Saturday Scene: Rome at Night

 

Rome, a walking city? Yes, it is usually included in any list of top walking cities around the world. Ok, so you might need to be a little extra careful of cars; meaning you risk life, limb and camera whenever you step foot off a sidewalk.  Rome is also one of the most beautiful cities to walk at night, when the heat of the day has left with the sun and its monuments are alit both from the night lights and the moon. 

One of my favorite travel memories was my trip last summer in Rome.  Every evening while we were there, my friend Daniel (my roommate in Venice) and another friend Marcello roamed Rome after dark, where we made several wine sipping stops along the way in piazze and even under the moonlit shadow of the Colosseum.

For today's Saturday Scene, I have for you Rome at night; monuments and evening scenes from some of my favorite night walks in Rome:

 

From the Capitoline Hill to the Colosseum

 

Michealangelo's Piazza Campidoglio illuminated

 

Monument Vittorio Emanuele

 

Statue of Garibaldi, in front of the Monument Vittorio Emanuele

 

 

Arch of Constantine

 

 

 

Isola Tiberina and Along the Tiber River

This walk is especially fun in the summer as the Tiberina Island and the surrounding area hosts one of the many outdoor summer festivals.  There's dining al fresco along the river, along with cocktail bars, booths with jewelry, clothes and more for sale, and the biggest outdoor movie screen (cinema sotto il cielo) in the city.

 

Isola Tiberina and the Church of San Bartolomeo during summer festivities 

 

Ponte Rotto (the Broken Bridge)

 

Ponte Sisto (Sisto Bridge)

 

Summer eveing festivities along the Tiber River

 

Lounge along the Tiber River

 

 

Castel Sant' Angelo 

Evening views from the top of Castel St. Angelo are some of the most romantic and  picturesque in Rome.  The star-shaped piazza that surrounds the castel, and the area along the Tiber below it, also host another of the city's summer festivals.

 

Castel Sant' Angelo and the Ponte Sant' Angelo (also called the Bridge of Angels)

 

Ponte Vittorio and the Dome of St. Peter's from the Ponte Sant' Angelo

 

From atop Castel Sant' Angelo

 

St. Peter's Basilica from atop the Castel St. Angelo

 

 

Trastevere

Trastevere is one of the livelier neighborhoods at night.  The streets have a Christmas-like glow as many of the trattorie hang strings of lights above the al fresco dining areas.  Street musicians play for a coin or two everywhere you look.

 

Santa Maria in Trastevere - one of the oldest churches in Rome 

 

 

 

 

 

Campo de' Fiori - Piazza Navona - Pantheon - Trevi Fountain

This walk is probably one of the most popular with visitors to Rome.  Starting at the Campo de' Fiori you go north to Piazza Navona.  From there an almost pedestrian-only path leads you to the Pantheon and farther along.  You end at the Trevi Fountain where swarms of people gather to throw in their coins and ensure a return to the eternal city.

 

Campo de' Fiori under the moonlight

 

Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona

Bernini's Statue of the Nile River shading his eyes from the Church of St. Agnes in Agony (a work of Bernini's rival Borromini)

 

Neptune's Fountain in Piazza Navona

 

 

The Pantheon

 

Trevi Fountain

 

 

 

Related Posts:

Taste of Testaccio - Food Tour with Eating Italy in Rome

Saturday Scene: Italy and France in Shades of Blue

Saturday Scene: The Tricolore in Turin

Roman Pasta Dishes and 10 Places to Eat Them in Rome

Food in Rome: Taste of Testaccio is Offal

Coda alla Vaccinara - Roman Style Braised Oxtail

Best Picnic Spots and Picnic Fare in Rome

Pizza al Taglio at Pizzarium in Rome

Caramel Gelato and Five Favorite Gelaterie in Rome

Cacio e Pepe Pasta in a Parmigiano Bowl - Inspired by Roma Sparita

Pasta all' Amatriciana - A Roman Treat

Potato Gnocchi for Gnocchi Giovedi

Rome with a View - Five Favorite Spots for Photo Ops in Rome

Villa d'Este in Photos - Day Trip from Rome

Comments

[JDeQ]

Your pictures are stunning - what camera/lens combination did you use?

[Chef Daniel]

This brings back such fond memories.

[Frank]

Truly spectacular photos!

[Tuula]

Rome is an incredible walking city..and you really captured the best of it! Right down to those amazing summer nights along the Tiber - super photos! Ahh, bella Roma...

[Kathy]

Thank you all for such kind comments. I'm glad you like the photos and walking in Rome as much as I do.

JDeQ - I use a Nikon D90 camera with an 18-105mm lens, and for many of the shots I used a mini tripod and a bridge's railing/ledge to help. (I'm saving up for a 70-300mm lens -- or hoping Santa brings it this Christmas :)

[Simmerings]

Thanks for this post. I am heading to Italy soon and I found your information and pictures very inspirational.

[Pete]

Stunning photos!

[Corinne @ Gourmantic]

I'm amazed you can navigate these walks with a tripod in Rome! Stunning shots!!!

[Kathy]

Simmerings, Pete & Corinne - Thank you.

Corinne - It was a mini tripod, very small and fit in my camera bag. I needed a ledge/bridge etc. to use with it. I am thinking about bringing a bigger tripod on the next trip. Am I crazy? :)