Rome is one of those sprawling, eternal, frenetic, Old World cities bursting at the seams with history, culture and religion, not to mention a profusion of fountains, narrow cobbled streets, grand piazzas, mouth-watering aromas and designer labels.

Situated in the heart of the city’s business center on the south bank of the Tiber River amid the lush greenery of the EUR district, the newly renovated 4-star Sheraton Roma Hotel & Conference Center is a convenient place to hang your hat while in Rome. If you prefer to explore on your own, take advantage of the hotel’s regular daily shuttle bus service (every 90 minutes) to the Piazza Venezia in the center of town. If it’s your first visit, however, it’s probably best to book a guided tour.

Start your day early by taking a cab to St. Peter’s Square. Grab a tasty pastry and cappuccino from one of the sidewalk vendors in front of the square and get in line at the Basilica entrance before it opens at 7 a.m. By 8 a.m., tour buses arrive and disgorge thousands of tourists.

After an hour of being awed by the immensity and extravagance of the cathedral, prepare for more wowing around the corner at the Vatican Museums. Purchase a pre-booked entrance ticket the day before (see the hotel concierge) and bypass the half-mile-long line of tourists. Also, there is usually a backup at the Sistine Chapel, so head there first if you want to ponder Michelangelo’s masterpiece The Creation of Adam.

Before heading downtown, have lunch at one of the many restaurants near St. Peter’s Square, such as Al Passetto di Borgo Ristorante. The family-run eatery has served tourists and clergy tasty dishes like pasta alla Checco for 50 years.

Start your downtown tour by walking four blocks northwest from the Piazza Venezia to the 2,000-year-old Pantheon, then east a few more blocks to the Trevi Fountain, a 200-year-old Baroque mecca where you toss in a coin and wish for a speedy return to Rome. Many of the world’s top designer brands flank the narrow streets in this part of town — don’t be afraid to barter.

Take a cab from the fountain to the 2,500-year-old Roman Forum, Ancient Rome’s equivalent to New York City’s Broadway. Make your way southeast through the forum until you pass under the Arch of Titus. From here you’ll catch your first glimpse of Rome’s signature attraction, the Colosseum. Completed in A.D. 80, this 50,000-seat arena would dwarf many modern sports venues.

Before heading back to your hotel, saunter across the street to the Ristoranti Aroma in Hotel Palazzo Manfredi. The restaurant’s terrace dining room is Rome’s best vantage point to catch a spectacular Colosseum sunset while enjoying one of Chef Giuseppe Di Iorio’s delicious Mediterranean specialties.

Al Passetto di Borgo
Hotel Palazzo Manfredi
Roma Capital Tourism Office
Sheraton Roma Hotel & Conference Center
Vatican Museums