Roman Sights

The great thing about Rome is that many of its sights are free. You can enjoy the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, St. Peter's Basilica, the Castel San Angelo, the Victor Emmanuel monument, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and many other famous places just by walking around.

In addition, you can visit the interior of most churches for free if you say you are going in to pray. Of course, this means you are not supposed to walk around with your guidebook, just sit quietly in a pew.

However, there are some sights worth paying for. In my view, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel top the list. They include an enormous amount of treasures dating back to Roman times and including all the great Italian Renaissance Masters. Admission costs 16 euros, about $18. It is best to book a ticket in advance, especially in high season, in order to avoid long lines. Admission is free on the last Sunday of every month, but arrive by 12:30 P.M. Visitors to the Vatican or to St. Peter's Basilica are required to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.

It is even possible to attend a Papal Mass for free. Be prepared to arrive early and stand up for a long time if it is an outdoor Mass.

Particularly for classics enthusiasts, the Roman Forum, Colosseum and Palatine Hill are a must. You can see quite a lot without buying a ticket, but I found it thrilling to wander through the Forum and view the ruins of the Senate where Cicero gave his famous speeches. Took me right back to third year Latin class--"Quo in orbis terrarium sumus?" and "Cartago delendum est." A two-day ticket that includes all three attractions costs just 16 euros or $18, quite a modest price. Buy an audio guide or take along a guidebook to get the most from these sites, since labelling is poor. In warm weather, take a picnic to enjoy in the Forum or on the Palatine Hill.

Other attractions you might wish to visit include the catacombs, the Borghese Gardens, the Pantheon. You will probably need to take a tour to the catacombs and pay admission to the Borghese Gardens, which are a pleasant green respite in the heat of summer.  The Pantheon is an marvel of Roman engineering with an open dome. Formerly a temple to Roman deities, it is now a church and therefore free.

It is best not to try to cram too much into a Roman holiday. Save some time to savour a coffee near the Spanish steps or one of the famous fountains, to stroll down the Via Veneto of dolce vita fame or Via Condotti, known for its fashion houses. Gaze up at the Castel San Angelo and imagine Verdi's heroine Tosca plunging to her death from there. Observe the inscription "SPQR" on many municipal buildings and sidewalks, and ponder that it means "Senatus Popolusque Romanus" or the Senate and the people of Rome, a slogan dating from the days of the Roman Republic. It gives you an idea of the reason Rome is known as the Eternal City.