Rome in One Day

They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. However, if one day is all you have to visit Rome, you can still see a lot of this historic city.

Three years ago I spent 2 glorious days in Rome. But on my most recent trip with my 2 teenage daughters, our Italy Itinerary only allowed for a day trip to Rome.

We considered skipping Rome altogether given that I knew we wouldn’t have time to see EVERYTHING. But in the end, I decided showing my daughters one of the most historic cities in the world was an opportunity I shouldn’t pass up. Even if we only had one day in Rome.

Getting to Rome

We were staying at a hotel in Florence, so we hopped on an early morning train and were in Rome in about 90 minutes.

Florence makes the perfect home base for exploring Italy by train. The train system in Italy allows you to efficiently and affordably get to many of the country’s iconic cities and lesser-known towns.

This stress-free form of travel is a hit with grown-ups and teenagers alike. No need for a rental car, navigating traffic, or finding parking…and there’s free wi-fi!

After arriving at the Rome Termini train station (and a quick restroom stop…have your Euros ready for the pay toilets), it was time to navigate the Subway system.  In order to maximize our time and minimize our steps, I already had our route mapped out.

First stop, the Spanish Steps!

Spanish Steps

I credit much of my knowledge of the Spanish Steps to the Rick Steves Audio Europe App. The app has a great walking tour, “Heart of Rome”, that covers all the sites we visited on this trip and much more.

I listened to the walking tour before our trip and then pulled up the transcript while standing at the base of the steps. I rattled off some of the most interesting facts to my teenagers so they would have a bit of perspective about this infamous location.

Did you know that there are 138 steps, and the way they fan out mimics the shape of a butterfly? At the base of the famed steps is the sinking boat fountain. And some pretty famous people, including John Keats and Lord Byron, once called this area home.

While you will find flocks of tourists admiring the steps year-round, I caution you not to lounge on this famous staircase. It recently became illegal to sit on the steps, and the fine could cost you several hundred dollars. We saw uniformed security guards informing seated visitors of the new law, but no actual fines were handed out to those who took the warning to heart and got to their feet.

Be sure to climb the steps for a fabulous view, and then take a peek inside the Trinità dei Monti church.

Trevi Fountain

Just a short walk away is the Trevi Fountain, one of the most popular spots in Rome, and a constant hotbed of activity. As one of the largest and most well-known fountains in the world, no tourist goes to Rome without visiting the Trevi Fountain. (Can you name any of the movies that filmed at this notable site?)

This massive structure and pool of water seem to pop out of nowhere in the middle of this bustling city.

The fountain is actually below street level with 3 platforms so onlookers can admire its beauty from various angles. We joined the crowd of people all jockeying for a front-row position, taking numerous selfies along the way.

Once at the water’s edge, it was time for each of us to do the traditional tossing of a coin into the fountain. Proper form includes standing with your back to the fountain, holding the coin in your right hand, and throwing it over your left shoulder.

Completing this ritual is said to ensure your return to Rome. All of us were happy to oblige!

Watch Traveling Tanya do the iconic coin toss!

If your schedule allows, visit the fountain in the early morning or late in the day for smaller crowds and a more intimate setting. The Trevi Fountain is especially romantic after dark when the sun has descended and the fountain’s beauty is fully illuminated.

Gelato Stop

En route to our next stop, we decided it was time for a gelato break. When in Rome…you must partake in gelato!

While the guidebooks instruct you not to select gelato shops near major attractions, we broke the rules this time and were very glad we did. We popped into Angel’s House (gelateria and bakery) and each enjoyed a scoop of sweet gelato.

I selected a cone of the raspberry gelato…and it was the best gelato I had in Italy! It was literally bursting with flavor. YUM!!!

Eying the brightly colored macarons on the counter I decided to buy an assortment to have as a treat later in the day. We fell in love with macarons on our trip to Paris, but this was our first time indulging in macarons in Italy. No disrespect to Paris, but these were the best macarons I have ever tasted!

You can bet that when I return to Rome I will be making a beeline to Angel’s House for more gelato and macarons!

Pantheon

The third historic structure we visited during our day trip to Rome was the Pantheon. And just like the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, it is free to check out this iconic landmark.

Rick Steves Audio Europe App to the rescue again! His walking tour, appropriately titled “The Pantheon”, educated me about this ancient Roman temple that served as a tribute to all (pan) gods (theos).

Inside the massive structure, we admired the ornate features on the alter and throughout its one spacious room. The tomb of Raphael, one of Italy’s most famous Renaissance artists, lies in the Pantheon along with the tombs of 2 other notable Italian dignitaries.

Don’t forget to look up!  At the center of the massive dome is an oculus…basically a giant hole! The oculus spans 30 feet across. As you can imagine, a huge hole in the ceiling means lots of natural light, which is helpful as this is the building’s only source of light.  But the rain comes in as well! No worries, as the floor has drainage holes to prevent flooding.

Piazza Navona

By this time we were ready for a late lunch, and the perfect place to rest and eat is Piazza Navona. This huge square includes 3 large fountains, numerous cafes, and plenty of opportunities for people-watching.

We quickly found a table at an outdoor cafe so we could soak up the scenery while filling our bellies.

A sparkling glass of Moscato was my drink of choice. And the meat and cheese plates just screamed European cafe culture.

If you get the chance, visit Piazza Navona after dark when the setting changes from busy tourist spot to romantic Italian rendezvous. Linger in the Piazza as you watch talented street performers and indulge in several glasses of wine!

It was now time to make our way to the main attraction. The Colosseum!

Colosseum

After our meal, we decided to hop in a taxi to make a beeline to the Colosseum. I pre-booked our tickets and guided tour to ensure minimal time waiting in line. With thousands of people visiting the Colosseum every day, I highly recommend purchasing tickets online before your trip.

We had a little time before our guided tour, so we made a lap around the interior of the massive structure and snapped about a hundred photos.

Once our tour began, we donned the requisite audio headset, and a very capable guide described the structure to us in great detail. She helped paint a picture in our minds of what the Colosseum looked like in its glory days.

Our guide regaled us with stories of the barbarous acts that took place on the Colosseum’s floor as well as the antics that took place among the attendees from all social classes. We admired the architecture and contemplated where we would have been permitted to sit, as seating was highly regulated based on your social standing.

Tickets to the Colosseum also include access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Sadly, our time in Rome had run out, and it was time to head back to the train station.

What We Missed

We covered a good deal of ground during our day in Rome, without keeping a frantic pace. There are so many amazing sites and neighborhoods to explore in Rome that you could easily spend a week here. There was one very notable stop we missed on this trip, and I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention it…the Vatican.

A bit further out from the stops on our itinerary, the Vatican really does require more time to fully appreciate it than we had on this trip.

The Vatican is the home of the Pope and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Here you will find St. Peter’s Square, which includes St. Peter’s Basilica as well as the Vatican Museums, which is home to the famed Sistine Chapel.

Be prepared for long lines and swarms of tourists no matter when you visit the Vatican. Give yourself plenty of time for this part of Rome and take in all the history and tradition you can handle.

If the legend of the Trevi Fountain coin toss is true, I will return to Rome another day!

And I will be sure to put the Vatican at the top of my itinerary.

Have you traveled to Rome? Comment below and share your favorite parts of this world-class city!

Want more of my tips on Italy? Check out this episode of the Fly with Chris and Di podcast, featuring Traveling Tanya!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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