Here is the related article:
http://www.travelandtransitions.com/our-travel-blog/rome-frascati-orvieto-2010/rome-travel-bike-tour-via-appia/
Rome had a gorgeous hot day for me in store on June 11, 2010. In the morning I used up the remainder of my sightseeing bus ticket which was good for 24 hours and after rolling past the Colosseum I exited on the Piazza Bocca della Verita and strolled across the Tiber River on the Ponte Palatine. I wanted to check out the Isola Tiberina, the only island in the Tiber River, which today houses the Fatebenefratelli Hospital. On the way there I was admiring the Smart Cars that were parked sideways in tiny parking spots along the Tiber River.
Back on the left bank of the Tiber I continued up to the Piazza Giovanni XII and up the Via della Conciliazione until I was standing on the large square right in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Thousands of people were attending mass, and a policeman confirmed for me that it was Pope Benedict XVIwho was holding mass.
After strolling past the ancient Castell Sant’ Angelo I walked across the Ponte Sant’ Angelo with its many statues back to the eastern bank of the Tiber into a maze of narrow cobble-stoned pedestrian streets filled with atmospheric restaurants and bars. In quick succession I ended up visiting some of Rome’s major sights: the gorgeous Piazza Navona, the Pantheon — which quickly become my favourite building in Rome; the iconic Fontana di Trevi; and the Spanish Steps, certainly a huge favourite among all the tourists.
Then I made my way east to the Equiline Hill, to a company called Top Bike Rental, a local bicycle touring company, to go on a two-wheeled tour of Rome. Ciro, the owner, introduced me to my local expert guide Roberto, who was going to take me and another Canadian tourist on a 6-hour bicycle tour on the Ancient Appian Way.
Roberto is an excellent guide, with lots of historic knowledge and real insider knowledge of Roman culture. Our stops included the Colle Oppio, the Colosseum and the Aurelian Wall, from where we headed into the countryside on the Ancient Appian Way. We stopped at the San Callisto Catacombs and learned about early Christian burial practices and continued our pastoral bike ride to Aqueduct Park, a popular place for dogwalkers and cyclists right next to a 2000 year old aqueduct.
On the way back we cycled through Caffarella Park and stopped at Azienda Agricola La Caffarella — an old farm where owner Signora Maria treated us with local wine, ewe’s cheese and Italian bread. On our way back we stopped at the Baths of Caracalla and cycled leisurely past the Colosseum again before arriving back at the office shortly before 8 pm. Another full day in Rome!