Walking Through Time: A Self-Guided Tour of Ancient Rome

Piazza dei Cinquecento, 00185 Roma RM, Italy Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma RM, Italy Palatine Hill, 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy Via Gaeta, 23, 00185 Roma RM, Italy

After spending some quality time in Naples, my next destination was the capital of Italy- Rome. I arrived late at night via train from Naples and the city was live at night. Checked into my hostel – Freedom Traveler Hostel. A few minutes walk from Roma Termini, Rome’s Central Station.

I would easily suggest the hostel for budget travellers like me. The receptionist is a great guy and very helpful. There are a few restaurants close to the hostel and a great spot to try Roman delicacies.

I hit the bed early to start the next day as early as possible. I decided to explore the ancient city the traditional way – using a map from the info centre. My first stop was one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Colosseum.

Colosseum: Every Gladiator Dream

I purchased a full ticket (Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatinate Hill) with access to Arena from Coopculture, which is the official ticketing site. There are several types of tickets – with or without a guide. The guided tour tickets get sold off months in advance on their official website. One can also purchase tickets from your guide.

The queues were already long but since I had skipped a line ticket, I was able to skip the queue and walk directly through the security checks.

TIP: Try to get the first tickets to the Colosseum to beat the crowd. It opens at 9am and is the best time to visit.

Step inside and let the Colosseum transport you back to a time when gladiators fought for glory and emperors held the power of life and death. Explore the marvellous masterpiece and tiered seating some of them with names of rulers engraved on them. Visit the Arena before exploring the top levels of the Colosseum.

Arena – As you enter the Arena through the hallway, just imagine the roar of spectators echoing through the pillars and clash of swords of brave gladiators. The epic scene from Gladiator movie just flashes in front of your eyes for a second.

The underground chambers where Gladiators would wait before the fate is decided on the Arena can be seen. Be sure to carry water, cap and sunglasses during summer as the stones radiate the heat and it gets hot very fast.

After the arena, one can climb up the stairs to the upper levels of the Colosseum where one can get a bird’s eye view of the Arena. Walk through the corridors to see some collections from ancient Rome. After spending an hour in the magnificent structure, my next stop was the Roman Forum which is a paradise for people who love to learn Roman history.

Roman Forum and Palatinate Hill

Roman Forum

From the Colosseum, wander to the Roman Forum and the Palatinate Hill, once the heart of the Roman Empire. This ancient hub used to be the capital of trade, ceremonial grounds and political debates.

Now a ruin with ancient history is being unearthed even to this day. The Roman Forum has lots to explore and you should be ready to walk.

Wander through the Via Sacra, the Sacred Way, where emperors and triumphant generals paraded their victories. Stand amidst the ruins of the Temple of Vesta, where the Vestal Virgins tended the sacred flame. Imagine the orator’s captivating crowds at the Rostra, the public speaking platform. Huge columns of pillars stand tall with inscriptions sculpted about rulers.

One can visit many temples dedicated to rulers and gods like Saturn, Vesta, Castor and Pollux. The Arch of Titus at the exit of the Roman Forum is the oldest surviving triumphal arch in the ancient city and is now part of the archaeological site of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. This served as the model for future triumph arches such as Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

There is also a temple dedicated to Julius Caesar where he was buried. Today, only a portion of the cement podium remains of the Temple of Julius Caesar in the Roman Forum.

Palatinate Hill

Ascend the Palatine Hill, the legendary birthplace of Rome, where emperors once resided in opulent palaces overlooking the Forum below. This hill was once filled with grand residences of Rome’s rulers.

Marvel at the intricate frescoes and mosaics that once adorned these imperial dwellings.

Piazzas around Rome

These are not just public spaces; they are open-air theatres where the drama of daily life unfolds. Each piazza has its unique character, and its own story to tell.

Piazza Navona, the most famous plaza in Rome was once a Roman racetrack and is now a vibrant square adorned with Bernini’s stunning Fountain of the Four Rivers.

Stroll through Piazza del Popolo, with its imposing Egyptian obelisk and twin churches, a gateway to the city centre.

Trevi Fountain

After traversing the famous Piazzas, I made my way to Trevi Fountain, a Baroque masterpiece that epitomizes Rome. As you approach the fountain, the sound of cascading water fills the air along with the flock of tourists. Neptune, God of the seas can be seen commanding his chariot of seahorses.

Roman Delicacies

There are some must-try delicacies and I list of the few I tried.
Bruschetta– A bread, rubbed with only a bit of garlic (this is not garlic bread… which doesn’t exist in Italy!), and topped with olive oil.

Pasta– Any pasta in Rome is a must-try. There are varieties of pasta, I tried Spaghetti all’Carbonara and Pasta all’amatriciana

Roman Pizza– Of course, you can get pizza Italy-wide. Don’t expect thick, fluffy pizza like Naples here; instead, Roman pizza is paper thin, crisp, and always baked in a wood oven and has an elliptical shape with square pieces.