Where to Go When Sightseeing in Rome

Rome is a beautiful city-an elegant fusion of new and old world architecture. Recently I had the opportunity to visit as part of a sightseeing adventure through several countries in Europe, including Holland, England, and Ireland. I must admit, for sheer grandeur, Rome was a gem.

The hotel we stayed in was stylish and well dressed, but nothing over the top. The most important factor was its location to the subway terminal, a mere five-minute walk around the backside of the hotel. I was impressed to find Rome actually has a very efficient and easy to use subterranean transportation system, as we were able to get to all of our destinations without the use of a cab, for a mere fraction of the cost.

One of the first spectacles on our improvised itinerary was the Coliseum. Pictures simply do no justice to standing in the shadow of this massive structure. As hard as it is to believe it has been standing for nearly two thousand years, the aged patina quietly unifies the ages-making it strikingly simple to visualize myself in the heyday of ancient Rome. We did not enter that day, or the next when we revisited for a second look, firstly because it is not open on Mondays, and the second time the line was literally a mile long. We stopped to eat at a small sidewalk-tent restaurant, which was only across the street. Dining with the Coliseum in plain sight certainly set a unique atmosphere.

Another favorite point of interest was the 'Altare della Patria', part of which is the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier', where eternal flames are maintained on the first landing. This massive monument, although fairly modern as it was built only a little over a century ago, cannot help but inspire though its sheer size, grandiose staircases, and colossal bronze sculptures which adorn its roof and pedestals. I highly encourage anyone to transverse the huge staircases for the splendid views received of the city at its summit.

If all that climbing doesn't leave you too exhausted, the Spanish Steps are worth escalation as well. Climbing the marble is tiring, but the view from the top is worth the effort. Looking straight out from the main staircase, you find yourself staring down an endless rift between large buildings, a beautiful fountain in the foreground with Rome's characteristic cyan-blue water, and the city's horizon stretches into the distance as far as the eye can see.

The Pantheon, a sight that will leave you less winded, is one of the most preserved ancient structures in all of Rome. Being built just after the beginning of the Common Era, the remarkable condition of the interior is obvious immediately upon walking through its huge bronze doors. The only opening for natural light is a circular orifice in the concrete dome ceiling, which resides high about your head. There are various memorials on the surrounding walls.

We also visited the Vatican, briefly, but we chose not to enter the cathedral due to the length of the line of people trying to get in. I do recommend visiting in any case, as the magnificent sculptures atop the surrounding walls are beautiful. We also made a passing visit through the Piazza del Popolo, stopping to take some pictures of the fountains and sculptures.

Another remarkable feature that struck me was the plethora of excavated ruins that seemed to be scattered about the city. There would literally be fields and hillsides of ancient columns and structures fenced off like massive exhibits. Passing by these was interesting and inspiring knowing they were built by men whom lived their lives thousands of years before.

Perhaps the best sight to see in Rome, however, is the 'Baths of Caracalla'. Unlike the others, you have to pay a modest price to gain any significant access, as a massive wall surrounds the entire structure-but it is worth every penny. The setup is museum style-even though it is a large as a city park-and they ask you keep your voice down to a minimum. There were not very many people at the site on the day we attended and consequently we would experience times when there were few to no people in sight. The result is best described as a feeling of spiritual calmness, a renewing experience that is the product of spectacular and massive ancient ruins merely existing in almost pure silence. The hefty noise of a major metropolis just on the other side of the walls is so muffled as to not even notice it-even forget it.

Out of all our destinations, Rome remains my favorite. If you have the opportunity so see this amazing city, then go! If you have any appreciation for art or architecture whatsoever, you will be impressed.