Often travelers mention that they would like to spend their last night close to the FCO airport as they have a 09:00 or 10:30 flight back to the USA. I just bow my head, hold it, and shake it slowly side-to-side. NOOOO – Why would you want to give up your last night in Italy – in Rome – and spend it at an American-style hotel in an isolated airport location… and not see Roma at night?
Undoubtedly, one of our passions in Rome was walking through the city in the evening. At night, the chaos dies down, the streets get a little quieter, the heat of the day gives way to a comfortable evening breeze, and hey, it’s time to eat. And eating outside was one of the best parts of our nights in Rome. But not just that… it was getting to the restaurant! We would leave our apartment near the Vatican and walk to dinner – often to the central parts of the city. My wife and I would talk and catch on what happened in each of “our days” surrounded by the night time beauty of Rome.
We would have a wonderful dinner outside, then we’d walk home. Many times these walks were 20-30 minutes each way, and ended often after midnight. We always felt safe walking through Rome at night, traveling through softly lit, golden-colored, alleys and streets. We’d talk and stop, window shopping, or investigating a newly discovered ancient building, column, or site.
Roma at night is romantic, magical, and filled with never ending discoveries whose appearance at night is so different from the heat and crowds of the day. The golden lights against the darkened Rome sky give you a sense of the history and depth of Rome… and then you realize why they call it The Eternal City! We laugh now that in our walks we could cross through another country (The Vatican) each night on our way home. Where else can you say that? And the quiet and beauty of St. Peter’s Square in the evening is a soothing end to a busy day.
Yes, there are many reasons to stay in town on your last night in Rome. I’ve often tried to capture pictures in our nightly walks but I am not the best photographer. Fortunately, there are many incredible nighttime pictures of Rome. I’ve tried to pull a few together in this article. Each of these pictures is by a talented photographer. I’ve tried to note their names, but do click on each picture and go to the website for each of these photos. You’ll see even more dramatic photos by these folks. I hope you enjoy these as much as we did our walks through Rome… and I’d surely stay in-town and see “this” if I had the opportunity!
Campodoglio – myworldphotos.com
Trevi Fountain – photo by Mircea_RAICU
Top of the Spanish Steps – photo by italytravelista.com
Colosseo – photo by SEIMA
Spanish Steps – photo by maximzar
Piazza Barberini – photo by Paul Gasiorowski
Campo De’ Fiori – photo by globalgadabout
Castel Sant’Angelo – photo by Christian Hilgenhaus
Near Largo Argentina – photo by globalgadabout
Piazza Repbulica – photo by Luca Bonora
Trastevere – Photo: Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
Pantheon – photo by Luca Bonora
Fiat 500 – photo by Ran Glusman
Campodoglio (again) – photo by Luca Bonora
Near Campo de’ Fiori – photo by globalgadabout
St. Peter’s Basilica – photo by Lennart Jonsson
Streets of Roma – photo by maximzar
Trajan’s Column – photo by alvarock
Piazza Navona – photo by Dick Wandel
Ristorante il Papalino – photo by ~maxi (flickr)
Piazza di Popolo – photo by luca
St. Peter’s Basilica – photo by Dave Hoggan
And here are some videos of Rome at Night!
Hope this helps to convince you to spend that last night in Rome!
You can buy tickets in advance – and you can also get some excellent reading materials! From St. Peter’s Basilica, Bernini Statues throughout Rome, the Colosseo, and the Vatican Museums, these books can make your trip more enjoyable. For more books or travel travel accessories, head to our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for travel accessories at amazon.co.uk.
You can buy tickets in advance – and you can also get some excellent reading materials! From St. Peter’s Basilica, Bernini Statues throughout Rome, the Colosseo, and the Vatican Museums, these books can make your trip more enjoyable. For more books or travel travel accessories, head to our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for travel accessories at amazon.co.uk.
Let Me Coach You, if you’re looking for travel assistance or some help creating an iitinerary! If you want to build your own vacation, please feel free use the information in the articles of the Ron-in-Rome website to help plan your next trip. If you need consulting, head to the Coaching page; For a list of all articles on this website, head to the Postings page. Or use the SEARCH Box, on the top right of each page!
Header Photos:
Roma, Ponte Senatorio ovvero “Ponte Rotto” – Photo by simbhad
Just so! To all my friends – Photo by minusca
Fontana del Carlo Maderno – Photo by Luca
Click on any of the imported pictures to see the website or photographer!
I’ll be visiting Rome for the first time in May with a friend. One of my main worries was the transport from Rome to Fiumicino Apt for a 7am to London, then Miami, finally my country Mexico. But after reading your suggestion to spend the night outdoors and then take a taxi at 3:30am, gave me confidence. I’m thinking that I might not pay for this last hotel night and keep my luggage some where in the hotel (if possible). Thank you, I’m enjoying your “Ron in Rome” so much…. thank you!!!
Irene, you might look at this site a few weeks before you come: http://inromenow.com/site%20templates/index.htm They also have a newsletter.
You are persuasive. I probably can’t go see Andrea Bocelli, but I would love to spend an evening at a local, community, or amateur theater or opera while in Rome or Venice. Can you tell me where to find information about the possibilities in the first week of April 2012?
WOW~~~ Love these night shots. Now all I have to do is hope my husbands legs will hold out so I can drag him around taking night shots. Thank you. P.S. Your site is great.
I dare anyone to watch the Andrea Bocelli video and not cry! Maybe I’m just sad because I have to wait 7 weeks until I’m in Rome again, but those were all beautiful photos and videos.
And here I thought I couldn’t get more excited about our upcoming (3rd) trip to Rome, in May. I was wrong. What gorgeous pictures! This is one of my favorite websites!
Glorious!!!