Rome: Favorite Views
 

Okay, we all love a great view; especially when the light is just right or shadows come into play.


Here are a few to kick things off:

Sunset at Piazza del Quirinale

Panorama at the Pincio Terrace

Dusk at Piazza Garibaldi

Geez ChatNoir--a little Rome happy, are we? :) No, actually, I think it's great to see all of these Rome questions, although to be fair we should start some posts up for other areas in Italy (best views in Umbria, best fountains in...Florence?)

Anyway, the view from the Pincio Terrace--is that near the Campidoglio and you have to walk through a building to get there? there is a little bar inside? Or am I dreaming? If that is the one, I like it. (If it's not the one, I have no idea where you are referring to).

I also like the view from Aventine Hill. And, of course, the duomo's cupola (although I am starting to like these less the more times I climb it. I always end up taking the same picture).

I have heard views from Castel S. Angelo are also nice.

Lastly, while I could never get this view of course, one of my favorite postcards is from over the Pantheon, where you can see the dome's circular opening and the shape of the whole building. It's pretty impressive.

Chat Noir, When do you go to Rome anyway? Did you go to SF yet?

My favorite was the first glimpse of the Forum and beyond from behind the Capitoline.

Jackie, maybe you are talking about the view from the Cafe Capitolino on the Palazzo dei Conservatori? I think we went inside without paying to go in the Capital Hill Museum. The Pincio Terrace is in the greenspace on a hill above the Piazza del Popolo or above the Spanish Steps if walking from that direction.

Grasshopper: SF this summer and Rome most likely in late Sep or early Oct.

The top of Castel Sant'Angelo when the sun is setting is indescribably beautiful. Also the very top of the Vittorio Emanuele monument has a splendid view.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

Here's another vote for the top of Castel Sant'Angelo!

Yes, that is probably it, ChatNoir. I really enjoyed that view.

Oh and now that you have explained the Pincio Terrace, I know what you are talking about (we also visited that as well and enjoyed the view).

have you considered my ideas of making a Best Fountains in Florence post? :)

You've already named my top three in your first post, but I'd like to add that the views from any of the bridges late at night are wonderful. Rome doesn't take advantage of its river like Paris does, but even still, it's both romantic and atmospheric standing against the railings admiring all the lights twinkling! Pont S. Angelo is an especially pretty one.

The view from the top at Castel St. Angelo was very "special." It was a nice surprise, and good for photo oportunities. I got some super photots taken there of myself with wonderful backgrounds.

Palatine Hill Scenic Overlook Of The Roman Forum Reopened
Author: ParadiseLost ([email protected])
Date: 03/23/2004, 02:16 pm
Message: This overlook has been closed for years due to structural problems beneath it and just reopened in the last ~10 days. It's atop the huge terrace that extented the Domus Tiberiana into the Roman Forum.
I believe the terrace's greatest height is close to 90ft.
This overlook can be seen here http://wings.buffalo.edu/AandL/Maece.../ac660817.html see the 5 arches in the top center going to the left, the overlook is above the 3rd arch.
You get views like this http://wings.buffalo.edu/AandL/Maece.../ac780718.html
Another great thing is it allows you too look into the 'House of the Vestal Virgins' from above. Which is closed-off in the Forum where you can just seek a peak from one corner.
Also just before reaching the overlook you past an enclosed staircase which lead down from the palace into the Forum.
Regards, Walter

An idea from Grinisa:

Anytime, but especially at sunset, on the rooftop bar of the Raphael Hotel, just off Piazza Navona. The buildings and the domes of numerous churches look so close you could touch them.

Walter,

Thanks for the heads up on the just-reopened palatine hill scenic overlook - I'm sure the picture that you've linked it to does not even do justice.
I'm sure my 10 year old daughter will be thrilled to see this view.

Do you know the easiest way to get to these arches? Thanks much.

Thanks for the feedback - let's keep adding to the list.

Some ideas from Wendy and Rob:

Rooftop bar at the Hotel Forum, with views looking on to the Forum, Trajans, colossuem...( bar resonable, but restaurant hideously expensive)

Rooftop bar at the Hotel Eden(nice piano player and you can sit outside, they have recently glassed in the outside however)

From the cupola at St. Peters'(great walk up )

At the top of the Il Vittoriano,(nice little cafè up there too)

At the monument of Anita Garibaldi at the top of the Janiculum hill

At Trinita dei Monti at the top of the Steps

In my opinion, the best views of Rome can be found atop Castel Sant Angelo, the Aventine Hill, the Janiculum, atop the dome at St Peter's Basilica, and the best aerial view of the ruins can be seen from the Capitoline Hill.

petite: It's easy to find :).
You need to pay admission to the Palatine Hill but this ticket is also valid for the Colosseum on the same day or if the ticket is bought after either 1 or 2 PM it is valid until the same time the next day. So you skip the long lines at the Colosseum by going to the left of the ticket line and following the signs for 'Tour Groups'.
So when you are in the Forum you will see the people above you on this overlook. Walk towards the 'Arch of Titus' and keep looking towards the Palatine and you will see stairs with a bldg on top leading up to the Palatine. The ticket booth is at the bottom of the stairs.
Just go up the stairs and a short distance into the site make the 1st right turn you can and it leads right to it.
This would be the view that Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero had from their Palace overlooking the Forum.
This is actually a huge man-made terrace of brick and concrete that they built from the Hill into the Forum to extend the palace.
Caligula extended it right up to the 'Temple of Castor & Pollux' so he could go down a staircase and talk with the Gods anytime he felt like it:). He also build a wooden bridge to the Capitoline Hill to converse & argue with the God Jupiter in his temple.
I agree with platzman, the best views of the Forum are from the Capitoline Hill. Esp from the basement corridor (which is above the Forum with large open windows) that connects the 2 Capitoline Museums You can see the whole Forum with part of the Colosseum in the background.
Regards, Walter

Thanks Walter - great info

Executive Club level of Rome Hilton Cavalieri. Amazing views!

What about the "keyhole" view -- the view through the large keyhole in the wooden gates of the Priory of the Knights of Malta. It seemed to rate a "wow" from every person I saw who looked in (myself included). It's not a beautiful vista per se, but it's pretty nifty.

Another topper!