By: Dylan Cavaliere
There is much to say about the Eternal City. With architecture that’s spanned thousands of years and beauty around every corner, it’s hard to capture all the sights of Rome in one list. With that said, here are seven of the spots around town that just feel particularly different (and better) when the sun goes down.
- Piazza Navona
I think you’ll find that the majority of the locations on this list feel much less crowded and far quieter at night – that’s certainly true for Piazza Navona. Street artists fill the oversized square while hushed chatter and soft footsteps surround the giant illuminated fountains. Stop for a sprtiz at one of the bars in the piazza and take a stroll around.
- Fontina di Trevi (Trevi Fountain)
In my travels there are few places that I’ll actually describe as breathtaking (shout out to the Pantheon as well, but no entry at night). The Trevi Fountain is one of those places. It’s hard to believe that humans masterfully constructed this enormous monument, but they did. It took roughly 100 years to finish. Every time I go I have the same reaction as I did the first time, jaw dropped. Stop by at night too see it lit up and toss in your coin. No photo will ever do the Trevi Fountain any justice, much like all attractions on this list.
- Altare della Patria (Wedding Cake Monument)
This is a perfect example of a photo not living up to the grandeur of this monument. Built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy, The Altare della Patria stands 230 ft. high and 443 ft. wide. Depending on how close you stand to the monument, you can hardly contain it in your eyesight. Two torches are lit and two guards stand in front 24/7.You’ll find it much quieter at night to visit and take some awesome pictures.
- Trastevere/Tiber River
This is probably my favorite neighborhood in Rome. Take a walk over the Tiber River into Trastevere during sunset and you’ll see why. The streets are flooded with people enjoying aperitivo and musicians playing a number. It truly has the “neighborhood” feel about it, and all of its liveliness happens during the nighttime. There are hundreds of restaurants, bars, gelaterias, and cafes to pop into. Grab a pizza at Dar Poeta and follow up with a gelato from Old Bridge, you’ll be glad you came.
- Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps)
The Spanish steps are beautiful both day and night. But during the night, shoppers from Via del Corso wander up and down the steps for an evening stroll. People sit on the steps sipping espresso when it gets colder. Also, this area is heavily decorated around Christmas time. Which brings me to our next destination.
- Via del Corso
For all the shoppers of the world, this is the place you want to be. Via del Corso is the shopping district of Roma. While most storefronts close for the night hours you can still take some time to stroll through and take in the views of the glowing street.
- The Colosseum
You can’t exactly make a list of Roman destinations without including the Colosseum. While this landmark is astounding during any time of the day (and one of the seven wonders of the world), it certainly has a different appeal during the night. In its peak, the Colosseum held roughly 65,000 spectators and was used mostly for entertainment purposes. Be sure to book one of the night tours to really travel back in time.
