Again we are woken up with tea and coffee, what a wonderful accommodation. We had breakfast again at Caffe Prati. Delicious.
Pantheon
We walk again to the Pantheon, as we have already mentioned, we recommend you to visit it at different times of the day to enjoy its magic.
Pantheon
Our next visit is the Colosseum. But we make a stop to admire the grandeur of the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, located in Piazza Venezia. This building was built in marble in honour of the first king of unified Italy and the soldiers of the First World War. It now houses the Risorgimento Museum dedicated to the unification of Italy and the History of the Italian Risorgimento.
Monument to Victor Emmanuel II
Opposite the Column, the Forum and Trajan's Market, the latter considered the first covered shopping centre in history.
Of particular note is the Trajan's Column, a marble memorial erected by order of the Roman Emperor Trajan. Its bas-reliefs tell the story of the wars of Dacia, where Trajan and his soldiers defeated the Dacians. Don't miss it.
Trajans Column
Forum and Trajans Market
We continue to the Colosseum. Around the Colosseum, dozens of costumed Romans try to get a few coins by posing with tourists.
Roman gladiators
We queue for half an hour and go in. If you don't want to queue, book your ticket in advance.
Colosseum
The Roman Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre built during the Roman Empire. It is a symbol of the city, built in brick and travertine, it has an elliptical structure and was divided into five levels with a capacity for more than fifty thousand people. Inside it, gladiator fights, fights against animals and naval battles were organised. Nowadays, every Good Friday the Pope presides over the Vicacrucis in honour of the first Christians who died in the arena. An unmissable visit.
Colosseum
Colosseum
We visit the Roman Forum, the centre of public life in Ancient Rome. We start our tour at the Triumphal Arch of Titus, located on the Via Sacra, to commemorate the victories in Jerusalem. The Via Sacra was the main street and connects the Colosseum with the Piazza del Campidoglio or Capitoline Square where the Capitoline Museums are located and the famous sculpture of the Capitoline She-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus, the founding brothers of Rome.
Capitoline She-Wolf
Roman Forum
In the Roman Forum you will also find the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, the Arch of Severus Septimus, the Casa delle Vestali, the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Castor and Pollux or the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina (one of the best preserved). Don't miss it.
Arch of Titum
We stop at the Basilica of Santa Francesca which boasts a beautiful 12th century bell tower as does Santa Maria in Cosmedini. Although the Romans know it as Ceccolella.
Basilica of Santa Francesca
Palatine
The Palatine Hill or Monte Palatino is one of the seven hills of Rome, where legend has it that the she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus lived here in a cave. When the brothers decided to create Rome, Romulus killed Remus and founded the city.
Palatine
Roman Forum
In the Palatine Hill we highlight the Domus Flavia, the House of Livia, the Farnese Gardens and the House of Augustus, among others. The views of the Forum from here are spectacular.
Roman Forum
Septimio Severo Arch
Views from Palatine
Sign in Palatine
We eat at Sora Margherita, a small restaurant with homemade food in the Jewish quarter. Very close to the Great Synagogue of Rome. The food is delicious and the neighbourhood is very pleasant. Don't miss it.
Mouth of Truth
Our next stop is the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, a medieval church where the remains of St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, can be found. They say that if you put a candle in it, love will come to you. Pay attention to the floors and hidden treasures. It is beautiful, don't miss it.
Piazza Campidoglio
Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
Outside, in the pronaos, is the Mouth of Truth or Bocca della Veritá. Legend has it that a husband who distrusted his wife took her to the Mouth of Truth to check her fidelity. The woman reacted by feigning fainting and her lover took her in his arms. After this, the woman swore before the Mouth of Truth that she had only been between the arms of her husband and the man who had just picked her up. Another says that if you put your hand in the Bocca della Verità and lie, you will lose it. Would you dare to stick your hand in?
St. Valentine
This marble mask was featured in the film Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, in which he played a joke on her by sticking his hand in her mouth and pretending to pull it out.
Moses
Our next visit is to the Church of San Pietro in Vicoli which houses Michelangelo's white marble sculpture of Moses, the mausoleum of Pope Julius II and the reliquary containing the chains of St. Peter under the high altar, the reason the church was built. It is well worth a visit.
Moses
We stroll through the nearby Monti neighbourhood, one of the oldest in Rome. A neighbourhood of cobblestone streets where hipsters and older people live side by side. You can enjoy small restaurants and eccentric bars, antique shops and craft shops. Don't miss it.
In this area we recommend the restaurants Vecchia Roma, an osteria very close to San Pietro in Vincoli, or La Cicala e la Formica, also in Monti.
Views from Quirinale
Before we knew it, we reached one of the Italian presidential residences, the Quirinale Palace, located on another of Rome's seven hills. It has a belvedere with good views of the city.
We end the day at the Trevi Fountain, probably the most beautiful fountain in Rome, the work of the master Nicola Salvi. Despite its monumentality it is set in a small and often crowded square.
Fontana de Trevi
Like other places in Rome, it has also been featured in films, we all remember the images from the film La Dolce Vita in which Anita Ekberg (Sylvia) dives into its waters.
Fontana de Trevi
Legend has it that if you throw a coin backwards you will return to Rome, if you throw two you will find love and if there are three you will marry the person you met. The truth is that the city of Rome gets almost a million euros from the fountain every year. What do you think?
Fontana de Trevi
A must on your visit to the eternal city, we encourage you to visit it at different times of the day or night, it is always beautiful.
Accommodation: Marta Guest House 90€ triple room with bathroom.
Combined ticket Colosseum, Forum and Palatine: 16€/pax.
Entrance to Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church and Mouth of Truth: free.
Entrance to San Pietro in Vincoli Church: free.
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