Visit Rome

Have just about 24 Hours or Less in Rome? Maria tells you how to make the best of your visit… Perhaps you’re a business traveler in town for an important meeting or maybe a wayward traveler just pass through – but you only have 24 hours or less in this ancient city and don’t know where to go. While Rome certainly wasn’t built in one day, you may find there are still many things you can see in Eternal City. So whether you travel with a leather briefcase or a rucksack, you’ll find that Rome has many sites to see, places to go and lots of new experiences! Morning: Why not stop at any café and go for a real Italian breakfast? Grab an espresso and a cornetto (their version of the croissant) and do it like the locals – stand at the bar while chatting with the bartender (or smile and nod, if your Italian isn’t up to par) – this is a great way to start the day and cheaper than sitting at a table where you’ll be charged a coperto (cover fee)! It’s best to start at the Vatican City and viewing the vast Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square). If you’re there on a Wednesday, you may be luck enough to get a glimpse of the Pope. Entering the St. Peter’s Basilica is free, so the lines may be long. It’s worth it, especially since you’ll be able to glimpse Michaelangelo’s masterpiece the Pieta, which depicts Mary holding Jesus in her arms after the crucifixion. If you have a bit more time, a visit to the Sistine Chapel to see the ceiling fresco is a must! Midday: If the morning’s activities made you hungry, then stop by a typical Italian pizzeria – the light and crispy dough, topped with fresh tomatoes, basil and cheese will be forever embedded in your memory and never make you want to eat another Domino’s or Pizza Hut pie. Walk, bike or take the Metro to Rome’s most colossal monument – the Colosseum. Over 2000 years old, this ancient engineering wonder seated over 50,000 spectators who came to watch such sights as dramas, animal hunts, battle recreations, sea battles and, of course, gladiator matches. Today, most of this structure still stands and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome. Now, it’s time for something a little more “modern” (compared to 70 BC, anything, even from 1629, seems modern.) Another of Rome’s top tourist spot is the Trevi Fountain, a massive water fountain, filled with columns, tritons and seahorses in a wild parade. Make sure you toss in a coin to ensure your return to Rome, then make your way to the Spanish Steps, which, ironically enough, were built by funds from the French. Sit on the steps with a cool drink as you sit and watch tourists rush around.

Afternoon: If it’s still light, take a peek inside the Pantheon to look at the large dome, which has an occulus (opening) to the sky. The Pantheon was built as a temple to the gods, then later turned into a church, and even a tomb (Raphael and composer Corelli are interred here.) Dozens of restaurants, cafes, shops and gelaterias turn the area into one of the liveliest in the city – sit at an outdoor café table and enjoy an apertif, some fresh pasta, and dig into some rich tiramisu as you celebrate your, albeit brief, stay in this wonderful city. This is a guest post by Maria Freeman who writes for Briefcases Direct, a website that offers luxury briefcases and a unique rolling briefcase selection direct from the manufacturer. She is a freelance writer and self-appointed world traveler who left San Francisco to travel the world, starting in Asia and made her way through Western Europe in 3 months. Maria is based in Manila, Philippines and spends more than half of every year seeking out new adventures, great food and the best bargain shopping in the world.