Roman holiday

Rome contains three of the greatest cities in the world. Baroque Rome sits on top of Rome of the Renaissance, which in turn was built over the remains of Imperial Rome. Walk down any street and you’re treading on layer upon layer of history. Yet while this city boasts some of Europe’s top tourist attractions, there is still a lot of pleasure in just seating yourself in a small square or narrow street and drinking coffee as the world goes by.

1. St Peter’s Basilica

The Vatican City is Rome’s top attraction, but if you are unable to dedicate a full day to exploring its museums, with room after room of priceless statuary and paintings, do nevertheless take the time to climb the stairs to the dome of St Peter’s for superb city views. 

2. Trevi Fountain

Rome’s largest fountain, completed by Nicola Salvi in 1762, was made famous in the film La Dolce Vita and still delivers a huge impact as you enter Piazza di Trevi. Throw a coin over your shoulder into this baroque fountain and you will be sure to return to Rome.

3. Pantheon

This impressive Imperial temple in Rome, whose name means ‘every god’, was designed and built by Emperor Hadrian in 118AD. The two first kings of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, are buried inside this unique circular structure, where the walls are lined in marble and the open-air dome lets in natural light.

4. Colosseum

The best-known site in Rome, completed in 80AD, is a vast amphitheatre where 55,000 spectators could watch gladiators battling wild animals and each other. Even if you don’t go inside, call by to get an idea of the epic scale on which the Caesars built.

5. Piazza Navona

This rectangular piazza was constructed over an old chariot-racing stadium. Today it’s famous for its restaurants where you can sit outside and admire Bernini’s spectacular baroque statue of the four great river gods: the Ganges, Danube, Nile and River Plate.

6. Santa Maria del Popolo

No church in Rome displays so many great works of art as Santa Maria del Populo. See masterworks by Caravaggio, Bernini, Sansovino and Raphael for free inside a church that was rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of Emperor Nero.

7. Palazzo Farnese

One of the most beautiful palaces of the Renaissance was built in 1517, with Michelangelo adding a striking cornice at the top of the finished building a few years later. It’s now the French Embassy so you can’t go in, but do visit the market in Campo de’Fiori nearby.

8. The Spanish Steps

Babington’s English Tea Room sits on one side of these famous steps and the house where John Keats died is opposite. The steps were completed in 1726 and have featured in many films, including Roman Holiday and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

9. Via del Babuino

The trendiest shopping street in Rome runs from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps and is full of antiques, art galleries and clothes shops. At the Hotel de Russie, look out for the paparazzi hoping to snap celebrities as they emerge.

10. Giolitti

The waiters in this 19th-century gelateria dress like stewards on an ocean liner, and they serve the best ice cream in Rome. The Giolitti family have repeatedly refused to sell their recipes, which include flavours such as champagne, ricotta and marsala custard.