To get to Rome, we took a regional train from Assisi Station to Roma Tiburtina Station. We stayed at the Best Western Globus Hotel which is near the station. To get around Rome, we purchased the 72-hour bus/metro/tram ticket for 18 EUR. On our first half-day, we had reservations for the Pantheon, which you can—and should—book here.
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| The Pantheon |
From the Pantheon, we walked over to the Fontana di Trevi, which was crowded as expected.
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| Fontana de Trevi |
Then we continued on to the Spanish Steps, and from there we took the subway back from Spagna Station.
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| Spanish Steps |
Most of the restaurants in that area feel like tourist traps, but we found one that was surprisingly good: Taverna del Seminario.
On our first full day, we headed to The Vatican. We took Subway Line B and transferred to Line A, which was really packed around 10 a.m. The line to enter St. Peter’s Basilica wasn’t too long—we got in within 15 minutes. We saw La Pietà , attended Mass, and then headed down into the crypts, knowing we’d return the next day.
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| The Piety |
Afterward, we took a bus back into Rome to visit St. Mary Major Basilica. This church hosts the tomb of Pope Francis, the Nativity Crypt, and the Salus Populi Romani, one of the oldest Marian images in Rome:
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| St. Mary Major Basilica |
It was past lunchtime, so we ate at Sapporo e Delizie which was a good choice. Next, we walked to the Basilica di Santa Prassede. This small church, a block away from St. Mary Major, hosts the Column of the Flagellation of Christ.
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| Basilica di Santa Prassede |
From there, we walked south toward the Colosseum to see it from the outside. Then we took a short bus ride to Saint John Lateran—but we first stopped at the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs, which is right across the street.
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| The Colosseum |
We then walked 500 meters to the Basilica di Santa Croce, which hosts relics including pieces of the True Cross, thorns from the Crown of Thorns, and part of a nail.
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| Basilica di Santa Croce |
This concluded our day as we headed back to our hotel via tram.
<< Days 6 (Assisi) | Trip Itinerary | Day 9 (Rome & The Vatican) >>
