Yet another late review, lolzsies!…read more Ah, the Spanish Steps, also a "must" for anyone visiting Rome and a prime spot for tourists wielding selfie sticks in every direction. If you're here for the history, great. If you're here for Instagram likes, you're in the right place. I arrive early (because I'm not there for the selfie stick chaos) and it is peaceful with a few locals and maybe a pigeon or two. But by midday? It is a full-on tourist spectacle. Influencers posing with their Fauxman Roman candid shots and street performers doing their statue thing. The real charm is just sitting on the steps with a gelato, soaking in the vibe. Sure, there are fancy stores nearby, but really, the steps are about the experience. Go early or late to avoid the crowds, and skip the selfies if you want to actually enjoy the view. Five stars for the views and gelato. Two stars for the chance to watch people fail at looking cool.

And now to combine all my pow--I mean individual reviews into one =P…read more Piazza di Spagna is the square where you can access: - Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti (the Spanish Steps) 135 steps built btwn 1723-25 which--in an effort to preserve them after several restorations thru the centuries (most recently in 1995),--the government has instituted fines for sitting, loitering or attempting to carry strollers or other objects up the stairs. These steps connect up to: - Trinità dei Monti, a 16th century church with double bell towers constructed under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, with Renaissance frescos decorating the interiors painted by preeminent artists of the time. Free entry and a functional place of worship. From the crest of the hill you get a broad view of the surrounding neighborhoods. - Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Longboat) sits sits at the base of the steps, a fountain that spouts potable water from both ends with a steady stream of visitors snapping pics and refilling water bottles. - Colonna dell'Immacolata Concezione (Column of the Immaculate Conception) at the southeastern side of this piazza, this Corinthian column of Cipollino marble stands 11.8 meters tall, with a bronze statue of the Virgin atop stepping on a serpent, the base flanked by four biblical figures that prophesied the Virgin's birth. While commonly posted on the classic list of things to do in Rome, I'd highly recommend a quick flyby only in early morning or late evening. During the day, especially on weekends, it's simply too crowded! (And that's me, coming from NYC, where there is a never-ending flow of tourists in certain parts of town!) On a late Saturday afternoon, I could barely see the staircase because of the throngs of tourists astride these steps. Over by the column, it was considerably less crowded. That being said, if you're in the area, I'd still recommend stopping by once for a look!

What more can I say than that the Vatican Gardens are impressive and among the finest we've visited…read moreanywhere.

The Vatican gardens are another amazing wonder of the VC. They showcase various sculptures,…read morefountains, gifts given to popes and other amazing nooks and crannies with various flora and fauna surrounding it all. We got to view it because we had a tour of the museums that included the gardens. I believe you can only view it by controlled guided tour! Our tour guide took us through describing all the different sculptures and their significance to the Vatican. Many were gifts from heads of state. Others were placed with significance form popes from previous times. There are so many places for the people who live in the Vatican to come and find peace or relax and reflect! There is even a helipad in the back corner so the Pope can hop in and head off to his summer villa. On our tour it was even mentioned that some Popes enjoyed hunting back in the day of different animals that roamed the garden. Awesome...ancient Pope's hunted! Maybe Phil Robinson (aka Duck Dynasty) could come hunt in the garden with uncle Psi and the current Pope! You can get some different perspectives of the different buildings of the vatican from a different vantage point and really appreciate and see a different natural outdoor beauty of the Vatican!

This is basically the large paved bus/tram station, parking lot and traffic and security vehicle…read morethoroughfare in front of Rome's central train station. Facing the station about a dozen or so bus stops are situated on the right side of the piazza, the parking lot is on the left. On the front left is a taxi stand. Directly in front multiple police and army vehicles parked there consistently, Italians seem to take security seriously in high pedestrian volume places. Two metro lines (A red and B/B1 blue) also run below the piazza, stopping at Termini, from which it's possible to transfers to other forms of transportation within and without the station. The several times I walked around or thru the square, it's never crowded, probably because there is no shade, most of the foot traffic is within the station itself. Overall pretty clean and well maintained.

Heart of the Trastevere, this piazza is perhaps Rome's loveliest location at nighttime even in the…read morecity that is famed for its beautiful night scenery. After the sun is down, the jolly crowd, both locals and tourists, are out celebrating and enjoying the moment. Even if you are just passing through, it's hard not to feel the festive and happy mood that is so infectious throughout this ancient church's piazza! No night in Rome is complete without a stroll in the Centro Storico or Trastevere, and Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere is the perfect nexus to start your Trastevere exploration! Walk through to your next destinations or simply join in the crowd to watch the street performers and sit on the fountain steps to people-watch. Choose how you want to feel the Roman spirit in this beautiful piazza. If you haven't yet, perhaps you will finally see that Rome's true charms do not belong solely in monuments like the Colosseum but in the very people who reside or visit here that celebrate life together in squares especially like this.

My favorite local piazza while staying in Trastevere!…read more It faces the beautiful and one of Roma's oldest churches (Santa Maria de Trastevere). I would take my walks here every morning and there would be no one (just the street cleaner every morning). By lunch time it would be bustling with people hanging out by the centre fountain. By night time there would be musicians, artists (gathering a crowd), entertainment buskers and everyone using it as a meeting place or communal hang out spot. It really represents the life of people in Italy in a very nice relaxing way! There are restaurants that surround the piazza and merchants selling their jewellery or art. A wonderful place to come day or night, to meet up with friends or just to relax and enjoy the sights and spectacles of Trastevere!

We're at Campo de' Fiori, Rome's oldest market and possibly the most enthusiastic display of…read moretourist traps per square meter. Once a site for public executions (Bruno's brooding statue still watches over), it now specializes in overpriced pasta and garlic braids. It's more performance art than produce. Vendors heckle, truffle oil flows freely, and yes, someone will try to sell you limoncello in a boot. I walked through as part of a food tour, which felt like the right way to enjoy the chaos, briefly, and with snacks elsewhere. Not the best market in Rome, but definitely the most theatrical.

Our tour driver brought us here during a lunch break on our excursion. This restaurant was located…read morein Rome, Italy and it was not included in the tour price.,The service was good and the ambiance chill and vibrant. We got the diavola pizza, fries, and a soda. The pizza and fries arrived hot and fresh, with pizza crust crispy. They also offered outdoor seating as well. All in all, a good place to grab a quick bite while exploring Rome.

Piazza della Rotonda is one of the most underrated ntriguing squares in Rome. It is centered…read morearound the Pantheon, the piazza blends ancient history with vibrant modern life. Roman. There were early a thousand tourists in the courtyard.... Standard fare for ask tourists attractions. The fountain in the center of the square adds to its charm, offering a place to pause and take in the surroundings.

The centerpiece of the Piazza della Rotunda is the magnificent Fontana del Pantheon and the…read moreObelisco del Pantheon. If you've come this far to Rome, you're likely skipping through both to visit the world famous Pantheon which I saw in 2011 https://www.yelp.com/biz/pantheon-basilica-di-santa-maria-ad-martyres-roma?hrid=-ygc_hMq7wZiBWnuJuUuBQ. The piazza isn't nearly as bustling or busy in the evening hours, nearly devoid of tourists. The Pantheon is closed and the huge doors are locked. But there's still enough to see here that it's worth a visit. The piazza became such under the order of Pop Eugenius IV (1431-39) who cleared out the stalls and sheds, arranging for the space to be paved. The fountain at the center was constructed in 1575 and the obelisk was added in 1711. The obelisk is red marble and was constructed under Pharoah Ramses II. In the night hours, the piazza is reasonably lit and the obelisk itself is beautiful. Well worth a stop but as always in any big city, be aware of your surroundings and the people walking around you. [Review 19197 overall - 351 in Italy - 167 of 2023.]

Believe it or not, if you look for it, Rome has a lot of green space. This is a rather large park…read morewith historical relevance. Back in the day, the way back before time, Roman elites would come here to take a load off, chilax, and cool off a bit. By the way, for those who need to get their run on, this is a good option. Many hotels do not have gyms in them with treadmills, and the city streets are way too busy and chaotic to try and run on. So, uber your way to this awesome place and enjoy. Cheers

Amazing park. A must if you are in Rome. So relaxing yet full of culture and history…read more Highly ..recommanded as a hangover activity :) ..there should be a category for that on yelp!

A huge, beautiful park with innumerable interesting features. It has statues, a pond, restaurants,…read moresmall shops with coffee and gelato. Also, you can find a horse-riding ring, an obelisk and a carousel. There is a lovely spot that overlooks Piazza Del Popolo and St Peter's. Definitely worth a visit!

Came here for the boat ride & the photo op. Reasonable and fun experience! Highly recommended.read more