Rome on foot — twelve ways through the Eternal City
A week in Rome, explored entirely on foot: from St. Peter's via the Via Appia Antica
to the gardens of the Vatican — twelve walks, a touch under 100 kilometres.
In May 2026 we explored Rome for a week — entirely on foot. Twelve individual
walks, together just under a hundred kilometres: from short loops in the centre
to the long stretch out to the Via Appia Antica.
Driving in Rome is something for locals and crazy people. Welcome Pickups took us
from the airport to our apartment near the Castel Sant'Angelo and back again — was
a recommendation, worked perfectly.
The walks
Private tour of St. Peter's
Stone pines and palazzo in the park near Castel Sant'Angelo, evening
Marble sculpture at a pier inside St. Peter's, dome above
The occasion for our trip to Rome was the swearing-in of our friend Leo
Zgraggen, a Swiss Guard. The private tour of the Vatican was a wonderful
prelude to the days ahead.
Neoclassical Palace of Justice quarter, a Big Bus Rome crossing the frameTwo angel statues on the Ponte Sant'Angelo, gulls on topSquare in front of San Rocco — dome, ancient rotunda and a construction crane side by sideTour boat on the Tiber
Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain in the late afternoon — the honest truth: there's no avoiding the crowds
Angel statue atop Castel Sant'Angelo against a blue morning skyTeatro di Marcello with ancient column remains — a Roman theatre from the time of AugustusThe Capitoline Wolf on the Capitoline HillLooking over the Roman Forum, the Vittoriano on the horizonBronze equestrian statue among palms near the Forum
Around the Vatican
Castel Sant'Angelo in evening light, mirrored in the Tiber
St. Peter's dome above the Vatican wallVatican city wall with stone pines — quieter on the back side than the St. Peter's Square frontageGlimpse of the Vatican City through a gap between buildings
One stretch was suddenly closed to pedestrians (around km 5.2). I couldn't see
a detour at the time; in rain and darkness this would not be a route I'd
recommend.
Via Appia Antica
The original basalt paving stones of the Via Appia Antica between cypresses
A hidden Renaissance arch in a city-centre alleywayVittoriano — Civium Libertati and the winged quadriga above the columnsSignpost to the catacombs — the transition to the Via Appia AnticaAncient mausoleum at the edge of the Via AppiaAncient tomb monument with marble plaque
Vatican — palace and gardens (private guided visit)
Rose garden in the Vatican Gardens — the papal palazzo beyond
Vaulted ascent to the Vatican Museums — early morning, before the crowdsView from the Vatican Gardens towards the dome of St. Peter'sSt. Peter's dome behind hedges and stone pines
Villa Borghese and Tiber Island
The Tempietto di Esculapio on the lake of Villa Borghese
Stone pine in front of the park, St. Peter's dome small in the backgroundOne of the Tiber bridges — a classic two-arch spanCastel Sant'Angelo framed through a bridge arch
Castel Sant'Angelo on the way to the swearing-inPaul VI Audience Hall — rows of chairs and the red-yellow helmets of the Swiss Guard at the backCastel Sant'Angelo under a grey sky, the Italian flag in the wind
Orange garden and Villa Doria Pamphilj
View from the Aventine across old Rome — the Vittoriano on the horizon
The Tiber beneath a bridge — the dome of San Giovanni Battista in the distanceCasino del Bel Respiro in Villa Doria PamphiljCastel Sant'Angelo and Ponte Sant'Angelo on a clear midday
A small farewell loop through the centre
Castel Sant'Angelo at night, bathed in golden light
Angel statue atop Castel Sant'Angelo — silhouette against a grey skyCastel Sant'Angelo from the front with angel statue and EU flagSt. Peter's at night — the last evening in Rome
Es ist ein unerwarteter Fehler aufgetreten.
Neu laden🗙
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