Rome 2024

We arrived early in the morning, this was my 4th time in Rome. So I decided to visit things I didn’t see before. I walked to Vatican from Termini station and on my way I passed Piazza della Republica, Trevi fountaine , Navona square, Pantheon. Before entering I had to leave my bag somewhere. I found app Bounce and left my bag in store close by for 5 €.

First I booked tour to visit Dome of St Peter’s Basilica. But I was late for tickets so I had to book tour with agency including, Basilica and Dome visit through GetYourGuide for 40€. At agency I met a slovenian family. We moved to square with guide Michele, first waiting in line for security. We went underground for visit of old church and tombs of popes. Returned up for tour of basilica. I found out few interesting facts. For duomo we waited more then an hour to get tickets. I did not have enough time to visit. So guide gave my individual ticket and I return later alone.

I rushed to Vatican museums (around the corner), bought drinks for 7 €, skip the first line (ticket form Viator 70 €), waited in second line shortly. Finally I entered this huge museum that operates more then 500 years and is second most visited after Louvre. I took audio guid (8€), but a lot of information when one pope would do something, not good choice. A start there was confusing, so after egiptian part I went into the garden for a beer (7€). When I moved back inside there were a lot of artefacts on display from different periods. Just to mention few, hall of maps, Rafael and Michelangelo, Rodin, … It was nice but too big crowd to enjoy it completly.

I returned back at basilica. There were long lines to enter square and to go to dome and I would miss opening hours. So I moved Balkan style, first line I avoided and went to security show him ticket and I was first in line. For secondline I just walk pass them as I had already ticket. To enter elivator I just to some group and in less then 10 minutes I was on my way. WAt this first level you can se dome up close from inside and see basilica below. Next level meant 250 steps, close to top it got really narrow and I was tired. From the top you have ecelent view of the city. After walking down stairs I took espresso 1.2 €. When I got out of Vatican I was tired but happy with what I saw.

I picked my bag and spent 10€ in store. I ate homemade sandwich. It was time to walk around Rome (Colloseum, Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II). I sat at l’Orolgio for dinner. I ordered cacho e pepe (pasta with pepper and cheese, 10 €) and beer 7 €. I watched there kids with parent going for trick or treat (Halloween). I moved to Termini station, ate a bad 5 € kebab. My back pain was back while I was waiting for train, used toilet there (clean, 1 €). Soon it was time for another night train (8.5h, 35 €, sleeper 45€, daily fast train 115€).

I enjoyed Vatican expirence except crowds. The city of Rome was as constuction site (Termini, Trevi, Navona, Basilica, around Colloseum), all around they were reparing sometinhg, some things were closed, others were not intreseting as foutains without water, … We will see how it will be next time I visit.