NOTES REGARDING THE METRO MAP:
Line A
Cipro Station:
This station is very close to the Vatican Museums, a couple of blocks closer
than Ottaviano Station. However, I find it more convenient to get
to St. Peter's Basilica
by getting off at Ottaviano Station because it is a straight shot down
Ottaviano to the
Basilica. I have not been past the Cipro Metro station.
Ottaviano
Station: You can walk to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's from
here very easily (about four blocks). See my Vatican area map.
Flaminio
Station: This station brings you out at Piazzale Flaminio.
If you walk back through the
Aurelian Wall, you are in Piazza del Popolo. Santa Maria del Popolo
is to your right and
across the piazza are the 'twin' churches.
Spagna
Station: This one should be obvious. This lets you off at Piazza
di Spagna and the heart
of the designer district and the Spanish Steps. This station is particularly
long because going
to the other exit puts you on the Via Veneto in the expensive posh part
of Rome near Villa Borghese.
Barberini
Station: This is also obvious because here you are at Piazza Barberini.
Nearby sites
include the American Embassy (on Via Veneto), Palazzo Barberini, the downtown
airline
offices (up Via Barberini), and the macabre Santa Maria della Concezione
(right at the
beginning Via Veneto) which contain four chapels in the Capuchin portion
beneath decorated
with the bones of some 4,000 friars -- a must see in my opinion.
It sounds gruesome, but
it is amazing. Check out my Churches and Basilicas section for pictures
of this remarkable
set of chapels. This Metro station is also not far from the Presidential
Palace (Quirinale),
which is open for free tours to the public every second and fourth Sunday
of the month.
Repubblica
Station: This station brings you out at Piazza della Repubblica and
is near Termini
Stazione and is close to the Museo Nazionale Romana, Santa Maria degli
Angeli and the
Baths of Diocletian.
Termini
Station: This station brings you to Termini Stazione. It is
also where Lines A and B
cross. You are not far from Santa Maria degli Angeli, and Santa Maria
Maggiore. There
are many shops on the lower level of the train station as well as on the
main floor and several
food places on the mezzanine.
San Giovanni
Station: This is as far as I have gone on the subway. There
are only three
must-see sites this far out in my estimation: San Giovanni in Laterano
(the Cathedral
of Rome); Scala Santa (the Sacred Steps); and Santa Croce in Gerusalemme,
which
holds the relics of the cross Jesus was crucified on.
This Line continues with the final stop quite a ways out at Anagnina.
Line B
Via Cavour
Station: This station is about equal distance from Santa Maria Maggiore
as that
of Termini Station, going toward the Coliseum.
Colosseo
Station: This station is about equal distance between the Via Cavour
Station and San
Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) that houses the chains that bound
St. Peter as well
as Michelangelo's famed Moses. It is located right at the
Colosseo and the Foro Romano.
Circo Massimo
Station: This station is at the lower end of the Forum near the Circus
Maximus
and Baths of Caracalla. An easy walk will take you to the ruins of
the Baths -- gigantic.
Piramide
Station: This station lets you out at Piazzale Ostiense, near part
of the Aurelian Wall
at Porta S. Paolo and the famed Pyramid of Caius Cestius (hence, the name
of the station).
Whenever I go to the Sunday flea market at Porta Portense, I get off here
and walk up
via Marmorata and cross the Tiber to the flea market entrance, which is
on the left. This
is a gigantic flea market so be prepared to spend some time. They
have everything. Do
watch out for your belongings. As is with being in any crowded place,
there are pickpockets.
San Paolo
Station:
This station lets you off near the Basilica San Paolo fuori le Mura (St.
Paul
Outside the Walls), one of Rome's four patriarchal basilicas.
This Line continues out to the EUR area with the final stop at Laurentina.