Back when we could travel, we took a trip to Rome. Part of a Rick Steve’s Heart of Italy nine day tour.
Rome was the first stop. We gave ourselves a few extra days in Rome before the tour started, figuring there would be so much to see and there was indeed.
Roma Termini station is a world on its own. It’s maybe the best place to people-watch in Europe, a real rogue’s gallery of all the human race has to offer.
The problem is that the vast majority of people in the US have never been in a train station, of any size, so the very thought of a European train station creates extreme anxiety. They have no idea what to expect. Then, once they’ve done it a few times, they see it’s easy, with a few exceptions
Jet-lagged from the overnight flight, the first step is to find the train to Roma Termini railway station. The trip is unremarkable. Mostly a slow ride through industrial areas and over grown landscapes. But emerging from the terminal below, one enters the bustling city of Rome with its layers upon layers of ancient history.
Just outside Roma Termini is a bus transfer station with dozens of bus lines waiting to take you around the city. But our hotel was actually a quick walk from the terminal.
Roma Termini is Rome’s biggest train station, and one of Europe’s largest as well. There are 29 platforms and daily service to cities all over Italy as well as elsewhere in Europe. The name “Termini” comes from the station’s location in Rome.
The area immediately around the station has shops, restaurants, cafes and hotels as well as attractions including the National Museum of Rome and the Baths of Diocletian both of which are just over the road from the station.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the very charming Chiesa Santa Prassede are also quite close to Termini and lovely. Few people go to Santa Prassede but if you are into extremely old churches with VERY old mosaics this church will impress!
The Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs is a basilica and titular church in Rome, Italy, built inside the ruined frigidarium of the Roman Baths of Diocletian in the Piazza della Repubblica. It was constructed in the 16th century following an original design by Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Rome is really quite compact so “near” Termini is deceiving. Basically, everything is “near” either with strong walking legs or a short bus ride or taxi.
We walked down to the Forum and Colosseum from the hotel. It was very hot in June but our legs were fresh and the adrenaline was pumping since our trip had just begun.
