A popular way to visit Rome is a guided and pre-planned tour on the hop-on/hop-off (Ho-Ho) buses…open-top double-decker. All the companies offering tours on Ho-ho buses allow the tourists to purchase the tickets as they board at any stop for a cost of around 18-20 Euros. The tickets let you avail any available seat along with earbud headphones to plug into outlets for running commentary on approaching sights. Commentary is offered in nearly every European language. Most companies follow more or less the same route and the tourists can opt for a  complete Ho-Ho loop in which you can stay on until you arrive at each point/area you wish to visit, do so, then hop back on another bus (for that bus line) for the next point/area of interest.

It would be a good idea to keep your cameras handy as you can take pictures from the upper-deck, but you need to be careful with your balance while in-motion. An early start will also help choice of seat location to help camera angles. The different bus companies offer vastly different service levels.

Unfortunately, due to Rome’s narrow streets, the HOHO buses cannot go directly to a few of the more popular sites such as the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. Also the buses being open on top are no fun in the rain or wind. Most of the companies in Rome offer a 24 or 48 hour ticket.

For the most part, the routes are all similar. Most operators offer some form of a discount for children and family. While almost all the tours start at Roma Termini, you can buy a ticket on the buses at every stop. At Termini, the drivers tend to take their breaks so often you may have to wait here for the “route” to start.

The Piazza della Minerva is as its name suggests a piazza situated in Rome. Lying close to the renowned Pantheon, this piazza is a sight to behold. A large number of beautiful buildings are foundin this vicinity. In fact it is named after the temple built by Pompey dedicated to Minerva Calcidica.

A very famous elephant, sculpted by one of Bernini’s students as per his instructions adorns the centre of this piazza. It is situated atop an Egyptian obelisk. The name given to the elephant by the Romans is “il pulcin della Minerva”, or “porcino”. The obelisk comes from the Iseum, in whose cloister it was excavated.

The church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, after whom the piazza is named, is also located at the centre of the square. Its exterior features a number of important inscriptions regarding the flooding of River Tiberia. The former Accademia dei nobili ecclesiastici, now known as the the Palazzo dell’accademia ecclesiastica, an academy for training the diplomats of Vatican City is situated opposite the church.

The 16th century Palazzo Fonseca stands to the right of the church. The hotel Minerva lies here. This hotel is extremely famous among the Romans and its guests include celebrities like Stendhal and José de San Martín.

Ruins of an archaic convent (or casa profess) of the Dominicans of the 13^th century is also present here. The convent’s influence grew over the years and it even became the base of the Roman Inquisition or Holy Office. The historic trials of Galileo Galilei, was held here.

The piazza thus holds several places of historic as well as aesthetic value and is a good visit.

When in Rome, The Trevi fountain, is a must see. Inspired by Roman triumphal arches, this is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in Rome being 25.9 meters high and 19.8 meters wide. Designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and competed in 1762, Trevi fountain is the pride of Rome. It stands in the Trevi square (piazza di Trevi) and lies within walking distance from the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona.

The fountain displays the Neptun (God of the sea), flanked by two Tritons. One struggles to master a veru unruly “sea horse”, the other lead a far more docile animal. These symbolize the two contrasting moods of the sea. One of the first-storey reliefs of the fountain show a young girl (the legendary virgin after whom the aqueduct was named) pointing to the spring from which the water flows. The fountain goes by the tradition that if a coin is thrown in its waters, it guarantees the visitor’s return to Rome.

The fountain holds the beauty of a stage set and as such, many of the films in Rome have been shot here including romantic films such as “Three coins in a fountain” and “Roman holiday”, but also “La dolce vita”, Federico Fellini’s satirical portrait of Rome in the 1950s.

There are many elegant and classy hotels near Trevi fountain some of them being, Hotel Majestic Roma set right on world-famous Via Veneto, Hotel Raphael standing one street from Piazza Navona, Alexandra which is a 3-star superior hotel on Rome’s exclusive Via Veneto and Grand Hotel De La Minerve which stands at a 2-minute walk from the Pantheon and near the picturesque square of Piazza Navona.

A visit to Rome would be incomplete without witnessing the churches here with fine art work. Many churches stay open all day but some close for a few hours in the afternoon. All churches require you to be quiet and respectful while some require you to be in a proper dress code. Some of the famous churches of Rome are:

The Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the oldest churches built in the year 118, Rome. It was authorized by Marcus Agrippa, which was later re-constructed by Emperor Hadrian. It has a huge dome that has an opening and allows sunrays to enter. The view is splendid.

Trastevere
Trastevere is probably the first Church of Rome. The name Trastevere has been derived from a Latin word that originally means ‘beyond the tiger’. It was constructed in the fourth century but was re-built in the twelfth century. This church is well known for its wonderful ancient mosaics. It is situated on the banks of Tiber, Vatican City

St.Peter’s Basilica
St.Peter’s Basilica is situated in the Vatican City of Rome and is famous for Michelangelo’s artwork. The dome of the church, which rises to a height of about 400 feet above ground level, was designed by Michelangelo and is considered to be the finest example of the Renaissance architecture.  The church can accommodate up to 80,000 people and is considered to be one of the largest churches of Rome. The church also comprises of The Pieta. The Pieta, made by Michelangelo is the finest piece of sculpture evoking deep emotions. It shows Mary in seating position carrying the body of Jesus across her breast.

The Basilica of the Holy Cross
The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic parish church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy. It is considered to be one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. It has beautiful hardens set in the Castrense amphitheatre and a hotel. It is well known for its compilation of relics. This church has been re-constructed several times and was last renovated in the 18^th century. The name of this church has been derived from an Italian word.

Santa Maria del Popolo
Santa Maria del Popolo, in Piazza del Popolo, was one of the first Renaissance churches in Rome. The church features Caravaggio’s Martrydom of St. Peter and Conversion of St. Paul. In the Chigi Chapel, created by Raphael, are ceiling mosaics and pyramid-like tombs as well as statues by Bernini.

San Clemente
San Clemente located near the Colosseum displays Rome’s interesting history. It is built in honour of Pope Clement I and is a Roman Catholic minor basilica. The church has been reconstructed thrice and is a three-tiered complex of buildings and was last re modeled in the twelfth century.

You can easily find hotels near all these churches. The Hotel Veneto offers accommodation near St Patrick’s church in Rome. Hotel Emmaus Rome lies at a mere one hundred yards from Piazza San Pietro and the spiritual home of the Catholic Church. The Hotel Forum Rome Italy is located near the Coliseum.