The ultimate guide to exploring Rome

The Independent

This week, Travel Smart takes you to the Eternal City—Rome—one of Europe’s most iconic destinations.Travel editors Simon Calder and Ben Parker share their expert tips on making the most of your time in the historic capital—from must-see landmarks like the Colosseum and Vatican City, to hidden gems in Trastevere and beyond.They’ll guide you through the best places to eat, how to navigate the bustling streets, and the key experiences that will make your trip unforgettable.Watch TravelSmart on Independent TV.

Transcript

00:00Beach holiday, city breaks or adventure trips, which one do you prefer?

00:03I love a combination of all. I love to go to the city for the kind of culture.

00:08I might have to go city holiday actually.

00:10Depends what mood I'm in, like if you went somewhere like Thailand you could

00:13get a little bit of everything. Jungles, in somewhere like Chiang Mai.

00:17But I also like to get away from that on the beach as well.

00:20If I'm on my own with my friends, adventure trip.

00:23I prefer city breaks.

00:24Beach.

00:25With the family, it's always a beach.

00:27Well it used to be city trip because I was a bit of a culture vulture,

00:29but these days I've seen all the culture, I've heard all the music,

00:32I've done it all. So I'd rather get out in nature and climb up mountains.

00:36I like being in a big city personally. I'm not very good at all the touristy things.

00:40All of them. Why? You can merge them. Come on, let's do it all.

00:44Today we're taking you to a city that resounds with history with

00:48every step you take on its ancient marble stones, Rome.

00:52The Italian capital has been drawing the crowds for decades,

00:56delivering culture and cuisine in abundance.

01:00In 2025, millions more will be drawn to Rome as it celebrates Holy Year,

01:08a tradition that began in the year 1300.

01:11Welcome to Travel Smart.

01:22Not all flight paths lead to Rome, but many of them do,

01:27with more links from the UK than ever.

01:30You can fly from London's Stansted, Gatwick, Heathrow and City airports,

01:35and from elsewhere, from Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh.

01:42The heart of the city is wrapped in a fold of the Tiber River,

01:45with the Vatican City just beyond.

01:48Rome offers such an intensity of experiences and traffic

01:51that staying centrally is always the best plan.

01:56The area around the Pantheon will put you within reasonable walking distance

02:01of all the main sites.

02:03Begin your exploration at the Pantheon itself, built 1,900 years ago,

02:09and you'll find yourself in the heart of the city.

02:11Begin your exploration at the Pantheon itself, built 1,900 years ago,

02:17and topped by what is still the world's largest unsupported concrete dome.

02:24It's been a place of worship during its entire lifespan,

02:28first as a Roman temple, and for the last 14 centuries

02:33as the Basilica of St Mary and the Martyrs.

02:37The opening in the dome, known as the oculus,

02:41casts a column of sunlight, and sometimes rain, onto the marble floor.

02:46Just west, the Piazza Navona began as a sports arena almost two millennia ago,

02:52but by the time of the Baroque, the square had become a hub for high society.

02:58Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers at the centre of the square

03:02is a marble masterpiece celebrating the Danube, the Nile,

03:07the Ganges, and South America's River Plate.

03:17Cross a more accessible river, the Tiber,

03:20for Bernini's other great set piece, St Peter's Colonnade,

03:23the triumphal approach to the home of Roman Catholicism, St Peter's Basilica.

03:29The biggest church in Christendom contains a wealth of tombs, chapels, and sculptures,

03:34most notably Michelangelo's Pieta, depicting the sorrow of the Virgin Mary

03:39when Jesus was taken down from the cross and given to her.

03:42Michelangelo was also responsible for painting the extraordinary ceiling

03:46of the Sistine Chapel with the most powerful image, the creation of Adam,

03:50showing how God created man.

03:53The chapel is now part of the Vatican Museums,

03:56book in advance online through the official website

03:59rather than one of the many unofficial sites that will charge extra,

04:02or join a small private tour before or after hours for a much richer experience.

04:08Rome's other great tourism duo is the Forum and the Colosseum.

04:14The Roman Forum is a vast open-air museum

04:18located in a valley between two of the hills on which Rome is built.

04:23The Capitoline and the Palatine.

04:26This was the very heart of the Roman Empire.

04:32The Colosseum is the prototype for all modern arenas,

04:37holding upwards of 50,000 spectators who watched mortal combat

04:42between gladiators, condemned criminals, and wild animals.

04:46Even today, after almost 2,000 years and many earthquakes,

04:51the stature of the ancient amphitheater still amazes.

04:55To the north, the Borghese Gardens provide a respite from the tempestuous city

05:02and a beautiful viewpoint over Rome.

05:05In the unlikely event that the weather isn't cooperating,

05:09head for the Borghese Gallery,

05:11a palace of pleasure devoted to art with work by Bernini, Titian, and Caravaggio.

05:18Finding the best value places to eat can be a bit hit and miss.

05:22Il Corallo, just to the west of Piazza Navona,

05:24is a reliable restaurant with great pizza and reasonable prices.

05:31I like to dine in the district of Trastevere,

05:33west of the Tiber and south of the Vatican.

05:36Explore the options around the Piazza Santa Maria and Piazza Trelusa.

05:41I'm also fond of the Antica Enateca,

05:43a traditional Italian restaurant and restaurant.

05:46I'm also fond of the Antica Enateca,

05:48a wine bar on Via delle Croce,

05:50very close to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.

05:53For such a central location, it provides excellent value.

05:57Very close by, enthusiastic and well-heeled shoppers

06:00will be happy along the Via dei Condotti,

06:03where you can find the top designer labels at deluxe prices.

06:11Today's question is from Jonathan.

06:13Simon, Jonathan would like to know,

06:14should he postpone a planned city break to Rome to avoid the crowds of Holy Year?

06:20Well, good question.

06:21Holy Year, of course, is this great celebration,

06:24also known as a jubilee, which happens every 25 years.

06:29And Pope Francis describes this one as an event of

06:33great spiritual, ecclesial and social significance.

06:38Millions of Catholics will be converging on Rome.

06:41There will, of course, be extra pressure on travel and accommodation,

06:46which will push prices up.

06:48And there's some special events like the World Youth Jubilee in summer,

06:52which is going to be particularly busy.

06:56My view is that if you can get to Rome by the end of March,

07:00then you probably can have a fairly normal time.

07:03After that, it will feel like a very different city,

07:07pretty much through till, I guess, November.

07:10So maybe picking up in early December would be a good time to go.

07:14But Rome is always rewarding.

07:19That's all for this episode of Travel Smart.

07:22But do get in touch with your favourite Roman locations.

07:26The next one will be out soon,

07:28which you can watch online on the Independence mobile app or on your smart TV.

07:32For all the latest travel news, reviews and advice,

07:37go to our website and perhaps have a listen to my daily travel podcast.

07:42Ciao for now.

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