Forum at dawn – the great Roman Empire was born here
It is best to start getting to know the outstanding places of this beautiful city at dawn. Such an unusual tour in Rome is possible thanks to the services of an individual Russian-speaking guide. And your 4- or 6-hour journey starts from the Forum. Despite the fact that a walk through the Roman Forum seems like a very long event, it is worth it. After that, the route leads to the Capitoline Hill, and from there to Piazza Venezia.
By the way, the Capitoline Hill is famous for the equestrian statue of the Roman ruler Marcus Aurelius located in its center. But that's not the most important thing: the Capitoline Square was created by the genius Michelangelo himself in the mid-sixteenth century. According to the proposed design, the square was supposed to have the shape of a star, but due to circumstances, it was only possible to bring this idea to life in the forties of the last century.
Such a packed walk will surely cause fatigue and a slight feeling of hunger, so it would be wise to make a stop at one of the many cafes, after which you can continue your walk around Rome with renewed energy. Next will be an introduction to Piazza Venezia, the majestic monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, and the no less interesting Imperial Forums.
When the visit to the monument is over, you can continue towards the Forum of Emperor Trajan, which will be quite easy to find: a tall column with the depicted Dacian campaign will be an excellent landmark. Moreover, right behind the column is the Forum of Trajan and the impressive Trajan's Market. Also here are churches: the refined Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary and the ornate Santa Maria di Loreto.
The bright finale of the walk will be a visit to the Colosseum, where you should definitely go up to the observation deck to fully enjoy the grand view of this ancient giant.
Despite the fact that Rome remains one of the leading destinations in the tourism sector, not always are the guests of the Eternal City satisfied with their trip. Nevertheless, the culprits of a bad impression from the vacation are usually the tourists themselves, who make annoying mistakes. For example, many fall for the legend that dipping into the waters of the Trevi Fountain will keep you young forever. But few say that such an activity threatens a fine of a good 500 euros. The desire to soak your feet in other fountains seems like a less expensive pleasure – just one hundred euros.
Also, it is worth remembering that Roman restaurants and cafes include a 'table cover service' in the bill, which is denoted by the word 'coperto'. If the tourist's Italian is so-so, he may eventually make a small fuss, claiming that he was overcharged, because he did not order any 'dish' with that name. Nevertheless, you still have to pay for this item.
In addition, you should be extremely careful when traveling by taxi, as there are two rates in the city itself and in nearby areas: 92 cents per kilometer in one zone, and about one and a half euros in the other zone. Many taxi drivers like to charge according to the second rate, so to avoid overpaying, you should carefully watch the meter. By the way, girls and women who travel alone by taxi from 9 pm to 1 am can take advantage of a ten percent discount. Do not forget about this.
Also, to reduce expenses when visiting famous museums and using public transport, it is strongly recommended to purchase a Roma Pass card for 30 euros. Thanks to this card, which is valid for three days, you can even visit two places completely free!
By the way, when visiting these very places, you can see locals dressed in various historical costumes. The desire to take a photo with them is not free: as a rule, 'gladiators' and 'patricians' charge an average of five to ten euros for their services. Therefore, before picking up the camera, check the final price of the 'photo session'.