A Weekend in Rome
- Frances
- Feb 15, 2024
- 4 min read
My friend who is studying abroad came to visit this weekend, so I have the perfect plan for a few days in Rome! Some things to remember is that public transportation in Rome is not the best, the buses often come late and the city center has crowded streets, so many buses don’t run through them. There is a metro, but there are only three lines, and it shuts down early, around 9pm. Metro line A can be used to go East-West from the Vatican and Spanish Steps. Walking through the city is enchanting, as you can stubble upon many ancient Roman ruins or beautiful apartment blocks.
Friday
The Colosseum and the Roman Forum are a must see for anyone in Rome! If you’re short on time and budget, don’t feel that you have to go inside. You can see many of the ruins from outside the gates.
Il Vittoriano or the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, the king who unified Italy. This is actually one of the youngest buildings in Rome, built between 1885 and 1935. It’s a grand ode to the neoclassical style. It's a very impressive building. You can also go inside and see the colosseum from its rooftop.
Right next door to the Vittoriano is Trajan’s Column.
A short walk away from the Vittoriano is the Pantheon, built in the 1st century AD by emperor Hadrian; it's the oldest masonry dome in the world. You can go inside and see the oculus, the skylight, and the tombs of the old kings of Italy.
Right by the Pantheon is the famous sandwich shop All’Antico Vinaio. These large with lots of authentic ingredients will sure to have your mouth watering no matter what you order. They also have a lot of veggie options!
From the Victoriano you can head to the Trevi Fountain. Make sure to have a coin ready to throw into the fountain. There are many superstitions around the luck of throwing a coin in, to make sure you return to Rome or that you’ll find love in the city. For sure, you’ll be donating to Caritas, Rome’s Catholic charity.
Saturday
Start in Vatican City, technically another country, although you won’t need your passport to get in.
Make sure to book tickets early if you want to see the Sistine Chapel! You’ll go through the entire Vatican museum collections to see the chapel, and it’s an impressive display of art. From ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman sculptures to renaissance paintings it’s great for art lovers.
If the line isn’t too long, make sure to go inside St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s massive with so many awe-inspiring sculptures, murals, and marble. You can head to the top of the dome for 5-8 €, depending if you want to take the elevator.
A short distance from the Vatican is Castel Sant’Angelo, a medieval fort built on ancient foundations. Directly in front is the bridge of Angels.
Head into the Prati neighborhood for lunch and some shopping. This neighborhood is known for its wide streets and more modern buildings. It also has metro stops that you can use to see the western half of the city.
You can hop on the metro at Lepanto and take the metro towards Anagnina until Spangana to see the Spanish steps!
If you’re not overloaded with art or tired of walking, you can walk to Villa Borghese.
The Borghese Museum has an amazing collection of Bernini sculptures that seems so real, they were scandalous for their time.
After some rest, make sure to check out the neighborhood of Trastevere. It’s known for its charming streets
Sunday
If you have time, check out Piazza Navona, it’s a beautiful Piazza with Bernini fountains and an obelisk from ancient Egypt.
There are lots of cool Sunday markets, from Flaminio in Northern Rome to Porta Portese in Trastevere you can find vintage items and great deals in these famous Roman street markets.
Other things
Rome is known for Carbonara, Amatriaciana, and Cacio e Pepe, make sure to try at least one of these while in Rome!
Scholars Lounge is a very popular bar for Americans. It is often very crowded, but lots of fun
For modern art lovers I’d recommend the Galleria Nazionale dell’Arte Moderna, with a collection of the old modern art masters from the early 20th century it’s sure to impress
For contemporary art lovers, check out the MAAXI, with lots of rotating collections, it’s usually displaying amazing Italian contemporaries and art from around the world.
Most churches in Rome are open to the public as long as they are not holding service. Make sure to pop in. Chiesa del Gesu is my favorite, but many churches are equally stunning.
Near the Vittoriano and Chiesa del Gesu is Largo Argentina, ancient temple ruins that now host many street cats! Stop by to pet a cat and see some ruins.
It can seem hard to do Rome in a weekend, but you can do it. You’ll need to prioritize what parts you want to see from art museums, to antiquity and all the beauty in the Roman streets.
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