By Lydia Horrex

1. BASILICA DI SAN PIETRO – The Vatican City established itself as a sovereign state in 1929. Fully self-sufficient, the Vatican runs its own radio station, newspaper and postal service.  Basilica di San Pietro (aka St Peter's), stands as the principle shrine of the Catholic Church. St Peter's houses Rome's largest dome which stretches 45m diameter across the roof of the church. Another dominating feature is the untamed spirals of Bernini's 26m high bronze statue, a fascinating sight inside the church. Finally, as you pass through the Vatican watch out for the jester like characters – they are the Vatican's private police guards.

2. MEAL TIME – With all the fabulous cuisine Rome has to offer, your may find yourself counting down the hours till the next meal time. Head to Piazza Navona for restaurants overlooking Rome's most famous square and Bernini's Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi masterpiece. Buskers and mime artists will keep you entertained whilst market stalls offer the chance to buy art and photography. Piazza de' Fiori, just a short walk from Piazza Navona, also has an abundance of restaurants. Visit the Piazza de' Fiori on Monday thru Saturday between 8am - 1pm and you will find a charming fruit and vegetable market in the square.  

3. CASTEL SANT'ANGELO - One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Castel Sant'Angelo. I was pleasantly surprised to find that during my time in Rome the castle was holding a special event – extended opening hours for a limited time only. With live music, exhibitions and the castle open till 1 am, the evening was busy with tourists and locals alike. I ended my evening with a few drinks in the castle bar.  Circling half the perimeter of the castle and lavishly draped with hanging ivy, the bar offered some of the best vistas in Rome. Luckily I found vacant table offering a spot-lit view of St Peter's in all its glory. Entrance to the castle for this event was 16 Euros for students, 20 Euros for general admission. 

4. BEACH PROXIMITY - During July and August the locals take their own vacation so you may find many of the shops and restaurants closed in the summer months. If you want to follow in pursuit of sun, sea, and sand you can take a day-trip to the beach area of Ostia Lido. Ostia Lido is located 30km south west of the city and a popular place for Romans to spend their holidays. Trains between the Termini (Rome's main train terminal) and Lido di Ostia take under an hour and leave approximately every 20 minutes. 

5. PINCIO GARDENS - For fantastic views over the rooftops of Rome, be sure to visit Pincio Gardens located directly above Piazza del Popolo.  Not just a great photo opportunity, Pincio Gardens leads into Rome's largest green space - Villa Borghese. Offering a much welcomed rest from the hustle and bustle of Rome's streets, you will also find a lake, woods, and three museums within the Villa Borghese – Museo e Galleria Borghese, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna and Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia. To explore the area further you can hire rollerblades, bikes, and go-karts.

6. NIGHTLIFE - If part of your holiday schedule involves engaging yourself in Roman nightlife, don't miss La Maison situated on the rivers edge directly in front of Castel Sant'Angelo. This ritzy nightclub has two swimming pools, a lively dance floor and both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Playing mostly popular chart and house music, the club attracts both tourists and locals alike. La Maison opens at 11pm and closes around 4am.   

7. FONTANA DI TREVI - Fontana di Trevi is one of Rome's most admired tourist attractions. This Baroque-style fountain is a popular place to chuck a coin over your shoulder to secure your return to Rome. With restaurants and gelaterias surrounding the fountain, this is a prime spot to grab some lunch or stop for a break. Once you reach Fontana di Trevi you may recognise the setting from the film La Dolce Vita where Anita Ekberg famously throws herself into the fountain.

8. THE CUPOLA - Feeling adventurous during your time in Rome? Why not climb the stairwell which leads to the Cupola located within the dome of St Peter's Basilica. Halfway to the top you are rewarded with views from St Peter's gallery where the walls are lined with larger-than-life mosaics and live church services below can be secretly observed from a birds eye view. Continue to work your way up and a challenging stairwell will lead you to the Lantern at the roof of the dome.  Spectacular views over Rome are presented from the Cupola, and you can even get a glimpse into the Vatican's private gardens.

9. THE SPANISH STEPS - So called due to their relation to the Spanish Embassy, the Spanish Steps are Rome's ultimate hotspot to people-watch and soak up the atmosphere.  The steps span over Piazza di Spagna and Fontana della Barcaccia – a distinctly boat shaped fountain standing at the foot of the steps. The central location of the steps in relation to Rome's major attractions also makes this a convenient meeting point. Whether early afternoon, midnight, or the break of dawn, the Spanish Steps always offers an enticing atmosphere and international flare as young tourists pose for the camera.

Lydia Horrex is currently working and studying in Manchester, UK.