Rome as a living museum is a cliche which rings true, particularly in the Roman Forum where you can imagine life in Ancient Rome, before learning more at the Capitoline Museum. Couple your ancient history hit with a stroll through the wonderful neighbourhood of Trastevere which you might recognise from the movies, and which will steal your heart. So, put on your walking trainers and let’s go…
Table of Contents
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
The Roman Forum was once the beating heart of Ancient Rome, full of temples, marketplaces, and government buildings. It would have been bustling with people and Emperors ‘back in the day’ – command control for the Roman Empire and one of the most important places in the world at that time.
Roman Forum tickets and audio tours
Ancient Rome full day activities
If you want a full day of Ancient Rome history, then you could double up the Colosseum with the Roman Forum and Capitoline Museum. However, it is a big hit of ancient history in one go, and may make your head spin!
Combination tickets
Alternatively, plan to visit the Colosseum on a different day, so that you can soak up Ancient Rome history whilst avoiding overload.
Book a tour of the Colosseum which includes entrance to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill as a combination ticket, valid for 48 hours.
Then, you can enjoy a visit to the Colosseum one morning, before returning to the Roman Forum the next morning – just go to the entrance and show your combo ticket to enter (without a guide this time).
Audio guide for the Roman Forum
If you’ve bought a Combination ticket and are returning to the Roman Forum on a different day, then to keep costs down, you probably don’t want to pay again for a guide for the Roman Forum.
If this is the case, you can download an App which you can listen as you explore under your own steam – then you know what you’re listening to. Here is a good suggestion:
Rick Steve’s Audio Tour – Rome – The Roman Forum (40 minutes)
“Friends, Romans, Travellers, lend me your earbuds. Resurrect the ancient rubble of Rome’s centre – the world of Vestel Virgins, passionate orators, conquering generals and sleazy emporers”.
If you get on well with Rick Steve’s audio tour, then he has lots of other options for Ancient Rome, plus other destinations in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.
Alternatively, there are other Apps available, such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum Guide. Perhaps try a couple before you travel to see which style of delivery you like the best.
Tips for exploring the Roman Forum
Tips for exploring the Roman Forum include:
- Go as early as possible, before it gets hot and the crowds build up.
- Have a substantial breakfast before you set off to the Roman Forum as there are no refreshment facilities on-site.
- Pack a hat and water for your visit as there is no shade at all in the Roman Forum
- Don’t forget your earphones if using an Audio tour.
The main sights of the Roman Forum include:
- The Arch of Titus – entrance to the Roman Forum from the Colosseum end.
- Via Sacra – the road running through the Forum and Arch of Titus where through which triumphant marches passed after significant victories.
- Temple of Romulus (not named after the Romulus who founded Rome!). Its bronze doors are the original doors from 309 AD.
- Vestal Virgin statues – the Vestel Virgins were chosen very young (aged 6-10 years) to keep the fires of the Temple of Vesta burning all the time, thought to be linked to the fortunes of Rome. If one of the virgins broke trusts, they faced a grizzly end as they would be burned alive.
- Temple of Saturn – the original temple was built in 497 BC, but the current version built in the 4th century. All that remains is the podium on which the temple stood plus 8 columns of granite and marble, but you can get an idea of the scale of this place of worship.
- The Arch of Septimius Severus – built in 203 AD is one of the biggest arches in Rome. The Roman Empire had come to the end of its golden years by then, they just didn’t know it and thought the Eternal City of Ancient Rome would last forever.
As you wander through the ruins of the city centre of Ancient Rome, keep reminding yourself just how old these ruins are!
Climb Palatine Hill
From within the Roman Forum, take the path up to the top of the Palatine Hill for fabulous views over the Forum spread out below you. Enjoy the shade of the tall pine trees whilst you contemplate the birthplace of Rome, as this is where Romulus supposedly founded the city. Legend has it that a She-Wolf raised twins Romulus and Remus, but then Romulus killed his twin brother to become founder of Rome!
It is also the place where the Roman emperors lived in large imperial palaces and lived an opulent lifestyle, however there are only a few ruins left so again you will have to use your imagination….
Explore the Capitoline Museum
Once you have finished on Palatine Hill and returned to ground level, ascend the steps up to the Capitoline Museum which overlooks the northern end of the Forum. Make sure that you look back at the tremendous view from the terrace over the Roman Forum.
Then walk around the side of the building towards the entrance to the Capitoline Museum, past a statue of the twins Romulus and Remus with the She Wolf – there is another one inside the museum.
The Capitoline Museum is the oldest public collection of art, dating back to 1471 when Pope Sixtus IV donated a group of ancient bronze sculptures to the people of Rome. Now the exhibits of the Museum fill two large Michelangelo designed buildings. It will take you a while to walk around the museum exhibits full of sculptures and antiquities, most notably:
- The large statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback – he is thought to be the last of the good emperors.
- Statue of the She-wolf from the Romulus and Remus legend.
- The Hall of Emperors – filled with rows of lifelike marble busts.
- Bernini’s Medusa statue.
- Statue of Marforio, the River God, lounging on the fountain in the courtyard.
- The Capitoline Venus statue.
If you want to make sure that you get the most out of your visit and learning about Ancient Rome, then you could book a private tour although these are very expensive, or choose the Capitoline Museums Experience with Multimedia Video:
Lunch – at some point you might want to stop for lunch at Terrazza Caffarelli, the panoramic cafeteria in the Capitoline Museum.
The Colossus of Constantine
Before you leave the Capitoline Museum and continue your Rome itinerary, don’t miss the giant statues in the outdoor courtyard, most notably the enormous stone body parts of Emperor Constantine (head, feet, hands).
Known as the Colossus of Constantine, this statue featured Emperor Constantine sitting on a throne, and it was 40 ft high. Even his right hand with raised index finger is 5 ft high. The Colossus of Constantine first stood in the Roman Forum at the Basilica of Maxentius.
Walk through Il Ghetto (Jewish Ghetto)
After lunch, exit the Capitoline Museum and leave Ancient Rome behind. Head west past the Teatro Marcelo sitting at the southern point of the Jewish Ghetto. Walk through this small area of the city, once walled with only two entrances to ‘contain’ the Jewish people for over 300 years until 1847.
You will notice gold tiles in the cobblestones of the side streets denoting who lived in the houses and who were ‘taken away’ to concentration camps,.
Today however, children play ball in the streets and the locals congregate for weddings and socials on the streets. Restaurants advertise the speciality of fried artichokes (when in season) and there is a relaxed air very different from the history it has endured.
If you find Piazza Mattei, then you will see the Fontana della Tartarugha– a small fountain featuring young boys lifting brass turtles playfully up to the water bowl of the fountain, which is cute!
Explore the neighbourhood of Trastevere
From Il Ghetto, head to the Ponte Fabrico – the oldest Roman bridge in Rome, still in its original state.
Cross over Ponte Fabrico to Isola Tiberina and then on to the Trastevere neighbourhood. Trastevere means ‘across the river’ in Latin and so draws parallels with the Left Bank of Paris, being situated on the left bank of the Tiber River.
In some ways, no itinerary is needed for your time in Trastevere – it is the perfect place for just wandering and even getting lost in the streets. That said, keep your eyes open for the Biscottifico Artigiano Innocenti, a tiny biscuit factory where you can buy biscuits straight from the oven. It is very cute and couldn’t be more Italian!
Trastevere is charming and feels like old style Italy with pedestrian streets, cobblestones, ivy hanging off the buildings, Fiat 500 cars parked neatly on the tiny streets. It could be straight out of an Italian film.
The main square Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastavere is pretty and is a great place for people watching and buskers. However, before you stop for a drink, take time to visit the Chiesa di Santa Maria, our Lady in Trastavere, on the square. It is one of the oldest churches dating back to the 3rd century in its original form. Admire the beautiful gold mosaics on the bascilica and outside. It’s so pretty.
Seek dinner at a local trattoria
To finish our Rome itinerary for the day, stay in Trastevere for dinner as it is one of the best places to eat in Rome in the evenings. The area has some touristy restaurants (like Sabatinis on Piazza di Santa Maria), but also several which offer set menus with 3 meal choices which are simple, tasty, relatively cheap. No doubt these will be filled to the rafters!
Check out those on or around Piazza di Sant Apollonia like Osteria Der Belli.
Daenso is an age-old trattoria serving incredible carbonara. You just need to line up in the queue and be patient – it will be worth it!
Final thoughts…
On this Rome itinerary, you will have had a long day after an early start at the Roman Forum, so make sure that you take your time over dinner in Trastevere before heading back to your accommodation to rest and prepare for tomorrow and your next Rome itinerary.
Thank you so much for reading my blog, I hope you found it useful?
For more stories, itineraries, and advice, check out my Related Posts and sign up to receive my blogs by email.
If you have a blog-related question, please do ask in the Comments box and I’ll try to help…
Request please – if you use my photos, then please credit Love Travel Planning on your social media or give me a shout out on Instagram @lovetravelplanning as I am growing my website. Huge thanks.
Enjoy your travels!
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.