![\"Views](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/6246af06151ed288fbc1c213\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Roman%2520Forum-1-mar22-buyin-Ryan%2520Neeven.jpg\")
<\/figure>Witness the imperial grandeur<\/strong><\/p> Rome is an open-air museum packed with archaeological wonders and given that the historical centre is rather tiny, you can easily stroll from one landmark to the next. The gem is the Coliseum, where if you close your eyes it is easy to imagine the roaring lions fighting the gladiators amid loud bloodthirsty crowds. New guided tours descend to the underground and will take you across the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Palatine hill and Constantine\u2019s Arch, the heart of Ancient Rome. A 10-minute walk<\/a> away is the Circus Maximus stadium where chariot races were held.<\/p> Website:<\/strong> parcocolosseo.it<\/a><\/p> 2. Soak up the sun in a picturesque piazza<\/strong><\/p> Romans love shooting the breeze on benches in beautiful sunny squares. The piazza is the stage of the social buzz. The most iconic, overcrowded yet always breathtaking squares are the Baroque Piazza di Spagna with its Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Piazza della Rotonda, home to the Pantheon temple-turned-basilica, and Piazza di Trevi where tourists throw coins inside the Renaissance fountain. Offbeat, quieter piazzas include Santa Maria in Trastevere and Campo de Fiori, popular for its farmers’ market. Then of course there\u2019s Saint Peter\u2019s Square, which is best to avoid on Sundays when the Pope addresses gathered pilgrims.<\/p> Website:<\/strong> pantheonroma.com<\/a><\/p> 3. Get a hit of art<\/strong><\/p> It takes a whole day to visit the\u00a0Vatican Museums<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 to stare at Michelangelo\u2019s mesmerising Sistine Chapel, admire the Renaissance art of Raffaello and Caravaggio and wander across the lush Vatican gardens. The\u00a0Capitoline Museums<\/a>\u00a0have a vast collection of masterpieces including works by Titian, while the\u00a0Galleria Borghese<\/a>\u2019s marble rooms showcase Bernini and Canova statues. Other must-sees include\u00a0Scuderie del Quirinale<\/a>\u00a0(the presidential palace\u2019s former stables), the sumptuous\u00a0Palazzo Barberini<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0National Etruscan Museum<\/a>\u00a0of Villa Giulia with objects from pre-Roman tribes.<\/p> 4. Feel the religious vibe on a Vespa<\/strong><\/p> Spirituality is everywhere. If you want to spice up the Giro delle 7 Chiese<\/em>, an ancient pilgrim route connecting seven top churches, rent a Vespa to squeeze through the narrow cobbled alleys just like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck did in Roman Holiday<\/em>. The majestic Saint Peter\u2019s Basilica is worth climbing to the top of the dome for a unique city view. The pilgrimage also includes the Archbasilica of St.John Lateran with the Sacred Steps climbed by Jesus during the Passion and a divine Holy Door which is opened every 25 years for the remission of sins.<\/p> Website:<\/strong> ecomoverent.com\/tour-in-vintage-vespa<\/a><\/p> 5. Dine and drink on the Tiber River<\/strong><\/p> The Ancient Romans transported goods along the Tiber River. Now, you get to navigate it on hop-on, hop-off tours that include cocktails and munchies. Stops include the old port of Trajan, the excavations of Ostia and the mouth of the Tiber in Fiumicino, on the coast. Supper cruises with live music depart at sunset. Alternatively, there are convenient hop-on, hop-off buses and guided bike tours along the Appia route lined with lavish villas and aqueducts.<\/p> Websites:<\/strong> turismoroma.it<\/a>; romebiketour.it<\/a><\/p> 6. Indulge in<\/strong> maritozzi alla panna<\/strong><\/em> and<\/strong> filetti di baccal\u00e0<\/strong><\/em><\/p> If you\u2019re on a sightseeing spree, grab some delicious street food to fuel your adventures. Takeaway \u2018pizza al taglio\u2019 or \u2018pizza alla pala\u2019 shops sell rectangular slices of all kinds. The iconic Roman pizza, dubbed pinsa<\/em>, is thick and plain. Traditional finger foods include suppl\u00ec<\/em>, balls of fried rice with tomato sauce and mozzarella, and filetti di baccal\u00e0<\/em>, fried codfish fillets served in brown paper bags. The sweet tooth can indulge in maritozzi alla panna<\/em> (brioche stuffed with whipped cream) and bombe<\/em> (literally meaning \u2018bombs\u2019, they\u2019re fried cream buns covered in sugar).<\/p> Websites:<\/strong> anticofornoroscioli.it<\/a>; facebook.com\/FilettiDiBaccala<\/a><\/p> 7. Meet skeletons and ghosts<\/strong><\/p> You\u2019ll get the creeps in the Capuchin Crypt lined with thousands of monks\u2019 skulls and bones. Prepare for a spooky tour of underground Rome through a maze of catacombs where the early Christians took shelter. The marble Ponte Sant\u2019Angelo bridge is said to be haunted by the ghost of noblewoman Beatrice Cenci, beheaded in the 1500s, while Vicolo del Malpasso is where condemned prisoners walked to meet the hangman. Couples should see the skull of Saint Valentine cherished at the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, which also features the Mouth of Truth, a huge face-shaped marble mask said to bite off the hand of liars.<\/p> Websites:<\/strong> cappucciniviaveneto.it<\/a>; visiteromasotterranea.it<\/a><\/p> 8. Listen to classical music at the Roman baths<\/strong><\/p> Set near what looks like a little Coliseum but is called Teatro Marcello, the Temple of Apollo Sosiano regularly hosts classical music concerts, performances and plays. Once a place where pagan rituals were carried out, Romans today call it \u2018il tempietto\u2019 (the little temple\u2019). You can enjoy the opera and ballet at the Terme di Caracalle<\/a>, an incredibly well-preserved ancient Roman baths.<\/p> Website:<\/strong> tempietto.it<\/a><\/p> 9. Jog at Villa Borghese and Gianicolo<\/strong><\/p> A morning run is a great way to explore Rome\u2019s lush public gardens where businessmen and nannies go for lunch breaks. The Gianicolo park, lined with patriots\u2019 statues, has a unique belvedere while Villa Borghese and Villa Sciarra are near the main archaeological sites. Il Giardino degli Aranci garden has a romantic panoramic terrace and from a tiny garden gate next door there\u2019s a peephole that perfectly frames Saint Peter\u2019s dome.<\/p> 10. Follow the ristretto trail<\/strong><\/p> Romans are addicted to ristretto, a sort of concentrated espresso. They have it on the go, like a shot, and several times per day. Bars<\/a> are the temple of coffee<\/a> and most have outside tables. Must-stop caf\u00e9s, brimming with local politicians and students, are historical La Tazza d\u2019Oro<\/a>and Sant\u2019Eustachio<\/a>. At Canova Tadolini<\/a>, a former artist atelier, you get to sip an espresso surrounded by bronze and marble statues. Caff\u00e9 Greco<\/a>, one of Europe\u2019s oldest caf\u00e9s, was an artist’s hangout spot and has a dreamy, elegant atmosphere.<\/p>![\"Views](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/6246af5c151ed288fbc1c215\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Spanish%2520Steps2-mar22-buyin-Ryan%2520Neeven.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Manicured](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/6246af6ce0d357e9da9e676e\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Barberini%2520-%25203-mar22-buyin-Ryan%2520Neeven.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Twilight](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/6246afb2bcafadd46a704357\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Tiiber%2520River%2520-%25203--mar22-buyin-Ryan%2520Neeven.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Restaurant](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/624711f7e0d357e9da9e67a9\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Roma%2520-%2520Trastevere-mar22-buyin-ryan%2520neeven.jpeg\")
<\/figure>![\"Rowing](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/6246afdc151ed288fbc1c217\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Villa%2520Borghese%25202--mar22-buyin-Ryan%2520Neeven.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"SantEustachio](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/6246b03ee0d357e9da9e6770\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/Sant%2522Eustachio%25202--mar22-buyin-Ryan%2520Neeven.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Vintage](\"https:\/\/media.cntraveller.com\/photos\/6247129bbcafadd46a704377\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/12-Porta%2520Portese%2520-%2520Roma%2520-%25203-buyin-ryan%2520neeven.jpeg\")
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