Beautiful European city is 'an open air museum' that's best explored on foot
Europe is full of incredible cities packed with heaps of history, culture and amazing food. However there's one particular tourist hotspot that's been hailed as a must-visit for those who love to get their steps in on holiday.
Rome has been declared as Europe's 'most walkable city' by experts at GuruWalk. They explained: "The Eternal City remains a key destination for travellers fascinated by ancient history. The Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Baroque squares make Rome an open-air museum that deserves to be explored thoroughly, step by step."
Of course the Italian capital is already a firm favourite with tourists, attracting millions of visitors every year. The Colosseum is one of its most popular landmarks; the largest amphitheatre ever built, in its heyday it could hold up to 80,000 spectators who came for the gladiators, plays and other entertainment.
Meanwhile you can easily achieve your 10,000 daily steps goal with a stroll along to the iconic Spanish Steps. There are 135 steps and if you can handle it, you'll be rewarded with unrivalled views of the city.
Next on the itinerary should be a trip to Trevi Fountain. The 26.3 metre high fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the world, and an estimated €3000 are thrown in every day (the money is given to charity each year). Legend has it that if you throw one coin over your shoulder it guarantees you'll return to Rome, throwing in a second will ensure a new romance and, finally, a third coin thrown in will lead to marriage.
Currently the Trevi Fountain is free to visit as it's a public attraction, but be warned that it can get very crowded especially during the summer months. In fact, local authorities are considering implementing a form of ticketing to try and manage the large numbers of tourists which it attracts.
From the fountain, it's possible to walk across to the Pantheon, one of the city's best preserved Ancient Roman buildings. The former temple has been in continuous use, and nowadays you can learn plenty about Roman culture and design.
Other must-see sights include Vatican City - home of the Pope - which is host to world-famous artwork including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, as well as the breathtaking St Peter's Square.
For those who love a dose of culture, then a trip to Castel Sant'Angelo should be on the cards. Once Rome's tallest building, now it's a museum that hosts heaps of art, sculptures and Roman artefacts.
Oh, and if you're one of those people who does think about the Roman Empire almost every day, you'll need to leave space on the itinerary for a visit to the Roman Forum which plays home to ruins of ancient buildings, monuments, shrines and temples.
Rome wasn't the only city to impress in the rankings of Europe's most walkable cities. The top 10 cities were:
Rome, Italy
Budapest, Hungary
Madrid, Spain
Prague, Czech Republic
Barcelona, Spain
Lisbon, Portugal
London, UK
Florence, Italy
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Berlin, Germany
You can check out the full rankings on blog.guruwalk.com.
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