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It was a wonderful journey. I was very Impressed by the architecture, history and also the culinary of Rome. Rome was beautiful but chaotic city. We (I and three friend of mine) thank to our Lonely Planet, which teold us a lot of history about Rome, told the best way for transportation, sightseeing and recommended us the best place to have our meals.

1st Day – Arrival, Check in, Fontana di Trevi at Night

After about 1 hour flight from our Karlsruhe Baden Airpark we arrived at the Airport Rome Ciampino. Then we took a Bus from Airport to Anagnina subway station and get into the city with subway. It wasn’t difficult and cost just 2,20 € compared with the 6 € Bus, which take you to the city directly. It was also easy to find our Hostel, because it was near to the Termini central station. Our hostel was OK, not bad. After checked in we walked to the city to have dinner. Our first dinner was OK (Italian Pizza). We spent our 1st night at the famous Fountain in Rome, Fontana di Trevi. We also throwed a coin into the fountain like the other did, because the legend said, if we do it, we are ensured a return to Rome.

2nd Day – Vatican City, Trastevere

It was early in the morning as we woke up and went to the Vatican city. We planned to take part on the Audience with the pope at Piazza San Pietro. As we reached there at 8.50 am, there were already a lot of people but luckily we still got chair at the front side. I lost my Macgyver knife on the security check, shittt. After 1,5 hours waiting under hot sunshine Pope came out with his Popemobile. After waving to all of the audience, he sat on his holy chair, read the day’s Gospel and preached. Then we had our lunch at the Chinese Restaurant near the Vatican City, it was cheap and tasted good. After lunch we moved to the Vatican museum to see the history of the Vatican city, and the famous Michelangelo work “God Create Adam“, “The Last Judgement” at the top of Sistine Chapel. Then we visited the big Basilica di San Pietro. It was beautiful and huge. Unfortunately we couldn’t get to the top of the dome, we were too late, it was closed already as we came there. After a little break with an italian ice cream we walked to Trastevere (South of Vatican City) to have a night view of the City of Rome. Then we tried to take a dinner at a Ristorante, which was recommended by our lonely planet, unfortunately it was closed. But luckily we found another Pizzeria, which served a good italian food with a low price. We was so happy, because the italian food was so delicious, big portion and cheap. I recommend you to have meal there if you in Trastevere : Pizzeria Ivo (Via di San Francesco a Ripa 158, 06 5817082, Pizza 7 €)

3rd Day – Colosseo, Forro Romano, Piazza Venezia, Spanish Steps

In this morning we walked to the famous Colosseo. This Place was huge and spectacular, all the history we heard from the audioguide was interesting and i think, this is the place you must see. Outside the Colosseo you can make a photos with a funny person (with fee), who dressed like a roman soldier. One of us did it for 3 €. After make some photos we went to Palatine Hill, this is the place according to mythos, where Rome begin, where Romulus and Remus were find by the she-wolf and kept them live. This place was also Augustus residence, where he was born and lived. From this Palatine Hill, we could see the Circo Massimo, a huge hippodrom. Then walked to ancient Rome central city, Forro Romano, where we could find the ruins of center of ancient Roman civilization. It was impressed. Near to this place (Ancient Rome) it was difficult to find a good restaurant, luckily we found a resturant near Piazza Venezia, who offered a lunch menu with a low price. I recommend you to have a dinner or lunch here if you near the Piazza Venezia. Here came a lot of italian people from the office nearby and took a lunch. La Antica Birrenia Peroni (via S.Marcello 19). The lunch menu was just in Italian (no English), luckily, the nice waitress could speak a little bit English and we ordered really good italian food (Canneloni, Antipasti). They also have a good Tiramisu for 3,50 €. After lunch, we visited Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, a big white memorial place for a big italian soldier. Then we went to Bocca della Verita, the famous mouth of truth, to put our hand in the mouth of sculpture. We planned also in this day to visit Church St. Clement and St. Giovanni in Laterano, but it was too late. Then we decided to go to the best Gelatteria in Rome and go to spanish steps. Palazzo del Freddo Giovanni Fassi (Via Principe Eugenio65 – 67/A, 00185 Roma, 06 4464740) offered the best Gellato in Rome. At night we spent our time in Spanish Steps (Piazza Spagna) for sitting and watching before we had our dinner. There we met a friend accidently, who studied in our city for 3 years ago. This time was our dinner irritating. The Food was OK, but the price was unexpected. The main thing was the Table fee, that cost 4,50 €. It was really annoying. It is really not recommended to eat there even a lot of tourist were there. The Restaurant is at Via Rosmini.

4th Day – Centro Storico

In this day striked the Metro’s (Subway) driver, so we had to make our tour just by foot and change our tourplan. We started our tour with visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, then went to Fontana di Trevi to see it on the daylight. It started to rain on our way to Pantheon, the 2000 years old famous temple with coffered, concrete dome. After we walked around the city to visit some sightseeing places like Chiesa del Gesu (Church of Jesuit Society), und Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola (Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola),  and Campo di Fiori , we reached the famous square in Rome Piazza Navona, where artist, street musician, fortune-teller, and also pickpocket meet. There are a lot of Pubs, Ristorante, cafes, we had also our lunch there. After lunch we visited the Castel Sant’ Angelo and with local bus we reached the Basilica di San Clemente and Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, the second important Basillica in rome after Basillica di Sant Pietro. After all the visited sightseeing, it was time for looking some souvenir. My wish in Rome was tasting the best Spaghetti ai frutti di mare (Seafood spaghetti). With recommendation from my lonely planet and after long way walking to the end of Rome, where no tourist can be found with frightened enviroment, I found that Restaurant. The Restaurant was full with the local people and had the best seafood, also with low price. We ate a lot, because it tasted so good. Da Franco Ar Vicoletto (Via del Falisci 2, 06 4957675, 15 minutes east side from Termini Station by foot). I think, it was the highlight of my Rome Journey. We finished our day with an Ice Cream from Palazzo del Freddo Giovanni Fassi as a dessert.

5th Day – Caracalla thermae, Piazza della Republbica, Departure

This morning we packed our clothes then checked out from our hostel. With the rest of time that we had before we go to the airport, we visited the Roman public baths, Caracalla thermae. The last sightseeing we visited was Piazza della Republbica and the big church located on this square. Then for the last time we tasted another italian food near the Termini station and with stress we went to Ciampino Airport to go back to lovely germany.