Rome

No trip to Italy could be complete without visiting its capital Rome so make sure and leave yourself enough time to explore this historical gem.

Rome has some of the most important museums in the world that offers an insight into some different times and styles of Italian history. Rome does also offer a healthy nightlife and live music scene with the Testaccio district the best choice.

Home to some of the most amazing sights in the world, a trip through the streets of the Italian capital will leave you spellbound. Most would recommend that you begin your sightseeing trip in the centro storico where there is a vast collection of both Classical and Christian sights contained in an area that you can easily navigate on foot. Realistically, however, it doesn’t matter where you begin because there are certain attractions where everyone ends up.

Top places to visit while staying in Rome.

Colosseum

The number 1 attraction of Rome is the Colosseum; the large amphitheatre that housed 65,000 spectators in Roman days. Gladiators battled each other as well as wild animals in the Colosseum’s arena. In the giant ‘ruins’ of the Colosseum, you can visit the stands, the arena and the underground spaces of the largest Roman amphitheatre.

Vatican Museums

Over the centuries, the popes amassed an enormous art collection varying from Roman objects and religious relics to countless paintings. In the Vatican Museums you can visit 54 richly decorated rooms and view these art treasures of the Catholic church. The highlight for many visitors is likely to be the famous Sistine Chapel. The chapel with lovely frescos by Michelangelo that is mostly known as the site of conclave when a new pope is elected.

Trevi Fountain

The most famous fountain in Rome and perhaps even the world must be the ‘Fontana di Trevi’, or Trevi Fountain. This baroque fountain, located on the Piazza di Trevi, was built in the 18th century. The landmark and monument displays the god of the sea, Neptune on his chariot. No visit or Rome sightseeing is complete without tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, as this means the person throwing the coin will ‘one day return to Rome Italy’.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Originally, the 2nd-century Castel Sant’Angelo, or Castle of the Holy Angel, was a mausoleum for emperor Hadrian. After archangel Michael appeared here in 590 and ended a plague, pope Pius II had a large bronze statue of the angels placed on top of the castle. The Castle of the Holy Angel was part of Rome’s defences and offered a place where popes could shelter, as the Vatican was connected to it by a tunnel.

Did you know that you can visit Rome on an Eurrailing trip? Check out our Little Italy package, taking you to Rome, Florence and Venice in just 7 nights. Or maybe you want to include a visit to Rome as one of your desired stops on the ultimate European adventure? Head over to our custom package page, where you can build an interrailing package unique to you.