Rome- Best Views
 

I was wondering if you could help me with places to visit in Rome that offer the best views of the city. From the top of a hill or building. THANKS

28 Days until we leave!!!

The top of Janiculum hill in the late afternoon is perfect, as all of Rome will be aglow with golden light below your feet.

There's a great travel book for Rome called City Secrets that has lots of information that you can't easily find elsewhere. It's very small, you may want to pick up a copy.

I agree - Janiculum hill. It is THE best view of Rome.

I realize that by saying Janiculum hill most people might know where it is and how to get there. If you could include short directions or an address that would make this thread even better.

Enter "passeggiata del gianicolo rome italy" in maps.google.com then click on Satellite. Off to the right of the large circular plaza in the middle of the road with a statue in is a long straight wall with a fantastic view all along that wall.

It's a possible walk from Trastevere or the Vatican but it is up a VERY steep hill and all uphill. I strongly advise taking a taxi instead. Just say "gianicolo park" and they will take you right there. It is easy to catch a taxi back from there as well.

Castel Sant'Angelo

The Dome of St. Peter's

The best view of the Forum and Circus Maximus is from Palatine hill. Here's a hint, if you plan to visit the Colosseum: The ticket is valid for both Colosseum and Palatine hill and is sold at both places. To avoid the horrendous queues at Colosseum, go to Palatine hill first, buy your ticket there with hardly any lines, go up and enjoy the view and visit Colosseum afterwards.

Janiculum hill is named "Gianicolo" on Italian maps.

For me, the best view and the one I remember most was on my first day in Rome in 1999 -- at the top of the Aracoeli staircase going to Santa Maria de Aracoeli church. This staircase is adjacent to the Cordanata staircase going up to the Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo in the 16th c. You could see all the way to the Vatican.

Way out of the tourist path, with views as far as the Roman Hills, my favorite spot is on top of Monte Mario, having coffee at the Zodiac Cafe.

This previous thread may help you:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...name=i_am_kane

We returned from our 3rd visit to Rome in January of 2007 where our goal was to visit areas of the city we had never been and to see the city from different vistas and perspectives. We managed to do just that. I'd like to share a link to my trip report which details where we went and how to get there. There's also a link to the images that will show you the views from each of the areas described. I hope you find it useful.

Trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34933984

Images: (no signing in required)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-1gghn7

Another vote for Janiculum. Actually 2 votes: proxy for my husband.

HOWever, I would recommend arriving just before noon, when the Garibaldi cannon is shot off. You'll jump out of your skin!
:)

The keyhole at the Knights of Malta front gate on Aventine Hill. It is a framed view of St. Peter's that our guide showed us.

bookmarking...

ps. Happy Traveler, check this out, from my last visit:

http://www.worldisround.com/articles...5/photo22.html

and more:

http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/A...e_Openings.htm

At the top of the Spanish Steps, head north a ways and find Ciampini cafe, a great stop for gelato or coffee and with really pleasant outdoor terrace, away from traffic, a real garden feel - you will feel like you've left the city behind for a few minutes. And right along that road are spots where you look across and see a succession of domes, with St. Peters in the distance. A nice little surprise.

The top of the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II offers a wonderful and panoramic and almost 360 degree view of the city. And it is often said that it is the only view that doesn't include itself, this "wedding cake" that not all Romans are in awe of.

normanoromano: how can you get to the top of Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II ? do you need a ticket, And where is the access to the top?

I think I misspoke myself when I said the 'top'. I meant the terraces below the portico that are reachable from the front up the huge staircases.
I seem to remember that we used a Rick Steves trick that I found in our apartment copy of his "Rome 2006". But since that is about the only guide I didn't buy, I can't now refresh my memory. It involved something like selecting the 'door on the left' or maybe right somewhere around either the Campidoglio or S. Maria in Aracoeli and taking an easy internal stair/passage and avoiding the pain of the large front stair climb. No tickets or cost. My my how quickly time flies and memories fade.

From the rooftop of St.Peter's, looking over the facade.

I will visit the Janiculum Hill next month and hope to get so great photographs. I have great photographs from the top of St Peters Dome, but there is another location especially for the history buffs that can be absolutely beautiful and surreal with the sun setting over the Forum of an Empire that never dies. If you are in the neighbor, go to the Forum Hotel, take the elevator to the roof top restaurant, walk out onto restaurant patio and them turn immediately to your right and walk up the narrow steps to the wine terrace over the restaurant. Have a glass of wine and watch the sun set over the glory that was Rome. (the elevator may go to the wine terrace).
Lee

RE: Forum Hotel terrace

LBev, wish I had known about the wine terrace - or maybe it wasn't there when I visited. But we did have dinner one night up on the Forum Hotel roof and it was definitely a fun thing to do - looking down on the lighted Forum does make it feel slightly less like Ancient Rome and more like Las Vegas, but it's all good and "unique."
As to the restaurant, one of the more expenisive I've been to in Rome, though not out of sight and the fare was excellent. The wine terrace sounds like a less pricey option worth exploring.

There is another excellent view not mentioned here yet:
From the Parco Savelli, on the Aventine. If you make the trip up to shoot through the keyhole at S Maria del Priorata (the Knights of Malta), don't forget to walk down the street to this lovely park - it is notably undercrwded, quiet but not remote. A longish wall offers multiple choices for perching your companions in photos, or maybe resting your camera in lieu of a tripod if you're in low light at end of day.

Parco Savelli is near or adjacent the church of Santa Sabina, one of the earlist standing in Rome, worth a stop whileyou're up there.

These parks up high in Rome can be especially welcome rest stops during hot seasons. You can cool off in the shade, there always seems to be a seat available, and they're open at midday when many sites are closed.

Many people will decide to take a cab up to the Aventine. But coming down there's a sort of secret exit that will place you conveniently close to the Capitoline/Forum, etc.

At the far end of the Parco Savelli is a stone gate, and outside that a staircase leading to a path that heads further down. This takes you quicklyfrom the height of the Aventine to the street below, the Lungotavere (beside the Tiber) Aventino. Continue a very short distance and you'll find yourself at Santa MAria in Cosmedin, where the famed Bocca Della Verita resides. Go inside, the church has much more to offer than the photo op of your hand in the monster's mouth!

Outside again you'll see that you are in front of the temple of Vesta. Continue up the Tiber past the Triton Fountain to reach the steps up to the Capitoline etc. OR, from S Maria in Cosmedin you can head the other way over to the Circus Maximus, Palatine etc.

Lots of good info given here. I might add that if you walk up the Janiculum, stop into St. Onofrio. The yard gives a nice view of Rome and the other side has a view of St Peter's dome.

For one of the best views of St Peter's dome go to Via Piccolomini, where the street frames the dome perfectly. See photos at: http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Pics/StPeters3.htm

great pix, sandi, thanks