What To Visit In Rome In 3 Days
Visit Rome in 3 days is a very difficult thing to do, as the Eternal City has so many places that deserve to be known. There is a tourist Rome and an unusual Rome, but if you are visiting it perhaps for the first time, you should start with the most famous sights and attractions.
What to Visit in Rome on the First Day
Let's start with Piazza del Popolo which can be reached by metro at the Piazzale Flaminio stop. Popular tradition has it that in antiquity there was a grove of poplars in the area pertaining to the tomb of Emperor Nero. Historically, it is established that Pope Paschal II had a small chapel built close to the walls, which later gave way to the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, from which the square took its name.
From the square we can choose to walk along Via del Corso or the parallel Via del Babuino to reach Spanish Stepswhere we admire the Baroque-style Fontana della Barcaccia, sculpted by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo. On the right side of the famous steps is the house of the poet Keats, who lived and died there and is now a museum dedicated to him. On the square we also find the 19th century Babington's tea room, the column of the Immaculate Conception where, every 8 December, the Pope is used to pay homage with a wreath of flowers and the Palace of Propaganda Fide.
The 135-step monumental staircase dates back to 1725 and was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XIII; it was built to connect the Spanish Bourbon embassy to the church of Trinità dei Monti. We continue to the famous Trevi Fountain, restored in 1998 to offer the ancient splendour of a highly scenic work of art. After throwing a coin with our backs to the fountain as an omen to return to see Rome, we reach the nearby Piazza Colonna and the Galleria Alberto Sordi to cross Via del Corso and reach the Pantheon.
The building, erected by the Romans in honour of all deities of all religions, was converted into a Christian church in the 7th century and then took on the task of housing the remains of historical figures. From Piazza della Rotonda where the Pantheon is, we stop to sip an excellent coffee in the nearby Piazza di Sant'Eustachio before reaching Piazza Navona, which in ancient Roman times was a stadium commissioned by the Emperor Diocletian. All that remains of its original structure is the ground plan, since even the obelisk at its centre comes from the Circus Maxentius that once stood on the Appian Way.
It is an urban legend the one that states that in Roman times the square was used to stage naval battles as it was only used for athletic competitions; while it is true that in the early 19th century horse races were held there. The square is the emblem of Baroque Rome with the sculpture of the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini and the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone by Borromini and Rainaldi.
Crossing the nearby Corso Vittorio we visit Campo de' Fiori, the only historical square in Rome without a church and made famous for having hosted the execution of Giordano Bruno in 1600, in memory of whom a bronze statue was placed. Since the mid-19th century, the square has hosted a very characteristic local market in the mornings.
What to Visit in Rome on Day Two
The visit will be dedicated to the Vatican to the famous square, the heart of Catholicism, the Basilica of the same name and the Vatican Museums, home to wonderful works of art. In the afternoon, we continue our visit to the nearby Castel Sant'Angelo, which was originally the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, whose remains it housed like those of other emperors. Transformed into a castle in 590, it was later modified into a fortress.
To relax from fatigue of these visits, we can rest in the green and find proper relaxation in the park of Villa Pamphili, which was formerly an estate of the Roman noble family of the same name. With its almost two square kilometres, it is a green lung of the capital, right next to the Vatican between the Aurelio and Monteverde districts.
What to Visit in Rome on the Third Day
The last section of this what to visit in Rome in 3 days is dedicated to visiting Piazza Venezia, the Vittoriano and the Campidoglio, the true centre of the city. We will continue on to visit the Roman Forum, currently reopened in some of its sections, and at the end of Via dei Fori Imperiali, the most famous monument in Rome: theColosseum, formerly known as the Flavian Amphitheatre inaugurated by Titus in 80 AD and used to host gladiator shows.
The evening will conclude with a visit to the characteristic district of Trastevere with its winding streets covered with cobblestones, overlooked by council houses. The true centre of the city's nightlife is a meeting point thanks to the density of clubs, hangouts, pizzerias, pubs and restaurants.
