They knock on the door of the room at 8am offering coffee or tea, what a wonderful accommodation.
Rome
There is no possibility to have breakfast in the hostel so we go to a nearby bar, Caffe Prati. Delicious cappuccino and croissants.
There are plenty of places to visit in Rome. We stay very close to the Castel Sant' Angelo and start our day.
Castel Sant´Angelo
Castel Sant' Angelo is located on the banks of the Tiber River a short distance from the Vatican. It was originally conceived as the mausoleum of Emperor Adriano but has also served as a palace and even a prison. Connected directly to the Vatican by a corridor, this impregnable fortress now houses the National Museum of Castel Sant' Angelo.
Castel Sant´Angelo
The views of the Castle from the bridge of the same name are perfect.
From the Castle we continue along the Via della Conciliazione, the most spectacular way to reach the smallest country in Europe, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, in the heart of Rome, the Vatican.
Vía della Conciliazione
In this city state there are three must-sees: St. Peter's Square, the Basilica and the Vatican Museums, where the Sistine Chapel is located.
St. Peter's Square is one of the largest squares in the world with a capacity for more than 300,000 people. Built by Bernini, it stands out not only for its dimensions but also for the porticoes that border it with an incredible colonnade with four rows of columns, a total of 284.
St. Peter's Square
In the centre there is an obelisk and two fountains. The square becomes the anteroom to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Guarded by the Swiss Guard.
St. Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square
St. Peter's Square
The Basilica is the work of several masters such as Michelangelo, Bramante and Bernini. It is one of the largest buildings in the world, being the most important religious building in Catholicism. It is named after the first Pope in history, who was buried in this Basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
Inside, important works such as Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's baldachin stand out. The latter is located in the transept, forged in solid black and gilded bronze. Impressive.
Baldachin
Interior of the Basilica
Interior of the Basilica
Its spectacular dome, begun by the master Michelangelo, has served as inspiration for other projects such as St Paul's Cathedral in London or the Church of St Mary Queen of the World in Montreal. To go up you have to pay an entrance fee of €8/pax (part of the journey by lift) or €6/pax if you go up on foot.
Dome
We leave the Basilica and queue to enter the Vatican Museums, the gateway to the Sistine Chapel, where the Popes are elected and crowned.
Vatican Museums
The Sistine Chapel is one of the masterpieces of Michelangelo who decorated the ceilings with frescoes narrating nine stories from Genesis. The Creation of Adam and the Last Judgement are the best known works. On the walls are frescoes by greats such as Botticelli, Perugino and Signorelli.
Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums
An impressive place and a must on your visit to Rome.
But these Museums have more to offer, such as the Pius XI Gallery, with works by Giotto, Leonardo and Raphael among others; the Pio Clementino Museum, where you can see the sculptural group of Laocoön and his sons; the Gregorian Egyptian Museum; the Raphael Rooms, where you can enjoy the School of Athens among other wonders of the brilliant Raphael, the helicoidal staircase, the Gallery of the tapestries or the geographical maps or the pavilion of the chariots, among others. It is immense, so you have to dedicate a lot of time to it.
Nile Allegory
Laocoön and his sons
It is well worth the time.
If you don't want to queue, book your ticket, the last Sunday of every month and the days of Easter are free. The best time to visit is from 12 or 1 p.m. when people are eating.
We recommend the Matricianealla restaurant, highly regarded for its authentic Roman food. Although it is not as small as others it is best to book.
Staircase Pincio Mount
After lunch we walked to the Piazza do Popolo, one of the most famous squares in the city, considered the most beautiful entrance to Rome, a place at the foot of Mount Pincio with a beautiful staircase leading up to it. From the Pincio viewpoint you can enjoy beautiful views of the city, very close to the Villa Borghese, one of the largest parks in Europe.
Piazza do Popolo
The Piazza do Popolo has an obelisk in the centre, three fountains (by Giuseppe Valadier) and three churches, the oldest of which is the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, which was built by masters such as Bernini, Bramante and Raphael.
Twin Churches
At the other end of the square are twin churches, Santa Maria in Montesanto (known as the artists' church) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
Piazza do Popolo
Fountais in Piazza do Popolo
From Piazza do Popolo we continue along Via del Corso. This shopping street in the historic centre leads us to Piazza Venezia. From here we head towards the Pantheon, where the sun is already setting.
Pantheon
We bought a sandwich at L'Antica Salumeria and sat down to eat it on the steps of the Pantheon Fountain in Piazza della Rotonda, which is very lively at any time of the day.
The Pantheon of Agrippa is one of the buildings that most impressed us in Rome. The building, its proportions, the acoustics, you will be speechless.
Pantheon
It houses the tomb of the master Raphael and other kings of Italy, although it was built as a sanctuary for all the gods, it is now a church of worship and Royal Pantheon. The interior is circular in plan, with a hemispherical dome decorated with coffered ceilings and a zenithal oculus through which the sunlight penetrates. The relationship between light and space makes this temple a unique place.
The exterior, with its rectangular façade, consists of a pronao with Corinthian columns on which you can read the following inscription "M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIVM.FECIT".
Although they are not the original ones, look at the doors, they are spectacular, the thickness, the dimensions and even the hinges.
Visit it several times, depending on the incidence of sunlight, and even at night it is spectacular.
Continue to Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful and atmospheric squares in the city. An obelisk and fountains are its main attraction. The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or the Four Rivers, representing the four most important rivers of the time, by Bernini; the Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of the Moor by Giacomo della Porta.
Sant'Agnese in Agone
Piazza Navona
Another highlight is the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone by Bernini's contemporary rival, Borromini. Nowadays you can find street artists, painters, portrait artists and, of course, hustlers.
Piazza Navona
Sant'Agnese in Agone
Very close to the Pantheon on Via dei Pastini is Bartolucci's shop, if Gepetto had one it would be this one. Handmade wooden toys that delight young and old alike, with prices to suit all tastes and budgets. It is impossible not to be tempted to take a photo with Pinocchio. Don't miss it.
Pinocchio
We ended the day in the Piazza di Spagna or Spanish Square with its monumental staircase that connects the square with the Church of Trinità dei Monti.
It is world famous and always full of people, but it is worth taking a break on the stairs and enjoying the atmosphere.
Piazza di Spagna
In the centre of the square is the famous Fontana della Barcaccia by the master Bernini. The nearby Via Condotti is home to the world's most prestigious haute couture shops. Another must on your visit to Rome.
Accommodation: Marta Guest House 90€ triple room with bathroom.
Entrance to Castel Sant' Angelo: 15€/pax.
Entrance to St. Peter's Basilica of the Vatican: free.
Admission Vatican Museums including Sistine Chapel: 15€/pax.
Entrance Panheon: free of charge.
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