Calm and Quiet Rome: a Route for Those Who Are Tired of the Bustle of the Eternal City

When arriving in Rome, every traveler is morally ready to walk many kilometers along the pavement together with crowds of other tourists to visit the Colosseum, the Fontana Trevi, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and other places that we previously described in the article “24 Hours In Rome: What To See In The Eternal City In One Day". If you have already visited the main sights, Travellizy Team has prepared a new and equally exciting route for you.

The heart beats more often from walks in Rome, and it takes your breath away from the abundance of architectural masterpieces, so it is important to pause and relax in a quiet place. Villa Borghese, one of the largest Roman parks and a real corner of peace in the city center, is perfect for your relaxation. Villa Borghese is also called the green heart of Rome, because if you look at the park plan, you can clearly see just this shape on the map.

Here is also one of the world's most famous art museums - the Borghese Gallery, which houses the works of great artists such as Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens and Botticelli. There are a lot of people who want to see them live, and the number of tickets is limited, so a preliminary reservation is required. The Borghese Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00 (last entrance is at 17:00) and until 21:00 on Thursdays, Monday is a day off.

The standard admission fee is € 15, there are discounts for EU citizens from 18 to 25 years old, and a ticket will cost € 8.5, children up to 18 years old can visit the Borghese Gallery is for free (only € 2 is required for advance booking).

Price may vary due to temporary exhibitions in the museum. For example, from May 22 to August 25 this year, the exhibition of the Italian artist Lucio Fountains called "Earth and Gold" takes place here. Accordingly, a ticket price is € 5 more. When buying tickets online at authorized websites, a service fee of € 1.5 - 2 is also added to the cost.

A visit to the Borghese Gallery is limited in time and the number of visitors. Only 360 people can be inside the museum at the same time, and two hours are given to inspect all the exhibits, so the entrance and exit times are shown on the ticket (for example, 11: 00-13: 00). You can try your luck and try to buy a ticket at the last minute without booking. To do this, you need to come to the box office 30 minutes after the opening, but considering the museum’s workload, there’s not much chance to go inside, and if you’re still lucky, only 1.5 hours will remain to inspect works of art.

Would you like to save? Check in advance the dates when admission is free for everyone. For example, in the Borghese Gallery, it is every second Wednesday of the month (at 13:00, 15:00 or 17:00) and the first Sunday, but not every month, as it was before (it will be October 6, November 3 and December 1st in 2019). A free ticket must be reserved online, so in the end, you will have to pay about € 4 (reservation+service fee).

While walking through the park, make sure to enjoy the view of the city and Piazza del Popolo from the panoramic terrace of Pincho, from where you can also view the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and the Castle of St. Angel in the distance.

Then go down the steps to Piazza del Popolo and take a look at the church of Santa Maria del Popolo. Outside, it is not very impressive, as restoration works are often carried out here, but inside the temple, you will find two authentic works by Caravaggio, as well as the famous Chigi Chapel, which became famous for the film “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown.

Just 20 minutes walk from Piazza del Popolo, there is another famous landmark of Rome - the Castle of the Holy Angel. We recommend that you choose the route through the bridges Ponte Cavour or Ponte Umberto I and, on your way to the castle, admire the architecture and the enormous size of the Palace of Justice in Rome.

The Castle of Holy Angel is impressive in its history - from the mausoleum of the Roman emperor to the residence of the pontiffs, from the defense fortress to the prison, and nowadays, it is a museum that is visited by more than 1 million tourists annually. The castle is open daily from 09:00 to 19:30. The cost of an adult ticket is € 14, for citizens of EU countries from 18 to 25 - € 7 and free for children under 18.

Many people come here for a stunning view of the city, which opens from Angel Terraces, the highest point of the castle. It was from here that Julia Roberts began her journey in the film "Eat, Pray, Love", based on the book by Elizabeth Gilbert. We recommend you to stroll along the Bridge of the Holy Angel, which is decorated with ten angel statues, made by Italian sculptor Bernini and his disciples.

Just 10-15 minutes walk from Castel Sant'Angelo, there is Piazza Navona, where we recommend you to stop by in the late afternoon. Choosing a route through Via del Governo Vecchio, you will be even more imbued with incredible energy and atmosphere of the city. Narrow streets, where you just might want to get lost, will lead to fountains on the Piazza Navona. Right in the middle of the square, there is the famous Fountain of Four Rivers, which symbolizes the main rivers of Asia, Africa, America and Europe - the Ganges, the Nile, Río de la Plata and the Danube.

Street musicians arrange show-performances, someone blows huge soap bubbles, and the square is filled with children's laughter, which interrupts the noise of the fountain and seagull squawking... In the evenings, on the Piazza Navona, there is a special magical atmosphere, you want to linger longer and drink a glass of wine or aperol, enjoying the incredible architecture around.

Sometimes, it is so important to pause visiting tourist sites and get lost in the Roman streets, accidentally find a local trattoria and eat a huge plate of the most delicious pasta, and then wander around the city at night, and maybe even meet the dawn on one of the seven hills.

Travellizy Team wishes you to collect bright impressions and unforgettable moments while traveling, and we will take care of your comfortable flight!

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