1° Day Tour

If you plan to visit Rome on foot, but you only have 1 day available, don’t worry; by reading this page you will be able to have the perfect itinerary to make the most of the time you have available and get in tune with one of the most fascinating cities in the world. In order not to miss even a shred of the magical atmosphere that pervades Rome, the best choice is precisely to walk your itinerary, letting yourself be kidnapped by bewitching places where the presence of emperors, popes, princes, heretics and artists still echoes. 

Morning tour: Vatican City and surroundings

First of all, if you arrive in Rome by car you will need to park. This is why we recommend that you leave your car in the Gianicolo car parks a short distance from St. Peter’s Square and where you will easily find the place. If, on the other hand, you travel by public transport (this is the choice we recommend) St. Peter’s Square is only a 5-minute walk from the Ottaviano Station of the Metro A – orange line. We begin our walking tour of Rome by dedicating some time to the smallest state in the world: Vatican City. The sumptuous St. Peter’s Basilica which will welcome us with the “embrace” of Bernini’s colonnade. Before entering to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà, the Baldacchino, Bernini’s Chair and many other works, we recommend that you visit the Vatican Museums (access time from 9 to 15:00), for which we suggest you book in advance entry, avoiding long queues. The Vatican artistic heritage takes a long time; a whole day would not be enough to visit the whole museum. For this reason, the best thing to do will be to choose in advance which sections of the exhibition to visit. You can also choose to rely on professionals for a Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. If you are interested click here. After visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, along Via della Conciliazione, with its neorealist aspect typical of the fascist regime, we reach another symbol of Rome, Castel Sant’Angelo. Also in this case, based on your available time, consider the opportunity to visit the inside of the monument which takes about 1h30.

Afternoon route: between squares and fountains

After having refreshed ourselves and regaining energy with a good meal, it’s time to go to the heart of the city and we do it by crossing the Tiber at Ponte Umberto I. Along Via di Monte Brianzo and then Via dei Condotti you will reach the first stop of our afternoon tour, or Piazza di Spagna, so called because the seat of the Spanish embassy overlooks it. Coming from Via dei Condotti, it will be the Fontana della Barcaccia that will capture your attention. Commissioned in 1626 by Pope Urban VIII to Pietro Bernini (who got help from his son Gianlorenzo), the Barcaccia owes its shape to the low pressure of the aqueduct which would not have allowed the creation of waterfalls and jets of water so dear to the scenographies of era. Behind the fountain, stands the majestic staircase of 135 steps, designed in the first half of the 18th century, which leads to the Church of Trinità dei Monti.

The second stop on our journey is the crowded Trevi Fountain, designed by Nicola Salvi in ​​the first half of the 18th century. The theme chosen for this fountain, the sea, is evident from the overlying figure of Ocean placed inside the central niche. Considered by many as a symbol of the city of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is loved above all because it recalls the famous scene of La Dolce Vita where an elegant Anita Ekberg at the sight of the solemn fountain exclaims ‘oh my goodness!’ And dives into it, inviting Marcello to do the same. Making our way through the hundreds of tourists bewitched by the roar of the waters we go to the third stop: the Pantheon, founded as a temple of all the gods in 27 BC. and later transformed into a Christian basilica with the name of Sancta Maria ad Martyres. The dome, the largest in the world with its 43.44 meters, has a central oculus which, letting the sun’s rays pass, represents a point of contact between gods and men. Only a road separates us from the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, why not enter and admire three masterpieces by Caravaggio? We assure you that the effort that at this point begins to be felt will be amply rewarded. Here you will find three of his most exciting masterpieces, the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, Saint Matthew and the Angel and The Vocation of Saint Matthew. After filling our eyes and still proud of having chosen to visit Rome on foot, we can head to one of the most popular squares in Rome, or Piazza Navona. With its monumental appearance, Pope Innocent X wanted to celebrate the victory of the Catholic Church over heresy and paganism. The rivalry between Bernini with his excellent Fountain of the Four Rivers still resonates in this place, and Borromini with his church of Sant’Agnese, whose facade is considered by some to be the most beautiful in Rome. Let’s not forget, however, that, despite its completely baroque image, Piazza Navona stands on an ancient stadium built by the Emperor Domitian for athletic competitions.

Evening itinerary: between flowers and holes

At this point it would be time to stop for a short break and regain some energy. We cross Corso Vittorio Emanuele II to head towards Campo de ‘Fiori, the most folkloristic square in Rome. The name of this square immediately brings to mind floral images and in fact, until the fifteenth century, in place of the square there was a flowery field. Today Campo de ‘Fiori hosts a colorful market in the morning while in the evening it becomes an ideal meeting place for tourists who can relax in the characteristic bars. While you savor your coffee or enjoy an aperitif, you will notice that this is the only square in Rome where not even a church overlooks, but the presence of the ecclesiastical world still echoes thanks to the statue of Giordano Bruno, philosopher, Dominican monk, as well as writer, condemned to the stake by the Tribunal of the Holy Inquisition, because he was accused of heresy in 1600. His statue stands right on the spot where he was burned alive. Time passes quickly, but the challenge of visiting Rome on foot in 1 day is not over yet. The time has come to get up to resume the journey towards the last leg of our tour. We take Corso Vittorio Emanuele II again to head towards the Colosseum. As we walk, the cumbersome Altar of the Fatherland will impose itself on our view, a monument that arouses different reactions in observers. It seems that the Romans do not appreciate it very much, giving it the nickname of ‘typewriter’. After passing the Altar, we continue our journey on Via dei Fori Imperiali where the remains of ancient buildings once stood, demolished at the behest of Benito Mussolini who wanted to create a connection between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum. The archaeological complex of the Imperial Forums and the Flavian Amphitheater is one of the most important in the world, and visiting it with the evening lighting will be truly impressive. From the Colosseum we return along Via dei Fori imperiali, to go up to the Capitol from where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Roman Forum. Pay attention to the fine square designed by Michelangelo which houses the copy of the statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback exhibited in the Capitoline museums. From here, go down to the area occupied by the former Jewish ghetto, today one of the most characteristic neighborhoods of Rome. If you love sweets in the ghetto shops you can taste the typical products of the Jewish pastry tradition.

Rome by night: Trastevere

Our walking tour of Rome is coming to an end and the time for a well-deserved rest is approaching, accompanied by a proper dinner … and what better place than Trastevere? We cross the Tiber Island, leaving behind the Rome of the great monuments and immerse ourselves in the popular atmosphere of the Trastevere district; take Via della Lungaretta to head towards Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, the beating heart of the district. It is a meeting place for nightlife with its clubs, pubs and street artists, so we recommend that you choose one of the restaurants surrounding the square to dine with a delicious ‘cacio e pepe’, a classic for the cuisine of Roman tradition. If your forces have not yet completely abandoned you, we recommend that you stroll for a while along the charming alleys of the neighborhood and discover some of the most beautiful corners of Rome. Our tour ends here. It’s true, we made you walk a lot, but the satisfaction of having seen the most famous places in Rome in just one day will leave no room for fatigue.