In April, I booked a plane ticket to Ciampino Airport. Yes, the one that is not the main airport of Rome. Nevertheless, its outside of the walls location only meant a quick taxi drive on the way back at 2AM. We obviously missed the bus that would have taken us to the city centre, instead got into one that went straight to the city of Ciampino, which drove us around the entrance to the airport. I frantically checked the Trenitalia app, as it was dark already, and saw that the train to Roma Termini leaves from the second platform in 3 minutes. In 3 minutes, we’ve gone from a bus stop, through the ticket machine into the train, where I randomly asked two Hindi tourists if the train is going to Rome. It was going to Rome. Now out to get our AirBnb key.
A key feature of the Roma Termini station are these ramps which speed up walking, often times seen at greater airports. We had 20 minutes to get our key, we entered metro and were on our way.
The metro in Rome has an intricate issue - no matter where you dig in The Eternal City, you always end up recovering some artifacts. There are only 3 metro lines in Rome, and to be honest - only 2 of them are of any importance - the one crossing the city centre, from Anagnina to the Vatican City.
The Colosseum
After we went through an elaborate process of getting the key to our AirBnb, we left our carry-on bags and went out to discover what lies ahead. On foot, because the first time I visit a place I assume everything is yet to be seen. Our apratament had a view for the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano so we went there, saw The Colosseum, Fontana Di Trevi and then back, with pizza al taglio at hand.
Here are some of the later photos I took, when I got to enter the Colosseum and had the opportunity to see it from the inside. I know it may sound awkward, but there’s nothing there that wouldn’t be as interesting as watching this youtube video about this marvel of architecture and a giant crest of power.
There is something magical about the umbrella pines, for a northerner like me. I remember watching TV documentaries about the life in the warmer countries, the Mediterranean and in the Northern Africa. Here I take a look out of The Colosseum and have them standing right next to me.
Castel Sant’Angelo
This structure, at the right river bank of The Tiber, and near The Vatican City is in fact a mausoleum of Hadrian, and a burial place for a few other emperors of Rome: Antoninus Pius, Commodus, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Geta and Caracalla.
The reduced ticket for the castle was so cheap that we decided to enter. It was a great decision as a beautiful panorama of Rome awaited us at the top of the structure. The historical part and the expositions were there, but acted as a supporting actor of the main one - which was the tour of Rome. Take a look at the view from the castle. Right of this picture there is the main entrance to The Vatican City.
Di Trevi
I had no prior information about this structure, though seeing an extraordinary large crowd in the vicitnity of the fountain, at 12AM, was in fact a surprise. How come this place is so iconic? It happens to be the most well-known baroque structure in the city, and possibly the most famous fountain in the world. It is also possible to visit the underground part of the fountain, though I didn’t have enough time to get to see it myself.
Campo de’ Fiori
The Field of Flowers is a square, which was undeveloped until the 15th century. The famous philosopher Giordano Bruno proposed a Copernican Model, for which he was burnt alive. His works were placed on the Index of Forbidden Books. In the centre of the square there is now a monument to him and the freedom of thought. A friend of mine said - During the day it’s a giant market with many stalls, to all converge into a single bar in the evening.
It is an ideal place to buy flowers, and to rest after visiting all of the colossal buildings in the city.
Villa Borghese
I didn’t have the opportunity to visit the gallery, though as an IT person I don’t miss it much. The park on the other hand has the most amount of green areas in the whole city. I chose to enter it through Piazza del Popolo.
Pantheon
At last, I must mention a fact about the more recent history I present the Tomb of Vittorio Emanuele II, the father of the nation of Italy, the one who united it all under one governate. He has been buried in The Pantheon, a temple where the gods of Rome were worshipped. Next to the founder of Italy lies his son - Umberto I, who was killed by an anarchist.
