Alpha Photography Blog

The Eternal City.  This bustling European city was once the centre of a powerful empire, and the amazing thing is that there are still so many reminders.  Ruins are everywhere and the buildings still standing are surprisingly well intact, considering their age.

I spent almost a week in Rome, roaming around the streets in the heat of summer and stopping every afternoon for a mandatory strawberry (fragola) gelati!

Here are my top photography locations in Rome…

The Colosseum

A classic, but there’s a reason for that.  This is an impressive structure, which at one point seated 50,000 spectactors for one of the most blood thirsty sports ever invented.  Now, at over 2,000 years old, the Colosseum has become an icon for Rome’s imperial era.  It is also an engineering feat of its time.

There is a self-guided tour that you can take, which allows you to go at your own pace to truly take in this impressive building.  While an incredible structure, when you see the “cages” that were once below the actual stage floor, you realise how gruesome the gladiating days were.

Located about a 20  minute walk from the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum is situated amidst the majority of the city’s visible ancient ruins.

Roman Ruins

Here are just some of the Roman Ruins, near the Palatine Hill (and only a 5 minute walk from the Colosseum).  This place is amazing - you get a feel for how Rome looked thousands of years ago.  There are streets, landscaping, buildings etc. 

One of the first things you’ll notice is that the ground is actually a few meters below the ground of today - no doubt as a result of earthquakes and other natural disasters.  Archeologists have excavated the ruins to create what you see today - a truly amazing sight to see.

This photo is just part of the vast ruins you can see as you walk down the street in Rome.   Probably best taken at sunset, or early in the morning, you could convert the photo to black and white, and perhaps add some highlights to give it a truly mystical feel.

Cityscape

Scooters are an incredibly common sight in Rome.  Before they became trendy throughout the world, they had been an ordinary form of transport in this ancient city.

This photo typifies the old and the new - buildings which have been standing for hundreds of years, with modern motorised machines all lined up out front.  The streets are so narrow, that some you can’t even fit a car through.  The only other option - a scooter!

Exploration is part of travel.  Walk the streets - preferrably away from all the other tourists and you’ll love what you find.  The locals going about their day, and some great candid moments.

Trevi

Again, another classic - the Trevi fountain is probably best known by the song and movie ”Three Coins in a Fountain”, which came out in 1954.  The Trevi Fountain is now associated as a dream maker - you throw a coin over your shoulder, and into the fountain, while making a wish, and it will come true.  It’s interesting to watch nearly every tourist do this.

Here is Trevi at night - where you’ll find many couples coming to soak up the romance and buy an over-priced rose from a street vendor.  It is a magical location - definitely worth a visit.  Be prepared for crowds though.

Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II

Locals refer to this monument as “the wedding cake” - and apparently it’s not too affectionately regarded.  Situated at a major intersection, a short walk from the ancient ruins of the Palatine Hill, this structure was actually designed in 1895, being completed in 1925.  So, it isn’t quite as old as it may first appear.  Controversy has shadowed this monument as its construction destroyed a large portion of the Capitoline Hill and ancient ruins with it.

Nevertheless, it is a striking structure and worth a visit.  You will likely come across it at some point, as the tourist bus stops here and walking from the Colosseum towards the main shopping area, near Via del Corso, you’ll come across it as well. 

Vatican City

Last, but not least, is Vatican City.  A separate sovereign city-state, you actually gain the feeling of being in another country.  They have their own stamps.  Postcards/letters with Vatican stamps on them can only be mailed from their post office, or also from anywhere within Rome - nowhere else in the country though.

A comical sight are the Swiss Guard - don’t be fooled by their colorful outfits though, these men are highly trained soldiers who are there to protect the Pope.

If you’re planning a visit to the Vatican in summer (when the heat and humidity can be extreme), make sure to pack a t-shirt and 3/4 pants - or something that will cover your shoulders and knees.  It is mandatory (regardless of the ambient temperature) to cover up - I experienced this first hand.

Here is an aerial view of the St Peter’s Square.  While not as large as I was expecting, it still is very impressive.  Well worth a visit - especially to walk through the crypt and go up into the basilica - the artwork inside and the view outside are something to experience.

These are the main highlights of Rome.  There are many other sights to see, but from a photography perspective, these are my favourite.  Enjoy travelling!

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