Table Of ContentEYEWITNESS
TOP 10
ROME
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Top 10 Rome The Top 10 of
Highlights Everything
Welcome to Rome ..........................5 Moments in History .....................46
Exploring Rome .............................6 Ancient Sites.................................48
Rome Highlights ..........................10 Early Christian Churches ............50
Vatican City ...................................12 Renaissance and Baroque
The Pantheon ...............................18 Churches ...................................52
Roman Forum ..............................20 Museums and Galleries ..............54
Galleria Borghese ........................24 Artistic Masterpieces ...................56
The Colosseum and Writers in Rome ...........................58
Imperial Fora ............................26 Villas and Palaces ........................60
Musei Capitolini ............................28 Squares and Fountains ................62
Museo Nazionale Romano ..........34 Underground Sights ....................64
Santa Maria del Popolo ...............38 Green Spaces ...............................66
Villa Giulia .....................................40 Off the Beaten Track ....................68
Ostia Antica...................................42 Rome for Children .......................70
Roman Dishes ..............................72
Restaurants ..................................74
Osterias, Trattorias and
Pizzerias ....................................76
Cafés and Gelaterie .....................78
Shopping Streets..........................80
Rome for Free ..............................82
Festivals and Events ....................84
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CONTENTS
Rome Streetsmart
Area by Area
Around Piazza Navona.................88 Getting Around ...........................162
Around the Pantheon...................96 Practical Information .................164
Campo de’ Fiori to the Places to Stay .............................170
Capitoline ................................106
The Spanish Steps and General Index .............................178
Villa Borghese ........................114
Acknowledgments .....................188
Ancient Rome .............................124
Phrase Book ...............................190
The Esquiline and Lateran ........130
Street Index ................................192
The Quirinal and Via Veneto ......136
Trastevere and Prati ..................142
Beyond the City Walls ................154
The rapid rate at which the world is
changing is constantly keeping the DK
Within each Top 10 list in this book, no hierarchy Eyewitness team on our toes. While we’ve
of quality or popularity is implied. All 10 are, in worked hard to ensure that this edition of
the editor’s opinion, of roughly equal merit. Rome is accurate and up-to-date, we know
that opening hours alter, standards shift,
Title page, front cover and spine Colosseum prices fluctuate, places close and new ones
and the Roman Forum at sunrise pop up in their stead. So, if you notice we’ve
Back cover, clockwise from top left Street got something wrong or left something
in Trastevere; interior of the Colosseum; Trevi out, we want to hear about it. Please get
Fountain; Colosseum and Roman Forum; in touch at [email protected]
Vatican Museum roof
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Top 10 Rome ❮❮ 5
Welcome to
Rome
Eternal city. Exuberant feast for the eyes, soul and stomach.
Vespas parked by Baroque portals. Evocative ruins. Statues
of Roman kings and holy paintings of madonnas. Strong
espresso and delectable gelato. Visitors, artists and
pilgrims have been flocking here since antiquity With
DK Eyewitness Top 10 Rome, it’s yours to explore.
Once the most powerful city in the world, Rome has been 2,800
years in the making. Ancient Roman columns are embedded
in Renaissance palazzo walls, Egyptian obelisks are recycled in
Baroque fountains and Christian churches have been built over
pagan temples. Experience the city purposefully by exploring the
Forum or the Vatican, or sample it casually while pausing under
the Pantheon’s massive portico (providing shade since AD 125)
or going for a spin around Bernini’s fountains on Piazza Navona,
once Emperor Domitian’s racetrack.
Despite its heritage, Rome feels nothing like a dusty museum,
mostly thanks to its flamboyant citizens who live much of their life
outdoors in cafés and piazzas, negotiating cobbled alleyways, going
for their passeggiata and always intent on fare la bella figura – that
very Italian concept of looking fabulous and making an impression.
Whether you are coming for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide
brings together the best of everything that Rome has to offer, from
grand sights such as the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum and tiny
piazzas and views you will never forget to stupendous works by
Michelangelo and Caravaggio hidden away in churches and the
best spots for pizza al taglio and hearty Roman cuisine. The guide
has useful tips throughout, from seeking out what’s free to places
off the beaten track, plus 11 easy-to-follow itineraries, designed to
tie together a clutch of sights in a short space of time. Add inspiring
photography and detailed maps and you’ve got the essential pocket-
sized travel companion. Enjoy the book and enjoy Rome.
Clockwise from top: Musei Capitolini, Fountain of Neptune (Piazza Navona), Spanish Steps,
MAXXI, mosaic at Museo Nazionale Romano, Colosseum, Sistine Chapel fresco
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6 ❯❯ Top 10 Rome
GNAGMNAM
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beautiful palazzi, ancient monuments and
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Borghese park (see p117) followed by TestTaecsctaioccio
Day 1 a visit to the Bernini sculptures at
MORNING Galleria Borghese (see pp24–5) and
See the Colosseum (see pp26–7), the Etruscan finds at Villa Giulia (see PorPtao rStaan S Paano Plaoolo PiraPmiraidmeide
then walk past the Roman Forum pp40–41). Walk back through the statsitoantion statsitoantion
(see pp20–21) and Imperial Fora (see park to Piazza del Popolo (see p116) From2F2r Ookmm2st2 i ( Oa1k m4sA tm ni(a1til 4iAec sman)tiliecsa) TRAINTRAIN
pp26–7) to the virtually-recreated to visit Santa Maria del Popolo (see
villa of a patrician family at Palazzo pp38–9), before ending the day at
Valentini (see p49). Visit Musei Piazza di Spagna (see p115).
Capitolini (see pp28–31), and don’t
miss the bird’s-eye view of the Forum.
Four Days in Rome
AFTERNOON
Stroll through the centro storico to
Piazza Navona (see p62) and the Day 1
Pantheon (see pp18–19) for atmos- MORNING
phere, ice cream and window shop- Begin with the Pantheon (see
ping. Cross the Tiber by Ponte Sisto pp18–19), then wander over to Piazza
to lively Trastevere for a drink. Navona (see p62), stopping to admire
Caravaggio’s works in San Luigi dei
Day 2 Francesi (see p89) and Sant’Agostino
MORNING (see p90). Marvel at the Bernini foun-
Get up early to see St Peter’s (see tains and street performers, then
pp12–17) without the crowds when browse the shops around the piazza.
it opens at 7am – an unforgettable AFTERNOON
experience. Then visit the Vatican Head to the fantastic Museo
Museums (see p54), preferably Nazionale Romano’s Palazzo
having booked tickets in advance. Massimo alle Terme (see pp34–7),
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Exploring Rome ❮❮ 7
GNAGMNAM
0 m0e tmreestres 800800
VillaVilla GalGlearilaleria
0 ya0r dysards 800800 GiuGliaiulia BorBgohregsheese
VilVlailla
FlamFlainmioinio BoBrgohrgehseese
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PiazPziaaz dzeal del
PopPoolpoolo
StM PSuVetMsat ePetuVruiec’ssatmaeetnruisc’smans Fiu meer e F v eTiu meer e v eTSanS Launi gLui digeii dei PSpiaazPSnzpiaiaasz hndz iiaS sSt hdep ipSa StsgepBnpUaaSsgB,nUaSM,uMMseETuoRMsOeE ToRO The Colosseum, built in the 1st
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PonPtoenteJewJieswhish
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ColCoossloeussmeum
TrasTtreavseterevere PalaPatilnaetine
HillHill
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is the world’s
best pre served
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statsitoantion statsitoantion
From2F2r Ookmm2st2 i ( Oa1k m4sA tm ni(a1til 4iAec sman)tiliecsa) TRAINTRAIN and the Musei Capitolini (see
pp28–31), stopping for lunch in
which has an entire frescoed room the museum’s roof terrace café.
from the Villa of Livia. Wind down AFTERNOON
with an evening in appealing Monti. See the evocative ruins of the Roman
Forum and Palatine Hill (see pp20–23),
Day 2 then wander through the Jewish
MORNING Ghetto and vibrant Campo de’ Fiori.
Explore Ostia Antica (see pp42–3) and
return in time for lunch in Testaccio. Day 4
AFTERNOON MORNING
Visit Santa Maria del Popolo (see Start early to see St Peter’s and the
pp38–9), then explore the Piazza di Vatican (see pp12–17) – the children’s
Spagna area (see p115). Climb the audio guide is highly recommended
Spanish Steps (see p115) for a great for adults too – then take the tram to
city view. Walk back to the centre via the stop outside Galleria Nazionale
the Trevi Fountain (see p115). d’Arte Moderna (see p55) for lunch.
AFTERNOON
Day 3 Visit Villa Giulia (see pp40–41) before
MORNING taking a stroll through the park to
Explore the Colosseum (see pp26–7), Galleria Borghese (see pp24–5) –
then visit Palazzo Valentini (see p49) make sure to book in advance.
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Top 10 Rome
Highlights
Theatrical mosaic masks of Comedy
and Tragedy, Musei Capitolini
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