Entries Tagged 'Guided Tours' ↓

For those history buffs out there this is for you. I consider myself a bit of an armchair archeologist and would love to spend some quality time with these ancient sites. You could say that the western world was formed in these sites as many famous events or people came from each and every one. History is dripping with each of these sites and I am sure that if you are at all interested in ancient history you will not be bored with what these top 10 ancient ruins in Rome have to offer.

The Coliseum in Rome is perhaps one of the best known sites in all of the world. I dare you to show a picture of this site in almost every country and someone is bound to know what is was and some of the legends of this ancient ruin. I have been to this site myself and have to tell you that it is well worth the visit if you go inside and take the tour.

Second to the Coliseum in Rome is the Pantheon or the temple of the Gods. The root of the ancient religion that founded modern western society this site contains so many relics it will take your breath away. It is now a converted church and one of the best preserved sites from the ancient time period.

The Roman Forum was the center of the ancient city of Rome. Here this place contained temples, markets, basilicas, and arches. One of the benefits of visiting this site is that the admission is free so be sure to take your time walking around and exploring what was once Rome in its earliest days.

Piazza Navona was originally built as a stadium for ancient athletic contests. It now contains some of the best fountains and cafes you will find in the city.

If you want to see where the ancient Roman emperors ruled then be sure to check out Palatine Hill. The Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana were built as the home to the emperors and served them for over 300 years. Remarkably these structures still stand today. With admission to this ancient site  you can also view the Palatine Museum as well so I guess you get a better deal if you visit this site.

Back in ancient Rome taking a bath was a social event and this took place at the Baths of Caracalla. This huge complex could hold up to 1600 Roman bathers believe it or not! This was also a place to buy food and drink and get a workout as well as this building contained a gym as well.

The world’s oldest shopping market or Trajan’s market is definitely worth checking out as well. Built over several floors this building contained marble floors and an extensive library as well.

If you wish to view ancient catacombs and explore how the people of Rome are buried then be sure to check out Via Appia Antica and Catacombs. Via Appla was the ancient road that lead to Rome and was started in 312 B.C.E. and on this road you will find many tombstones of ancient Roman Christians.

Finally the ancient port of Ostia Antica should also be on your list. Without this port of commerce Rome could have never survived as Rome existed on the surrounding areas in order to get enough goods to supply the city. This is a truly huge complex and in order to get the most out of y our trip be sure to plan for an extensive stay, perhaps a half day would be recommended.

These ancient sites represent the foundation of the city and of the culture of Rome. Without these sites many of the ancient history of Rome could not have occurred. You cannot consider yourself a history buff until you have visited all of these sites personally.

For savvy travelers, like my readers, the normal everyday routine is not enough. Nor should it be as the normal routine is usually followed by sheep who are too scared to try something different. In seeing Rome there are many standard ways to go about touring the city. This is about trying something just ever so slightly off kilter and different so that a unique experience can be created.

For many true travelers photography is a passion. And this is for good reason as you want to capture your memories on film or digital media so that they can be preserved for later posterity. For these wanderlusters I would recommend a photography tour in Rome by a famous National Geographic photographer. If you ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of taking really spectacular pictures then a tour with Anthony Boccaccio. Anthony has a company called Imaging in Italy and the recommendations speak for themselves.

If you want to splurge a bit then the next alternative I would recommend would be to hire a driver in Italy. This is well worth it as my family experienced this firsthand. Run by an American who moved back to Italy this company caters to the North American market and has some really good English speaking drivers who will give you a private tour of the city. These drivers are full service meaning that they will help you get into the attractions such as the Coliseum and the Forum without you having to wait in line. That alone is worth the price itself. Plus since many of these drivers grew up in the city they know all of the best local places to eat. The advice they give is priceless and can really save you a bundle.

Of course you can take advantage ot the various “hop on hop off” tour buses that travel all through the city. This is the best option if you just want to see a portion of the city and do this at your own pace. Moving at your own pace is really great for the newlyweds and also the older generation as they have more of an ability to catch their breath or to just absorb the city like a local.

 Group tours would be the last and worst option as these move at a glacial pace and you view many things that perhaps to you do not seem important. For me I am sick to death of the group tour unless it is a very small group that is geared towards a specific topic. I like to be focused on my travels so that I can get into some depth and not just gloss over something I consider really important.

One option that may be available to some is to contact your local University and see what travel options they have. Since many of the anthropology and archeology programs are not the best funded programs they usually put together a more unique experience then the average tour company. You want to make sure you are trying something different and new here as this is the only way to grow as a person.