Rome - 18 stops - par 53
The cup for the final hole is the open expanse of Piazza San Pietro. This full round of 18 holes takes place on the actual streets of Roma, where the map is the real city and the landmarks are the rails and targets. A total walk of 10.8 km connects the course, with 90 portals moving the ball across the city. Skip is a local guide who knows every cobblestone, even the ones where a pigeon might find a stray crumb.
The course is drawn on the real street grid, so the map you play is the map you walk.
Drag to aim, release to swing. Buildings bounce and water costs you a stroke.
Every hole ends at an attraction. Sink the putt, read the story, walk to the next tee.
You can't miss the massive stone walls of the Colosseum as you approach the centre of Rome. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built and stands as a prime example of ancient Roman architecture. The site is so popular that it sees 7,400,000 annual visitors. I've noticed that the scale of the place makes everything around it feel small. It is an elliptical amphitheatre that remains the largest standing one in the world, providing a glimpse into the city's imperial past.
You will first notice the ruins of several important ancient government buildings surrounding a rectangular forum. This is the Forum Romanum, an archaeological site located at the center of Rome. It is recognized as Italian national heritage. Long before it became a destination for tourists, the space functioned as a marketplace. I have found that the open layout makes it easy to get your bearings, though the scale of the ruins is what usually catches people's eyes. It is a fascinating place to walk through if you enjoy seeing how the city evolved.
Look closely at the spiraling reliefs of Colonna di Traiano, then step back to see the full victory column. Located in Trajan's Forum, north of the Roman Forum, this archaeological site commemorates Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. The project was designed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus. Construction started in 113, and the work was completed and dedicated on 12 May 113 AD. I always find the height of it a bit dizzying, even from the ground.
The inception of the Fontana di Trevi was in 1732. This fountain is a sculpture that reflects the Italian Baroque architecture style. After its beginnings, Giuseppe Pannini completed the work in 1762. I've noticed the crowds always gather here to see the scale of the site, which stands 26.3 metres high and spans 49.15 metres in width. Let me show you the details that Nicola Salvi and Giuseppe Pannini brought to the design. It is a wonderful spot to stop and admire the craftsmanship that has survived for centuries in the heart of the city.
The Pantheon sits in the heart of Roma. It is a Roman temple built in the style of ancient Roman architecture, designed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus. This structure reaches a height of 43.3 meters and is a major destination for people from around the globe, receiving 30,000,000 annual visitors. It remains one of the most significant examples of the city's ancient construction, blending the legacy of the early empire with its later history as a place of worship.
Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo, and Giacomo della Porta were the architects behind Palazzo Farnese. This city palace is built in the Renaissance architecture style and reaches a height of 29 meters. Its inception was in 1515. While it is owned by the Italian Republic, the building was given to the French government in 1936 for a period of 99 years. Today, you can find the French Embassy in Italy inside. I've always found the scale of these facades quite impressive from the air.
Standing south-east of the Roman Forum on the Via Sacra, the Arch of Titus is a triumphal arch and archaeological site. This honorific arch from the 1st century AD had an inception in 82. It was built to commemorate the official deification or consecratio of Titus, as well as the victory of Titus and Vespasian over the Jewish rebellion in Judaea. I've noticed the stone here has a certain weight to it that makes you feel the age of the city. You can see how Emperor Domitian designed it to ensure these triumphs were never forgotten by those walking the ancient road.
The Musei Capitolini consists of the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori. Located on the Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy, these buildings house an art and archaeological museum. Michelangelo served as an architect for the site and designed the Piazza del Campidoglio in 1536. Founded in 1471, the museum is Italian national heritage and attracts 452,232 annual visitors. I usually see a few other birds hanging around the plaza, but the architecture is the real draw here. It is a wonderful spot to see how the city preserves its history.
Let me show you the Arch of Constantine. This triumphal arch is constructed of brick-faced concrete covered in marble and is situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. It was dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great to commemorate his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312, a project commissioned by the Roman Senate. The structure features three bays, with a central bay that measures 11.5 m high and 6.5 m wide. I've noticed the marble finish still catches the light beautifully against the Roman sky.
Look closely at the white marble of the Arch of Septimius Severus to see where history was erased; Geta's image and inscriptions referring to him were removed from the structure. This triumphal arch is located at the northwestern end of the Roman Forum. Dedicated in 203 AD, it commemorates the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. These victories occurred during campaigns against the Parthians of 194–195 and 197–199. I've seen many things from the air, but the scale of this archaeological site is always impressive.
The Chiesa del Gesù is an example of baroque architecture and is recognized as Italian national heritage. Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola was an architect of the church, which saw its inception from 1568 to 1584. This site is a Jesuit church and serves as the mother church of the Society of Jesus. You can find it located at Piazza del Gesù in the Pigna rione of Rome. It is a place of significant religious importance and historical design that visitors often stop to admire while walking through the city.
You will find the Column of Marcus Aurelius standing in Piazza Colonna. This Doric victory column is known for its detailed spiral relief that wraps around the stone. It was dedicated to emperor Marcus Aurelius, who reigned from 161 to 180 AD, and commemorates his military campaigns during the Barbarian Wars. Construction likely began after the emperor died in 180 AD, and the monument was completed around 193 AD. I always think the carvings look like a giant stone scroll unfurling toward the sky.
Piazza Venezia is a square that serves as a central hub of Rome. You can see the Via dei Fori Imperiali and the Via del Corso intersecting here. The square had its inception in 1885 and was designed by the architect Giuseppe Sacconi. It takes its name from the Palazzo Venezia, which was built by the Venetian Cardinal, Pietro Barbo. This particular building once served as the embassy of the Republic of Venice in Rome. I've found the traffic here makes for a very exciting view from the rooftops.
The Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi is a church building featuring Renaissance architecture. Located near Piazza Navona in Rome, the structure had its inception in 1518. Domenico Fontana and Plautilla Bricci were architects of the building. This national Church is a Catholic church dedicated to the patron saints of France: the Virgin Mary, Denis of Paris, and King Louis IX of France. It is designated as Italian national heritage. You can see the influence of these architects in the design of the site as you move through the area.
Castel Sant'Angelo is a museum located in Rome. The building was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. This structure was inception in 139, and Decriannus was the architect of the project. Today, the site is recognized as Italian national heritage and continues to be a major destination for the public, with 918,591 annual visitors. You can see how the building transitioned from a place of burial for an emperor and his family into the museum it is today.
Piazza San Pietro is a square located directly west of the neighborhood of Borgo. Gian Lorenzo Bernini is the architect of this space, which is designed in the Italian Baroque architecture style. It sits directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. I've noticed the scale of the place makes it a great spot for people to gather before they head inside the basilica. The square is named after Saint Peter. It is a wonderful place to pause and look up at the surrounding columns before you continue your journey through the city.
You can pick out individual masterpieces among the 20,000 works on display here. These are the Musei Vaticani, an art museum and the public museums of the Vatican City. Founded in 1506, the collection contains roughly 70,000 works. It is a massive operation that employs 640 people who work across 40 different administrative, scholarly, and restoration departments. With 6,756,186 annual visitors, it is one of the busiest spots in the city. I usually avoid the crowds, but the art is worth the squeeze.
This is a full round of 18 holes through Verona. The map is the real city and the ball rolls along its actual streets, using attractions like the Arena di Verona as the basis for the holes. A total of 10 portals help bridge the 10.1 km walk across the city. Skip is a local guide who knows these pavements well, including exactly which ledges offer the best view of the street. This round follows the real geography of the town to reach each cup.
Venezia is the city for this round, where the map is the actual city and the game is played on its real streets. The holes are built from real attractions, starting with the Basilica di San Marco. This is a full round of 18 holes with a par of 54. The ball covers a walk of 10.2 km and uses 102 portals to move across the water. Skip is a local guide who knows these alleys and canals by heart, even if a few breadcrumbs occasionally go missing.
Torino is the setting for this full round of 18 holes. The map follows the real city layout, using its actual streets for the ball to roll. Landmarks like the Mole Antonelliana form the physical basis for the holes. This 11.6 km walk uses 42 portals to bridge the gaps between districts. Skip knows these corners well, from the grand piazzas to the hidden alleys where the crumbs are best. The total par for the round is 56.
Siena looks different from a rooftop, but the ball stays grounded on the real streets. This full round of 18 holes covers 10 km and uses eight portals to bridge the gaps between the city's edges. Real attractions, like the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, are the foundations for every hole. Skip knows these alleys by heart and can find the best bank shots from a bird's eye view, provided there are no stray crumbs to distract a local guide.
This is a full round through Pisa. The map is the real city and the ball rolls along its actual streets, banking off building facades until it reaches a landmark like the Torre di Pisa. These real attractions are what the holes are built from. A local guide who knows every nook and cranny, Skip handles the navigation for this 11.1 km walk. The 18 holes have a par of 56, and the ball uses 4 portals to bridge the gaps between districts.
Yes. Every course runs in the browser with no account and no install.
No. The full round plays from anywhere. Walking the real route is a nice way to see the city, but it is not required.
Yes. The geometry comes from OpenStreetMap data, rendered chunky on purpose. Streets, water and parks sit where they really are.
