Strolling through Rome

Rome is the ideal city for romantic walks, tourism and bohemian life. Its narrow streets, lively restaurants and vibrant public squares make you want to surrender to the pedestrians groups and wander around the city to discover its beautiful, great places.

A very popular route that can be done on foot is the Piazza di Spagna- Fontana di Trevi- Pantheon- Piazza Largo di Torre Argentina. The route is about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) long, but you can spend a whole day crossing it, as it is full of cafes and ice-cream parlors where you can literally have a taste of Rome.

The starting point is Piazza di Spagna (which can be reached easily from Spagna metro station, line B) where you can admire the famous Spanish Steps, on top of which stands the Church of Trinita dei Monti. Once you go up the stairs, you can admire the beautiful view to Via Condoti, the center of fashion shopping in Rome, with famous brands such as Bulgari, Cartier, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, etc. In the middle of the square is Bernini's creation, Fontana della Barcaccia, shaped like a boat.

From Piazza di Spagna, you can follow the narrow streets to get to Fontana di Trevi, perhaps the most famous fountain in the world, in about 10-15 minutes. Here, you will find many tourists eager to capture the art which bears the touches of Bernini and Nicola Salvi. The central figure of the fountain is Neptune, the god of the sea. In the left side there is a statue representing abundance, and to the right there is a statue representing perfect health. The water from the fountain stands for the sea.

Walking further away, you will pass by the front of Sant Ignazio Church and then you will admire several residential palaces before reaching Piazza della Rotonda where the Pantheon is located. Originally a pagan temple, The Pantheon was transformed into a Christian church and amazes with its shape, simplicity and beauty. It is one of the largest domes in the world, having on top a circular opening called Oculus, the only source of light in the building. The interior houses the tombs of Rafael and of several Italian Kings. The entrance is guarded by eight massive columns made ​​in Egypt and has a massive bronze door. The Pantheon is the best preserved Roman building, keeping intact the original roof.

Within walking distance you can find Piazza di Torre Largo Argentina, with the ruins of four temples of the Roman Republic era and The Theatre of Pompey. This is where your walking journey ends for the day.