12 Hours in Rome
Beccy Miller
Rome wasn’t built in a day and it would be impossible to see it all in one either. Some hard decisions must be made about what your priorities are, but it is entirely possible to do a whistlestop tour of most of the impressive sites in this amazing city.
Cruises arrive in Civitavecchia early to give you a long stretch in the city so if you’re not taking an organised tour, hop on the shuttle to the train station. The regular commuter train can take between 60 – 90 minutes, but there is also a cruise shuttle train service that only takes 45 minutes, which gives three different drop-off points, one of which is Termini Station in the heart of Rome.
From Termini, jump on the metro to the Colosseum. It’s absolutely stunning, but with limited time, we’d say skip the tour as the best views of it are from outside anyway. Instead, cut around and head to the Forum – buy a skip the line ticket in advance – and wander through the towering columns and ancient ruins of what was the heart of the Roman Empire.
This should bring you to the Piazza Venezia, and the Vittorio Emanuele II monument, or as the Romans refer to it “the wedding cake”. Just round from there is one of Rome’s most iconic sites – the Fontana Di Trevi. Tossing a coin into the fountain is the done thing and it raises money for the charity Caritas, earning them over £2500 a day.
There are churches on practically every corner in Rome and the interiors range from modest to extravagant – it’s definitely worth checking some out on your way to the Spanish Steps. New laws have come in to stop people sitting or eating on them, but they make for good photo ops.
Next up is the Pantheon. There is no fee to go in and explore (and marvel at Raphael’s tomb!) and as a result, it is a pretty much free-flow affair. The only source of light comes from the centre of the dome and the shadows that dance across the floor are breathtaking. This is probably a good point to stop and get some lunch, as there are lots of amazing spots to sit and eat, and unlike your next destination – the Piazza Navona – it’s a bit more reasonable.
The Piazza Navona was once a huge square used for chariot racing back in Ancient Rome. Now it has a huge central fountain whilst cafes and restaurants line the edges. There are also some stalls selling artwork and trinkets if you’re looking for souvenirs.
Allow at least two hours and end your day in Rome with a visit to the Vatican, the sovereign state that is a city within a city. The enormous basilica is a focal point for Vatican City and can be viewed from many vantage points across St. Peters Square. Skip the line tickets are essential to ensure the quickest entry and these can be purchased in advance. The Sistine Chapel is indeed jaw-droppingly beautiful, but each corridor of the Vatican museums is full of artwork and frescos guaranteed to take your breath away, so try to take your time and not be swept along with crowds.
Once you have completed your visit, all that is left is to do is grab a gelato to eat on your short walk back to San Pietro station and the train back to the port.
Want to spend your own 12 Hours in Rome? Click here for a list of cruises that visit this amazing city.
