Glad I was able to come here and see this and experience it for myself…read more When I got here there was only a few people ahead of me. I beat the long lines. Unfortunately my iPhone camera did not do this justice!!! The Aventine Keyhole is a famous, small peephole in a large green door on Rome's Aventine Hill, offering a perfectly framed, magical view of St. Peter's Basilica's dome through a tunnel of trees, technically looking across three countries: the Knights of Malta's grounds, Italy, and Vatican City.

Arrive at dawn or be prepared for a long wait for your moment to gaze through the keyhole and see…read morethe perfectly framed dome through a tunnel of greenery. We waited for an hour, chatted, and the time flew by. Another word of advice, there is no need take a picture or video through the keyhole. We watched numerous people kindly offer their electronics a longer turn than their actual eyes! If you scroll through Yelp, or any corner of the internet talking about the Aventine Keyhole, you will see thousands of photos and videos. So, when it's your turn, gaze through, smile at the majesty of what people before you have created, enjoy a lived experience, and take a photo with your loved ones, not keyholes.

Palatine Hill has so much to see. If you want to get the history of everything here then you should…read moreget a tour. I felt like we didn't know where to go since it's so spread out & didn't know what half the sites were since plagues were limited or hard to spot. We got the basics & probably missed a bunch but would have liked to learn more & not have to find/read all the signs. The tickets were part of our colosseum package & allows access to this the day before or after which was nice. By 5 pm they are asking people to leave so don't go too late if you want to see it all as the property is huge. We missed half of it since we only had 2 hours to walk it. The view from the top is the best so I'd suggest go up there to get a lay of the land & then cover the lowers. We spent too much time in some of the lower less exciting ruins of the small buildings & raced past the grander "Super sites". The senate building was underwhelming & didn't have much info posted. I'd ask an entrance worker for advice at least to start with.

Palatine Hill is, according to legend and archaeological evidence, the literal birthplace of Rome…read more It's where Romulus and Remus were found and raised by a she-wolf, and where excavations have produced proof of human habitation going back to the 10th century BC. Today, it's a sort of outdoor museum, where you can walk around with your jaw on the ground, preferably with the help of a guide (we took a Forum/Palatine Hill/Colosseum tour with Crown Tours, which felt essential to the experience). The ruins are astonishing, both up close and from an elevated vantage point. The view from Palatine Hill encompasses ancient and modern Rome and is unlike anything else I've ever seen. If you're a tourist in Rome, do not miss Palatine Hill. It's an extraordinary place, a pleasure to explore, and you can easily add it to your trip to the Colosseum.

After an initial let down when we realized there are no bones here, we found the information shared…read morehighly worthwhile and our group was glad we made the trek out. It's essentially a history lesson in an underground graveyard. Be aware that you'll be underground and it smells very musty and is very humid. I was thankful for fresh air when we finally emerged. We took an Uber from the center of Rome and a car back, about 30 minutes. With dwell time of waiting for the bus and how busy the busses are, I think a Uber in this case was a good value. Overall I'd say this isn't a must do activity in Rome but if you have a couple hours and want a low key activity, this is a good one.

Very interesting tour led by a lovely guide. Definitely a must see! Bonus is a view of the oldest…read moredocumented Nativity.

Some of the best drinks we've ever had, delivered with style and flair. We were just looking for a…read moredrink and a snack, so we sat at the bar. The bartenders were so friendly and kind. The sushi and carpaccio were delicious (& I needed a break from Italian food 2 weeks into our trip!). I'm looking to fit in one more visit before we go home! Highly recommend!

really cool jazz place the service was really good and the staff was pretty attentive throughout…read moreour whole night! we didn't have a reservation so they let us stay downstairs at the bar until there was a table ready. there was also some people who were being very loud and the staff had to tell them a couple times to quiet down or they'd have to leave so they take it very seriously! there was a €15 cover charge and everything on the menu was pretty expensive. it was good but i don't think i would visit again just due to the limited food menu and since everything was expensive.

Certainly on the endless list of awe-inspiring sights around Rome. These twin churches are amazing…read moreto stand before and compare. On the southern edge of Piazza del Popolo, the area can be quite busy if an event or performance is scheduled.

Located in Piazza del Popolo, this church was a chance find while walking towards the Spanish…read moreSteps. Piazza del Popolo which means "People's Square" is a large square that's easy to locate in Rome due to the tall Egyptian obelisk in the center of the square. It is a really nice square to stroll through during the day or evening as it never gets very crowded and the square itself is expansive. It was open when we happened upon the church and the interior retains many of the old charms from when it was built in the late 1600s. It is worth a visit if you are exploring Piazza del Popolo.

5 euro regular admission but I paid the 4 euro price for students. Well worth it if you want to…read morereset your nasal passages from car exhaust and cigarettes. The grounds are very large and you could spend hours here. You very much feel like you're in an isolated nature preserve and not in Rome. There's also a stone staircase with a fountain at the top that's just lovely. Keep going up to the garden's western limits and it's a short walk away from the Garibaldi monument and Fontana dell'Acqua Paola (once you leave you can't get back in)

Free to visit and get some of the most breath taking views of Rome. The gardens of the Janiculum -…read moreGianicolo in Italian - are composed of the remains of the gardens of Papal and aristocratic villas. Of themselves the gardens are like many Roman parks - a few trees and some scrubby grass. But the amazing terracing and the views of Rome are unbeatable. Take an afternoon off having visited the nearby Vatican and just laze here - there are plenty of bars and cafes so lunch or an afternoon ice cream are possible.

I didn't know that this museum is so popular and that you must purchase your tickets in advance…read more Luckily, I was able to purchase tickets before our trip to Rome, but they had only a limited number of tickets available for the time that we were going to be there. So if you are planning on going to Galleria Borghese, make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. We visited the Borghese in the afternoon during the week, and I think that was a great idea because it was pretty empty, and we had yet another chance to see everything with almost no one around. I'm not sure if it's always like that or if we got lucky. Either way, I was able to take my time to look at all the beautiful art pieces. Everything was so beautiful. I recommend going to this museum if you have the time; it's definitely worth it.

The Galleria Borghese or Borghese Gallery is an art gallery in Rome, Italy, housed in the former…read moreVilla Borghese Pinciana. At the outset, the gallery building was integrated with its gardens, but nowadays the Villa Borghese gardens are considered a separate tourist attraction. Such beautiful art and sculptures. What a breathtaking selection. Another must see while visiting Rome. TIP- Need to buy tickets for the gallery in advance, or by a 3rd party company. They sell out fast.

It's the Roman theater of Ancient Ostia. What's not to love?…read more It was built by Agrippa under the reign of Augustus back in the 1st century BC. It was rededicated after it was expanded to 4000 seats in 196 AD. It was the work of Septimius Severus and Caracalla that prompted the rededication per the inscription on the plaque on the theater that still exists today. We weren't able to step inside or step up to the viewing area due to construction and/or restoration. I'm assuming they are fixing the crumbling steps since it's currently used as an amphitheater-type concert venue. I think it would be cool to visit it in the evening as a spectator in a venue. The theater was built to be a part of a corporate complex called Piazzale delle Corporazione. The theater is prominently displayed as you're walking through the square. This is where you can get great photo opportunities during its restoration. We enjoyed our visit here. It's a great way to actually see ancient Roman city life and imagine what is was like in that century.

Rome's OG Netflix. This semi-circular masterpiece could once seat up to 4,000 people, all crammed…read morein to laugh, cry, and judge each other in togas. Now it mostly hosts echoes and pigeons, but if you're lucky, you might catch a confused tourist trying to re-enact Julius Caesar. It was built by Agrippa (yes, that Agrippa--Augustus' bestie) in the 1st century BCE. Still more structurally sound than some 21st-century buildings. She's undergoing a little restoration. Amazing!

The Spanish Steps are absolutely breathtaking!!…read more The Spanish Steps connect the Piazza di Spagna below with the stunning Trinità dei Monti church above. The Trinità dei Monti is worth a visit when you're here, it's full of history, artwork and phenomenal statues. The area around the Spanish Steps are chock full of fabulous restaurants and high end shops. The views from the top after climbing the 135 steps are glorious. You can see the Spanish embassy in the square below from the terraces above. We ate at a local Trattoria that did not disappoint. It has became a cultural hub for artists, writers and royalty. A luxury shopping landmark, and a quintessential symbol of Roman glamour, culture, and social life. I've been before and will come back. Such a sight to see and I LOVE Italy!!

Another one off of my list of things to do in Rome. I got here between 7:30 and 8am. There was…read morenot too many people out thankfully. The monumental stairway of 135 steps is linked with the Trinità dei Monti church, under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, at the top of the steps and the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See in the Palazzo Monaldeschi at the bottom of the steps. The stairway was designed by the architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi.

We stopped in here one night while visiting Rome. It's a bit hard to find, but worth the stop…read more There was a cover charge (10-15 Euros, can't remember). From the entrance you walk down a staircase lined with posters for various cover bands like Bob Dylan and the Beatles. The space downstairs is large but broken into 4 or 5 rooms. The night we were in an Italian blues band was playing and it seemed like everyone seated had gotten there early enough for spots. It's hard to see the band from the side rooms so we stood in front of the bar. This place got packed and if we had moved we would have definitely lost our spot. Drinks are on the pricey side and it got super hot with all the people but this was a great time. Everyone was having lots of fun and it gives you a glimpse into an underground Italian live music venue!

This place is absolutely fantastic. After paying a one time cover charge that is good for a year,…read moreyou can savor the music! I have been there for Beatles v. Stones cover band night, Jimi Hendrix cover night, and others. I would highly suggest a visit to this underground spot. A word to the wise, if you want a place to sit/a table, arrive early. This is one of highlights of the time I lived in Rome. (The drinks are band-themed and tasty. They can be a bit pricy, but the general vibe and experience of the place makes it all worth it.) Enjoy your time there (and your time in the eternal city)!