’s wild.
The Spanish Steps
Only a couple of blocks and you will stumble upon the Spanish Steps! It is the widest staircase in Europe and does give some great views of Rome. You do need to walk up to the top, and then up to the stairs at the back for a really great view, but worth it!
Piazza del Popolo
Walk North from here and you will arrive at Piazza Del Popolo. It is a giant giant piazza with some beautiful architecture, people watching, rooftop bars, and a great place to watch the sunset.
If you climb the stairs to the top of the piazza where you can look down upon it, it’s quite a beautiful view to finish your walking tour!
I hope along the way you stopped for some gelato and a random slice of pizza! Just because you had lunch does not mean you shouldn’t eat your way around Rome – the food is too good to stop!
Now that’s just one day’s sight-seeing. Rome has plenty more to offer which I hope to cover in future blog posts!
What’s your favourite sight in Rome?
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Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
0 thoughts on “Rome Walking Tour”
U should get a job with the Rome Tourist Authority
Haha! I just really like Rome 🙂 🙂
Good one!
Thanks AnnaJ!
The first photo is the cat hang out place!! There were soooo manyyyy
I know! They are everywhere! Roman Law says cats have the right to live wherever they were born… So that’s why there are so many strays walking around the ruins VP!